Is it a sin to convert a classic car to electric?

[@paradossoDFermi]

What a great job you do, by making people aware of environmental issues. But, there is still a lot to do to clean electricity supply. At minute 14:45 you picked a particularly good day for CO2 intensity, which in 2022 was on average at 229 g/kWh

[@Yaaayishere]

Having taken a Ferrari 308 I've owned for 20 years, with a tuned Borla exhaust, (which I used to go out of my way to find a tunnel to drive it in second gear through), to have Moggie and his fantastic team stuff a Tesla model S drive in it. - I never missed the sound. Not once. Ever. The halving of the 0-60 was overwhelmingly noticeable along with the torque where ever you want it and the fact is started every time is a big bonus. But the drivability mentioned here, it cannot be described. It's a game changer. Until you experience it, you won't get it. So I suggest you give it a go.

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Thanks Peter. The voice of experience. 👍👍👍

[@BrianBoniMakes]

No more "engine out" maintenance, you're sure to miss that.

[@shabbos-goy9407]

No thanks.

[@mattlawton4715]

@@ElectricClassicCars having no noise is golden. People used to miss the smoke from steam trains but hwo misses that now.

[@wolfgangpreier9160]

You will miss the fine smell of the real blend of gazoline from the south side of kuwait. The feeling of turning the keys to start the car and nothing happens. The bone deep vibrations loosening your teeth when driving faster than 30. The remving of the engine to replace the main seal every 3 months.

[@bobeden5027]

no stumble at part throttle, no lag in throttle response, no misfires! and so on. Worked at ERCA doing car driveability testing. (Esso Research Center Abingdon).

[@trevorwilliams195]

Richard..I've been riding motorcycles for 46yrs and after converting my 1980 honda goldwing to fully electric..I enjoy the country rides more now than ever before...I can even hear the birds in the trees sometimes .I love it..and thank your team for their help with parts and advice..Trev

[@ElectricClassicCars]

That is awesome! Thanks for posting. My Dad has also said similar benefits now he's got an electric motorbike after riding since the 60s with petrol ones. 👍

[@cosgraham534]

I have a Daimler with a V12 engine. It takes me the best part of a day to just gap the spark plugs. The reward of occasionally opening up the throttle so I can hear the howl of the engine, does not outweigh the effort required to maintain the engine.

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Yep, that's pretty much where I got to with my love of classic car engines 7 years ago. The maintenance was outweighing the enjoyment of driving them. 👍

[@4Kandlez]

A day to gap the spark plugs, Is that including naps or something?

[@cosgraham534]

@@4Kandlez The air conditioning compressor has to be removed, to get access to two of the plugs. Jaguar garages used to schedule 6 hours for the job - and I am by no means experienced at the job...

[@imarobot3757]

@@cosgraham534 design flaw , takes me 20 minutes to change and gap plugs on my v-8

[@cosgraham534]

@@imarobot3757 A V12 is a LOT of engine, which is very difficult to fit into a car. Jaguar released the XJ model as a straight 6, because at first they couldn't fit their purpose designed V12 into the car by launch date!

[@mishalow1180]

I was 25 years old in the mid 1960s when I bought a used '62 3.8 coupe. You have no idea how exciting it was at the time, to walk up to the car, open the door and take off. All mine! And it had soul. An electric motor has maximum ( and minimum) torque as soon as you switch it on. The IC engine starts at a relatively low power at low revs, and the acceleration builds as the revs and noise increase, pushing you back into the seat and roaring under the hood gets louder. Absolutely mind blowing. That, coupled with the old crash box, makes the whole experience so amazing. Still driving a '60 MGA that my dad bought new and absolutely loving it. It revs beautifully and I love taking it through the gears. Oxygen sensors have made tuning much easier so getting the carbs sorted out is a breeze. With no intention of converting to the dark side.

