Electrifying Classic Cars
Discussion
Jaguar offer to sell me an electric E-type for about £300,000 I seem to recall. It will have a range of, from memory, about 175 miles which for most people will be more than adequate unless we are doing one of our anniversary rallies, the next one being 2021 for the 60 years. My E-type is worth, on a good day, about £150,000 in the current market, so if one was in the market to buy an E-type then that £150,000 difference buys one helluva lot of petrol. If you are rich and want one, I won't object, but I don't have that kind of brass so I'll stick with what I have thank you. We took it out today and did 100 miles; no forethought, no preparation, just jumped in it and drove. And we enjoyed it immensely, which I might just as well have done in an electric one, but such motoring requires planning in an EV. So, whether I want an EV is a moot point; I don't have the money.
DonkeyApple said:
Yertis said:
singlecoil said:
I hadn't really thought of Teslas being classics.
No but now you mention it they probably are, in about thirty years time. 
And we can rip out all the unsupported, out of date and worthless tech and shove in a 6 litre LS.
To avoid waking the neighbours I pretended my TR6 was electric at the weekend, by letting it roll down the drive into the garage. This prompted a genuine question (which I suppose I could Google) which is how do these "straightforward" petrol engine to electric motor swap generate vacuum for the brake servo (if one is fitted). Do you fit some sort of vacuum pump or just forget the servo? I took the servo out of the system on my GT6 with no real problems, but I'd not risk that on a TR6 and certainly not on something like a Stag or XJS.
Yertis said:
To avoid waking the neighbours I pretended my TR6 was electric at the weekend, by letting it roll down the drive into the garage. This prompted a genuine question (which I suppose I could Google) which is how do these "straightforward" petrol engine to electric motor swap generate vacuum for the brake servo (if one is fitted). Do you fit some sort of vacuum pump or just forget the servo? I took the servo out of the system on my GT6 with no real problems, but I'd not risk that on a TR6 and certainly not on something like a Stag or XJS.
https://www.carbuilder.com/uk/electric-vacuum-pump
A very interesting article on line in Autocar about the problems they encountered recharging their road test cars. Charging point not yet built, others not working and finally a five hour performance to get three cars charged one one point. Worth a read
Edited by lowdrag on Saturday 14th September 23:25
lowdrag said:
A very interesting article on line in Autocar about the problems they encountered recharging their road test cars. Charging point not yet built, others not working and finally arrive hour performance to get three cars charged one one point. Worth a read
Still early days for third party chargers, which is still Tesla’s master stroke However this is going to change with the ionity charger network which is supported by “BMW Group, Daimler, Ford, Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche. It was announced on September 9 2019 that Hyundai Motor group would bring Hyundai and Kia brands on board as strategic partners.”
up to 350kw and a lot of cool functions
Which should be perfect for me, In 3-4 years I will be able to move from my M3P to a M4/C63 coupe type ev with a better interior and much better tech and use the ionity network
Edited by Dave Hedgehog on Saturday 14th September 10:00
lowdrag said:
A very interesting article on line in Autocar about the problems they encountered recharging their road test cars. Charging point not yet built, others not working and finally arrive hour performance to get three cars charged one one point. Worth a read
The honest reality with regards to the electrification of cars is that it will take years and fossil fuels will still be on sale for years to come. There are so many fundamental infrastructure and economic factors to overcome first that youthful exuberance naturally ignores and believes therefore believes that electrification will happen tomorrow and that it’s all everyone else’s fault that it doesn’t. But that won’t change the natural generational differences and the fact that while many of us current owners of old cars absolutely love the sonorous notes of a straight six there may well be as many people younger than is who find that very noose offensive.
Electrifying old cars may make zero economic or environmental sense but that doesn’t mean that the future owners of our cars won’t want to do it for other reasons. Ultimately we are just custodians of these toys and the next owners are free to do with them as they desire just as we have been.
Blib said:
Mrs B. took a test drive in Classic Chrome's electrified Fiat 500. She was totally smitten. So, subject to sorting out a deal, her 1970 500L (pic below) will be converted within the next few months.
May I ask how much this is going to cost? Thinking of doing my MGB GT (non-original engine, on its last legs).Edited by Blib on Saturday 4th January 21:52
JohnBRG said:
May I ask how much this is going to cost? Thinking of doing my MGB GT (non-original engine, on its last legs).
Between £17k and £20k. The car already has front disk brakes, a 126 engine, uprated drive shafts and suspension. So, hopefully towards the lower end of that estimate. They've done several 500s so they're well versed in the conversion.
We'll know the exact figure by next weekend. Then Mrs B. will decide whether to go for it or not. Judging by her excitement, I think she'll get it done asap.
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