Interview with Electric Classic Cars

1 Comment10 January 2023

Electric Classic Cars is a company that takes iconic classic cars and converts them to be 100% electric. With over 120K subscribers on YouTube, over 65k followers on Instagram and their own TV show on the Discovery Channel called Vintage Voltage (available to watch on Amazon Prime), they have clearly caught the eye of the car lovers out there and we sat down with owner Richard Morgan to chat all things electric vehicles.

Q: Hi Richard, thank you for joining us today. What has been your favourite vehicle to convert?

A: My Land Rover – it ticks all the boxes – it’s fast, fun and goes anywhere.

Electric Classic Cars

Q: When do you think that most of the vehicles on the road will be all electric?

A: In the UK all new cars in 2030 will be electric. I think by the time second-hand cars filter out of the market, probably 10 years after that, I think most vehicles on the road will be electric by then (2040).

Q: Have you converted many campervans to fully electric?

A: Yes we have. Everything from 1960s through to 1980s 4x4 campers

Q: Are the battery packs that you use the same for every vehicle or do they change depending on the size of the vehicle/space available?

A: The battery modules we use depend upon the vehicle. You have to take into account the available space in the vehicle but also the amount of weight the vehicle can carry. That then dictates which battery module and which manufacturer / product you would use.

Electric Classic Cars

Q: What is the average cost of an electric conversion?

A: £65k

Q: Are there any modifications you have to make to the pre existing 12v side of the vehicles?

A: No. The existing 12v loom and systems are left completely untouched. We do have to splice in for a permanent 12v and an ignition 12v for the EV conversion to work. Also to charge up the 12v battery we replace the alternator with a DC/DC convertor.

Electric Classic Cars 12v

Q: What is the biggest challenge in converting a vehicle to fully electric?

A: The biggest challenge is the fitting the components into a vehicle which was never designed to accommodate those parts. Finding a home for battery box and other items.

Q: Can a customer expect to get a similar mileage out of a converted vehicle as they would get out of a brand new electric vehicle?

A: Yes.

Q: How much of a problem is battery placement in a vehicle in terms of balance?

A: We always split the battery pack into a front battery pack and a rear battery pack to optimise the weight distribution in the car which often results in better weight distribution than in a petrol car.