[@jsanders100]

Time you drove a good EV

[@stiflerxavimcfly1597]

First of all I don’t understand how this video has come unnoticed for me since I’m subscribed to the channel and I enjoy the content so much. Secondly and most importantly, this video is actually the epitome not only of classic car conversion, but actually of the whole EV purpose and the absolute need to switch massively to a sustainable transportation ecosystem. It is so well presented, structured and backed by actual experience from someone who’s not at all suspicious of hating cars that it should be divulged and shared among all possible platforms. Setting aside the incredible and admirable work you all do at electric classic cars, your stance in the need for a cleaner, cheaper and definitely more enjoyable future for automobiles of all sorts is praiseworthy. I wish there was a way to dub or automatically generate subtitles in other languages for the sake of a wider reach. Thank you and congratulations. I wish you success in your endeavors and hope your example ingrains all around the globe, as it’s still a very niche market for electric conversions.

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Thank you for your kind words. ❤️👍

[@bw1llis]

Excellent video! Well articulated and backed up by numbers. Absolutely love what you're doing, and hope to own one one day. For me, the soul is in the interior, and how you interact with the car; all the dials, and switches and buttons - and I love how you repurpose all of these.

[@timv285]

As a second point, I work in the listed building conservation field and many of the points you make about alteration ( or “intervention” as it is called in my field ) are paralleled by the arguments that go on with listed buildings. Key areas are conserve? renovate? re-order? or extend?and considerable analysis goes into the “significance of the original” both in architectural and historical terms before any decisions are taken on for instance rare grade 1 listed buildings. Ypur argument about the significance a of a mass produced but beautiful car is well made, provided of course there are plenty still left. You can always keep the best for Beaulieu!

[@spudproductions7606]

Good points, thanks 👍😀

[@georgemcinnes8668]

This is one of the best videos I have seen that answers a lot of questions from people that don't understand the benefits of electric cars. Thank you

[@ElectricClassicCars]

You're welcome. 😁👍

[@briertonp]

Converting that immaculate S1 E-Type would be wrong, as it’s an excellent example of the best version of the car. However, run of the mill E-Types, especially S3’s, would be greatly improved by swapping to electric power, as many classic cars would

[@marcosmith6613]

Very clear and logical arguments cover both sides without the emotion based on lived experience rather than opinion. Fascinating to see the cars that are being converted.

[@mikeg7845]

I am sure someone has already mentioned it (I didn't want read all 900+ comments to confirm), but home charging is my favorite benefit from driving electric. I would still chose electric if my charging cost was comparable to filling up with gas. Never having to get up early to fill up before work, or stop for gas after a long day of work is a huge benefit. I drive about 1,000 miles a month for work with my EV. Only on trips of over 200 miles have I ever stopped at a public charging station and that was usually just to give myself a safety buffer with regards to range. On top of that the stop was always at a place where I would go in and get some snacks and beverages for the return trip. By the time I got back to the car, I had the range buffer I needed. It is hard to appreciate how much of a benefit this is until you experience it.

[@Brinslade]

The look of a well presented large engine that has a history linking several generations of cars is glorious to see. The sheer technical expertise that is invested into a iconic engine is a delight to any person who has appreciation of a well engineered car. The look and sound of a well maintained car is something to be admired, and may even stir memories of owning or just riding in one many years ago. Even the constant tinkering and maintaining of these classic cars often gives an individual pleasure. However, the cost and frustration of maintaining these cars is not something that gives as much pleasure when the thing is constantly requiring more time and money to keep it running. The other issue is that these classic cars are likely to be in a museum in the future. The real thrill will be still seeing these classic cars on the road. The sound they make may dissappear, but the style and design is still there for all to see. This is especially important as most modern vehicles seem to look very similar. Keeping classic visible on our roads through electric conversions will help reminds us that not all vehicles need to be chunky SUVs. Electrifying the classics will also help to reduce the waste from scrapping older cars.

[@KeithCarmichaelInFL]

Very well said!

[@caseroberts9863]

The pretty ones can go in the museums, or get converted. It is imperative that we kill all combustion engines. The which a why is a simple fact. They are doing same to us.

[@iareid8255]

Casey, It is not imperative to kill all combustion engines, indeed your electric car, if you have one, relies on them.

[@iareid8255]

B Wasear, a well maintained classic does not require 'more time or money' to keep running. Do you own a classic?

