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The world of classic automobiles is witnessing a revolutionary trend: the rise of ‘Electromods’. This fusion of electric vehicle (EV) technology with vintage cars has sparked a debate among enthusiasts: is it a brilliant innovation or an affront to classic car purism?

Understanding Electromods in the Automotive World

An ‘Electromod’ refers to the conversion of a classic car into an electric vehicle. This transformation involves replacing the traditional internal combustion engine with an electric motor and battery pack. The purpose is multifaceted: to reduce environmental impact, enhance performance, and maintain the aesthetic appeal of classic cars.

The target audience for Electromods is diverse. It includes environmentally-conscious individuals seeking greener transportation options, tech enthusiasts fascinated by the amalgamation of old and new, and classic car owners desiring modern amenities without compromising the vintage charm of their vehicles.

Adoption Speed Bumps: The Road to Acceptance

Adopting Electromods, however, is not without challenges.

• EV Infrastructure Issues: The lack of widespread and reliable EV charging infrastructure is a significant hurdle. Potential Electromod users often face range anxiety due to insufficient charging stations, particularly on longer trips. This gap in infrastructure can be a deterrent for those considering an electric conversion.
• Overcoming Classic Car Purist Mindsets: Perhaps a more profound challenge is addressing the skepticism of classic car purists. To them, modifying a vintage vehicle with modern electric technology is often seen as diminishing its authenticity. The sensory experience of the engine sound, the smell of gasoline, and the tactile feedback of a traditional powertrain are revered aspects that Electromods alter or remove.

Electromods vs. Restomods: The Distinctive Divide

While discussing Electromods, it’s crucial to differentiate them from Restomods. A Restomod involves restoring and modifying a classic car with modern features and technology, which may include but is not limited to electric conversions. Restomods focus on overall modernization – enhancing performance, safety, and comfort – while maintaining the vehicle’s classic look. In contrast, Electromods specifically focus on the electrification aspect, replacing the engine with an electric powertrain.

The Technical and Costly Journey of Creating an Electromod

The process of converting a classic car into an electric vehicle (electromod) involves several intricate and technical steps, which contribute to the overall high cost of the procedure. Here’s a breakdown of why each step in the electromod process can be expensive:

Engine Replacement with Electric Motor:

• Complexity: Removing the original combustion engine and fitting an electric motor is a complex process. It often requires custom fabrication to ensure the motor fits and functions correctly within the vehicle’s existing framework.
• Components Cost: Electric motors, especially those powerful enough to provide a satisfying driving experience, can be costly. High-performance motors that are both compact and efficient are at the higher end of the price spectrum.

Battery Installation:

• High-Cost Batteries: The battery is one of the most expensive components in an electric vehicle. For a decent range, a large, high-quality battery pack is required, which significantly adds to the cost.
• Customization and Safety: Custom fitting a battery into a classic car, which wasn’t originally designed for such technology, can require significant modifications. Additionally, ensuring that the battery is safe, well-cooled, and efficiently integrated into the car’s systems adds to the complexity and cost.

Upgrading Wiring and Control Systems:

• Sophisticated Electronics: Integrating modern electric vehicle technology with older vehicle systems necessitates advanced electronic control systems. This includes the battery management system, charging system, and possibly regenerative braking systems.
• Labor Intensive: This step often requires extensive rewiring and testing, which is labor-intensive and requires specialized expertise.

Interior and Exterior Adjustments:

• Customization Needs: Adapting the vehicle’s interior and exterior to accommodate electric components (like digital displays or charging ports) often means custom work. This can range from dashboard modifications to structural changes for battery accommodation.
• Restoration and Preservation: Maintaining the classic look and feel of the vehicle while integrating modern technology is a delicate and often expensive task, especially if preserving or restoring vintage elements is important.

Safety and Compliance Checks:

• Regulatory Compliance: Ensuring the vehicle meets current safety and environmental standards can involve costly testing and certification processes.
• Engineering and Testing Costs: Professional evaluation, from the safety of the electrical system to the overall roadworthiness of the vehicle, can add significantly to the cost.

Specialized Labor:

• Expertise Required: The skills needed for electromod conversions are specialized, combining classic car restoration with modern EV technology. Professionals with such dual expertise are rare and can command high fees for their work.

Unforeseen Challenges:

• Custom Solutions: Each classic car is unique, and unexpected challenges often arise during conversion, requiring custom solutions that can increase costs.

Overall, the high cost of electromods is attributed to the need for specialized parts and labor, the complexity of integrating modern technology into vintage vehicles, and the importance of adhering to safety and regulatory standards. This process involves not just a simple replacement of parts but a comprehensive reengineering of the vehicle, blending old and new technologies.

Industry Specialists

The costs typically associated with an electromod mean that those who can afford it are not, typically, looking to convert a Toyota Corolla.  Rather, this clientele has its eyes set on striking cars like a Porsche 911 to Ford GT40 replicas and more – although this may change in time as the practice becomes more affordable.  Naturally, due to the complexity of an electromod conversion, this is not a process that is undertaken in the average-joe’s garage.  Thankfully, for those interested, there is a growing crop of industry specialists offering these services for striking cars, such as the following examples.

1. EV West (San Marcos, CA): Known for kits like “The Electric V8” and “PowerBlock”.
2. Electric GT (Chatsworth, CA): Offers the “Tesla Crate Motor”.
3. Zero Labs Automotive (Los Angeles, CA): Specializes in “Classic Electric” conversions.
4. Electrify America (Reston, VA): Provides kits such as “eBuggy” and “eBeetle”.
5. Green Shed Conversions (Fort Collins, CO): Offers the “Rivet” kit.
6. Zelectric Motors (San Diego, CA): Known for “ZM2” and “ZM3”.
7. EVolution Autosports (Tempe, AZ): Offers conversions like “EV Porsche” and “EV Ferrari”.
8. Flux Hybrids (Raleigh, NC): Provides “Hybrid EV Conversion” services.
9. Revolt Electric Classics (Austin, TX): Offers “REVOLT GT” and “REVOLT Coupe”.
10. EV4U Custom Conversions (Payson, AZ): Known for “Tri-Magnum” and “Speedster”​

Conclusion: Blasphemy or Ingenious?

Electromods are reshaping the landscape of classic car restoration and electric vehicle technology. While they face challenges in infrastructure and acceptance within the classic car community, the ingenious blend of preserving historical beauty with contemporary technology cannot be understated. Electromods offer a sustainable future for classic cars, balancing nostalgia with innovation, making them an exciting prospect in the automotive world.

Whether viewed as blasphemy or brilliance, Electromods are undeniably a significant stride towards a greener and more technologically integrated future in automobile restoration.