A company in the U.K. is turning classic, petrol-fueled cars into more sustainable vehicles. Everrati converts classic Land Rovers and Porsches to electric power, replacing the old petrol engines and mechanical drivetrains with batteries.
Gas to Electric
Instead of creating a new electric car, the company says it is more sustainable to transform a petrol vehicle into an electric one. In addition, it’s becoming increasingly uncommon for older cars to drive in city center low-emission zones. “Creating a brand new car uses up to 20 tones of CO2,” the company’s founder and CEO Justin Lunny told the BBC. “A car made 60 years ago is hugely sustainable.” According to the BBC, one in six new cars is powered by a battery instead of gas. Everrati’s latest project is a 1964 Mercedes Pagoda.
Turning classics into electric is not a new idea. Earlier this year, Dodge debuted the first electric muscle cars inspired by classics.
Everrati developed the latest car out of sight on a former U.S. Air Force base. However, electrifying a classic car is not cheap. A good Pagoda sells for about $250,00 (£200,000) at classic car auctions, but a customer pays about $417,000 (£330,000) to replace the engine with a battery. This also includes restoring every part to as-new showroom condition.
“It’s not for everybody,” Lunny said. “It’s very expensive. But we’re creating something that will hopefully last a lifetime.”
Evarrati, located in Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire, built its first car three years ago. There are now 20 on the road and 12 being built in Oxfordshire and at a site in California. Lunny said, “We have people creating these with—and for—their children, because they want that legacy.”
Upcycling With a Price
“Buyers are usually wealthy people who love the idea of something that is now fully sustainable and reusable,” Lunny said. He is building six Land Rovers for a client in Dubai. Another car is being built for a client in the Hamptons. These are two areas that are well known for the wealth of its citizens.
According to the BBC report, the interior has been modified significantly, including the gearshift. Chief engineer Tony Fong explained the modifications to the BBC: “Pull towards you for drive, push away for reverse. The gauge for the fuel tank now shows battery capacity. When this was built, there were no hazard lights. We are engineering those in.”
According to the report, the modified electric classic cars are a “work in progress” and much louder than newer EVs. “Because it is battery-powered, it has more performance now than when the original petrol car was built,” per the report. “It has a smaller range than a modern mass-produced car, and it charges more slowly too.”
Like most classic cars now, don’t expect to see these vehicles traveling long distances. They make for great social media posts and, most likely, classic car shows. But adding a little more sustainability to classics is a great way to be environmentally conscious while keeping a legacy alive.