[@Brinslade]

I did own several cars over the years, and the money spent to restore and maintain them was much higher that the money I got when I sold them. I did get enjoyment from working on them and maintaining these vehicles, but the cost was considerably higher that my newer Ford Fiesta that ran everyday with little effort. I did have a few friends who had classics that were very reliable, but there were also those like myself who seemed to solve one problem for another to pop up soon after. Unfortunately, I like many others I knew couldn't afford a complete rebuild, so it felt more like fire fighting rather than enjoying the cars. I had a 1973 e-type, a triumph GT6, and a BMW 2002, and while I enjoyed owning them, I was financially less stressed when I sold them.

[@paulsmith4996]

@2.25 '"Always a good idea to listen to people with experience and not opinion" Absolutely right. As a former devotee of the 'Under £1000' section in AutoTrader, I can attest to the pain of owning old bangers to try and get me to work. Granada MkII (autobox stopped) Lancia Delta (always leaking coolant) Fiat Uno (rotar arm crack), Honda Prelude (fuel tank leaking allover). I stopped owning cars back in 2001, and only in 2019 took out a lease on a BMW i3. What a revelation, no droning noise on the motorway, no strange noises coming from autobox, no whining diff etc. Fast, reliable and most importantly, very cheap to run compared to ICE. It's cost of ownership as well as performance that is driving uptake of BEV's now. I would absolutely love a classic car - but only with BEV drivetrain so that I can admire it, and enjoy using it everyday. I think there is a vast un-tapped market for converting some of our 70's / 80's / 90's favourites that are still on the roads. Most importantly, the emissions associated with these vehicles are already in the environment - better to re-use and recycle. Anyone for an electric Volvo 240 GL ?

[@sootymammal2891]

How could you not miss the noise of that straight six?!

[@dillzilla4454]

5:00 something i think a lot of people also miss when talking about conversions. lets say you have 1 of 1000 of a particular car. a general rule is that if you are using original parts you typically need 2 cars to make 1 car drivable. if you are doing a conversion on the other hand you only need half the car to make it drivable. this means that if it is a collector car there are more parts in circulation to keep them running for people who want them to be original and also more of them usable on the road because some don't have or need original parts.

[@RjWolf3000]

I think a big one you are missing is how much more the car will get driven. So many classic cars spend their days in garages or under tarps because of reliability and safety concerns. My landcruiser spends a lot of time in the garage since its clutch was slipping a few years ago. A lot of classic car shows really fail to talk about safety and reliability but when you climb out from a car with 3 point seat belts, abs, hundreds of herspers, and crumple zones, getting into a classic can be a mix of fun and anxiety. Taking away a few of the concerns gets them back on the road and used.

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Yes. Absolutely, I.missed that one. I totally drive more hours in my classics now than when they were petrol, and that can only be a good thing. 😁👍

[@lemagnitio72]

Although a classic car that doesn’t go anywhere also doesn’t create emissions. If it is used far more after conversion, just for fun, then it will obviously not be environmentally beneficial. Purely from an environmental point of view, it would make sense to scrap the car and recycle the materials into something more useful and efficient. But that’s a much more challenging debate!

[@RjWolf3000]

@@lemagnitio72 classic cars aren’t really a big source of pollution. Their point is to bring enjoyment to their owners through nostalgia and appreciation of their design. Melting them down would be plenty polluting and is a solution to a nonexistent problem.

[@imarobot3757]

how does converting to electric make the car safer ?I drive my 70's car every day dead reliable 15,000 miles a summer no break downs in 20 years maybe brit classics are a problem , plus i get 360 miles to a 12 gallon tank of gas 450hp 2800lbs plenty fast maintenance is oil change once a year change belts and hoses every 5 years ,not that bad plugs have not changed in 3 years even then a 20 minute job in the driveway . , Don't count on free charging forever , it will cost big once they have you all by the balls

[@RjWolf3000]

@@imarobot3757 reliable brakes, better acceleration. Better handling.

[@pcread]

As a related issue; traffic noise is vastly reduced. I live nect to a busy B road and in the summer the noise from (especially) hoards of bikers, but also cars, lorries and buses as they accelerate out of the reduced speed zone (or the tractors that don't even slow down) makes outdoor life (the balcony), or even keeping the windows open on a hot night, impossible. Traffic noise pollution is so overlooked these days witrh all this talk of CO2, but for the millions living within earshot of busy roads. the impact on health is measurable.

[@spudproductions7606]

Good point 👍😀

[@KeithCarmichaelInFL]

There is a strong anti-change effort going on in "my" generation. Anything that is "new" or "weird" is completely sacrilegious and should be burned at the stake (yeah, I live in the USA). There is no real argument that can be made to support it, so they have to argue the point on a "feeling" or other intangible point. That is where the "soul" of the car comes in. It was stated very well by someone I knew back in high school (in the 80's) that it's just not worth fighting with the religious mentality because your fighting with a ghost, nothing you say will be heard and nothing you can do will be felt.

[@philtucker1224]

Yes, the USA has a history of being very oil- positive and that dates back to the brainwashing by the oil barons back in the very early part of the last century. Their new wealth allowed them to take up strong government roles that enabled them to crush the (rapidly growing) electric car industry and the passenger railroad network. They just wanted to sell more oil, (and still do!) Fortunately they are a dying breed! 😊

[@melisboregard]

Thats a bit sad but I would say its true. The same goes for a lot of men over the age of 45 in Sweden as well, and especially the further you get from the bigger cities.

[@pablopicaro7649]

So true, they are stuck with what they understood when a teenager thru 30s. And anyway If Makers of Classic cars would have had viable Electric motors, batteries, and Electronics where available to them, they would have sold the Classics with the option of an Electric motor. There is NOTHING "magical" about a Petrol engine - it was just the most practical at the time. And now with modern Batteries, EV power is also practical.

[@joeabad5908]

Nice to hear that.. I am from the Philippines and seems what you guys say are ture as well, here. I have ordered a bunch of components (yes, from China) to convert an old Suzuki Mini Pickup into an EV.. Know what? I dont care what the oldies say.. I can hear them already saying, you'll not go far enough. It wont work if you DIY. You can"t have it registered. Its too expensive. Blah blah blah.. So when all of these are said and done.. Then they"ll see me smile.. By the way Im a retired 67 year old.. I leave the others do their thing and I follow my heart.. Life is short and doing this makes me happy.

[@theunknownunknowns256]

The US military is going electric for their tactical vehicles including a hybrid Abrams. As per what Beau of the Fifth Column spoke about about 10 days ago.

[@farukcarushi4983]

I swear, I love the way you articulate, calmly and systematically, all the things I try to tell people around here. You’re awesome! Plus, I love seeing those beautiful old cars 🚙 in the background…. And foreground.

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Thanks. 😁👍

[@spudproductions7606]

👍👍

[@felixokeefe]

One major problem with the e-type jag will not be changed by conversion to electric drive. The stupidly long bonnet. I would not like to take an e-type along a narrow country lane.

[@seanm8030]

An E type coupe is ideal for conversion to electric actually. Light, plenty of space. It's a great idea. However when one has complete bodyshells available as for a mini or MGB it makes even more sense.

[@jpkatz1435]

Yes, but not nearly as ellagent.

[@seanm8030]

@@jpkatz1435 Define elegant?

[@lemagnitio72]

Or even spell it!

[@joejoejoejoejoejoe4391]

The thing about old Jags is they have heavy engines, so they can take the weight of lots of batteries; I'm not sure about the E type (each to their own), but I think the Jag saloons would work well.

[@seanm8030]

@@joejoejoejoejoejoe4391 Yes. Light body and frame. Plenty of space is relative of course, but minus the XK lump there really is a lot of cabin and under bonnet space that is suitable for batteries.

[@bruceyoung1343]

Excellent. Very informative Thank You. Can’t wait to see the classic Jaguar converted

[@Matt2chee]

You're doing it a favor. People have been putting SB chevy in Junquar since the 60's. Question is, Where do you get all the Tesla motor's?

[@damienmccormack2789]

Only a couple of things you didn't cover, one of each. 1. Rebates from the government in some countries with registration on evs. 2. Do you have worries about battery fires which I understand are rare but are almost impossible to extinguishe though can be controlled with fire blankets.

[@tomtodd2326]

I love that I no longer have to go to a petrol station. Plug it in when you get home and when I wake up the next morning it's fully charged again

[@bordersw1239]

Interesting presentation, the only problem I have is the EV enthusiasts continually talk about Cobalt used in refining fuel. Cobalt is used a catalyst in refining fuel - according to my school science lessons, ( a long time ago)a catalyst enhances a chemical reaction and does so without having any permanent change or degradation. It can be used over and over again. Some Cobalt is used but almost 99% can be recovered. The next question is of course, do they actually bother to recover that 1%?

[@bryandickerson5365]

Man, this vid brings up some profound topics - art, soul, finances…weight! I’m with you, but I do “feel” what people mean by saying some engines have “soul” and I think it has to do with the combo of sound, power curve, red-line, shifting/rev-matching that makes some engines feel ‘alive”. It’s probably the lack of these imperfections that makes electric motors less animated. I do wish someone would come up with an electric package that tries to recreate the petrol version’s driving experience, including shifting, but with no pollution and more power.

[@ElectricClassicCars]

We've done many a conversion using the original gearbox where you can still shift up and down the gears. This electric MG Midget is a good example of just that. It was a real hoot to drive 👍 kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKe0nYtonqaLoZY

[@raisoreo]

Richard, I completely agree with you! The engine and motor are just machines which provide mobility, that's all! I bought a Tesla Model 3 Performance more than two years ago and haven't questioned my decision ever. The quietness and sheer power of the Tesla astounds me. Cheers!

[@richardc6269]

To answer ur title question...NO!! Brother ur making it a hundred times better🤓🤙✌

[@manup1931]

Simple question, do you prefer seeing the cassis driving or do you prefer the original standing in the garage.

[@LosZonga]

This rhetoric comes from a certain type of people. We know them and being thoughtful and careering f.. if it matters what they say. Your car, do what you want. It is called freedom. They don't like it, even if your property.

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Good point. 👍

[@manup1931]

@@LosZonga It may be your car, but if it's not "your" gas station, "your" roads or "your" low emission zone your freedom is quite limeted.

[@karlbe8414]

I am not a classic car guy, but that Jag is Gorgeous!! I have only been driven in one in junior high school.

[@penrithomas115]

Here is a question for you how much electricity does it take to make a full tank of petrol. Less petrol made freeing up lovely electric for us to use 😁

[@felixokeefe]

Regarding maintenance. Just think of the number of moving parts in your typical combustion engine and compare that to the number of moving parts in an electric motor...

[@billholmes3462]

I have three classic cars and I have seriously considered converting my E Type, I even discussed it with one of Moggy’s team last year. The main problem is cost, they estimated north of £70k with an 18 month lead time. I only drive a maximum of a 1000 miles a year in the car and frankly it just does not make sense. Converting a classic does not make the car a daily driver either as practical problems still remain like steaming up in rain etc and I would certainly not leave the car unattended too long in a public car park. So in summary if you have money to burn and are prepared to wait around two years to get a car converted then go for it.

[@darynsax]

70k WOW

[@vfr8009]

When will Vintage Voltage season 3 be back on our screens!?

[@DanielBoger]

It is no sin to do a conversion on on something like a Beatle or a 500. I can understand that some people would not want to do a conversion on something very rare. Your products alway do a great job of maintaining the appearance of the car.

[@54mgtf22]

I own 3 classic cars. Porsche, Alfa Romeo and MG. I love what you do.

[@spudproductions7606]

Thanks 👍😎

[@dlbuffmovie]

Kudos on this stance!!! (And that is from an American.) Love what you are saying, but I want to comment on the paint jobs!!! OMG! The finish on some of those cars/parts is frikken AMAZING. Keep doing you! (My secret plan was to buy the neighbor's (parked in a field) corvette and make it electric...)

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Thanks. 👍

[@katelights]

The reliability is the biggest thing IMO. How many people have classic cars and never take them anywhere because they don't want to risk breaking down? Or because they know it will take 30 minutes to get it started. And then it sits and sits and sits and only gets harder to start and more unreliable and then its covered in dust and needs a wash before you can drive it and its all too hard so it just sits forever. If its a reliable useful car you can take it out whenever the whim strikes you. or even daily it if you want.

[@timtroke]

I agree and applaud what you are doing, just got my first electric. I think the biggest obstacle in some cases is the usability factor, meaning in say a jag, you have to give up a lot boot space in order to get a decent amount of range. I would love to see some conversions figure out how to put batteries in the floor of the old classics, making the car super useable for everyday, or weekends away.

[@jensdybrofrederiksen7922]

in response to your conjecture, watch the ecc video about the conversion of the testarossa AND how far do you actually want to drive in the same stretch? (Google translate)

[@spudproductions7606]

Some conversions lose very little boot space. 👍😀

[@ElectricClassicCars]

We often lose very little boot space and some cars like the Testarossa the luggage space increases. 👍

[@roi354]

I agree with this statement. I have one car that is enjoyed primarily for an annual trip from UK to the Alps for a week each year that I would dearly love to convert to electric, but the sheer pain of being able to get there, enjoy the week and get back means it's just not feasible with today's battery technology. For reference, this year that car cost me £850 in petrol for 2,200 miles in one week (and I wasn't the highest consumer of the group!)

[@ianparr5899]

I also wouldn't miss the smell of burning oil etc, and petrol/oil/water leaks.

[@rodlister3098]

Great video. Really informative with solid facts. Especially exhaust gases!

[@markbryan9115]

I love the whole series of explanation. Good points on all the topics. I'm in the process of converting my 67 Porsche 911 with a Tesla unit., I'm still researching battery options.

[@ThomJo-m9b]

Hi did you ever hear of the TRB3 a USAF triangle craft, it has a small nuclear Power plant plus a container of Mercury & Electrogravitics , to make it fly silently . Does Vertical,/ Horizontal Take off & landing . Just curious , but if a car had a setup similar to that It possibly could even beat out the Jetsons flying car

[@netgnostic1627]

If I wanted an EV-converted 1969 Mustang, I would choose one that came from the factory with an inline 6, that doesn't have very much intrinsic value. Would it be smart to convert a Boss 429? That car, in great shape, can fetch well over US$250,000. So I would be strategic with my conversion choice. Sensibly, I would never drive a Boss 429 frequently anyway, because the chance of an accident makes the money risk too high anyway.

[@jamesyeoman2421]

I've said it before, I'd get the metro converted tomorrow. But that kind of budget will sadly never be available to me so looks like it's internal combustion and all it's flaws for the foreseeable 😢

[@awtistiaeth4699]

Soul: Because it is still related (albeit 'just') to fire. External combustion much more so, but there is the lineage, and we like to play with fire. Not passing an opinion and have long accepted IC can't continue for ever, and nor should it. But we need to make it fun and most (note caveat) are not appealing to petrol heads like myself (Morgan's 3-wheeler from a few year ago is a wonderful exception) and they'll sell themselves. Your way of doing it is fine by my reckoning and has a role to play in showing people we need to find different ways of having fun.

[@GTD40CarClub]

I bought my first Tesla S in 2014 and now I'm on my third, a model X. On the X five years and 40K miles has cost £150 total in maintenance plus one set of tyres. I charge from off peak electricity so the energy is very cheap. Your film made me miss my Series 1 E Type which was in the same colours as your car and built to FIA regs for hillclimbing and sprinting. I wouldn't have converted that car because the howl of the straight six and the lovely gearchange where so intrinsic to the whole experience. I do hanker after a converted car where the engine and transmission are not one of the key reasons why you are buying the car in the first place. A Merc SL, Citroen DS, 914 Porsche, Fiat 500 a Carver or a hot mini all make perfect sense to me. The instant torque will make them all better cars, in the end it is the real difference between a Cobra and an AC Ace. Its a personal thing, but I don't think I want to replace the drivetrain in anything with an iconic 6, 8,10 or 12 cylinder engine. Maybe that Jensen will change my mind! Love what you do and fascinated to see where developments will take you!

[@razerrath_com]

How can a totally useless gearchange be "lovely"?

[@GTD40CarClub]

@@razerrath_com mine had the close ratio racing gearbox, nicest gearchange I ever used. Double de-clutching and heel and toe gearchanges are a big part of competing in in an old car, no gears would reduce the driving experience on track. Conversely I wouldn't want a manual Merc SL, it's a different car for a different purpose.

[@spudproductions7606]

Thanks 👍😀

[@razerrath_com]

@@GTD40CarClub The need to change gears is one of the biggest disadvantages of the outdated ICEV. Why do you think the fastest car on Pikes Peak is electric? It never has to shift gears.

[@williamstachour4019]

That’s a lovely summary. I’m currently driving an F150 Lightning. Previous truck was a RAM 1500. Glorious noise with that latter, and almost no noise whatsoever with the Lightning. I love them both, but I’d never go back to the ICE. I think my Lightning has a very prominent personality.

[@vlogmusic-copyrightsafemus3292]

You forgot to mention the smoothness of it being electric... just sitting at lights is so much more comfortable

[@brunosanu]

If i could i would take my. Discovery 3 tdv6 to your workshop for a conversion. Great job. Congratulations

[@djtaylorutube]

My classic is the 1976 Triumph Stag that my father bought when I was age 12. Since the passing of my father, it's now with me but the memories of hearing that very distinctive V8 under power coming up the hill towards the family home are what defines the car. My Tesla Model Y arrives in a couple of weeks, that will be my electric fix!

[@briansture4353]

Record it and play it through the car speakers. The next generation of motorheads won't know about exhaust noise. They won't miss it they will like the motor pitched sound.

[@djtaylorutube]

@@briansture4353 It's already on KZbin :) Nothing competes with the baritones of a stereo V8 soundtrack from the Stag.

[@huubgelderblom7174]

2:40 experience vs opinion. Could not agree more.

[@utah133]

A Jaguar would do well with anything other than the original engine, am I right?

[@Nomavvv]

Keep up the good work. You’re giving these cars a brighter and better future that they never had.👏🏼⚡️

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Thanks! Will do!

[@PaulM745]

One con: Living in a very cold country.. Range becomes much more of an issue at minus 30°C. A brand new petrol car will start and run. Refueling requires very little time. Re-charging a VERY cold battery is challenging to one's patience, even with battery heating solutions available. Future nano technology batteries may solve this problem. And, the future is definitely not in favour of the internal combustion engine. Love your show, keep up the good work! Edit: PS: I will miss the "noise" of the all American V8.. From a purely nostalgic point of view.

[@ax14pz107]

Modern ev car batteries have better functioning heaters on them to mitigate these issues. From the little I've read on them, they do fairly well at keeping the battery working well and not failing early.

[@PaulM745]

@@ax14pz107 Well, I don't personally own an electric car. But I know people who owns brand new electric AUDI's, BMW's, and Tesla's.. They say that all the talk from the dealerships about handling extremely cold conditions, is not backed by reality. The dealerships do admit shorter range though, but reality seems to be tougher. Also, in the motor press in Norway, there seems to be consensus about this. But as I said, I have no personal experience with this, it's just the opinion of these car owners that I know.. PS. we have (so far) absolutely no tax on electric vehicles in Norway, therefore, electric cars have become more common than anywhere else in Europe. And, some places in Norway do get cold in the winter.

[@ax14pz107]

@@PaulM745 yeah if they're leaving their cars unplugged overnight, outside, they're going to get very cold, but that's true of gas fueled cars as well. If you live in areas that cold, don't you have to install block heaters in order to have the cars start anyway?

[@PaulM745]

@@ax14pz107 modern petrol cars with a good starter battery, and motor oil suitable for cold starting, no problem. They will start. Diesel can be a problem. Especially if you have the summer mix diesel on the tank. In winter, the diesel is mixed with kerosene, to avoid the diesel going solid. Also, it always pays off to replace the diesel filter before the winter season. And, the starter battery and glow plugs need to be in excellent condition. Provided maintenance is good, fossile fuel cars have no range limitations, and refuelling is fast. This being said, I'm not against electric cars, but we are still in the late "pioneer" era, especially when it comes to cold climate. This will be solved with future technology...

[@ax14pz107]

@@PaulM745 I see. We also have EVs that run at higher voltages now that can pretty much max out the battery in fifteen minutes when charged at a fast charging station. Range shouldn't really be a concern anymore unless you're very rural, driving constantly, pulling heavy loads, or just have no access to overnight charging. For the majority of us, the infrastructure to use EVs as daily drivers is already in place. My next car at this point is basically guaranteed to be an EV. I don't have to deal with extreme cold though. Temps here range between -2 and 37 usually.

[@jeffscott2724]

I think two of the major cons to electric right now are charge time and the total distance the vehicle can drive. Not to many people can afford having an “in town” electric commuter car and also a long distance fossil fuel car. Electric is well on its way but until these problems are solved it will always be in the back seat compared to fossil fuels. Additionally battery life is not yet proven and is an extreme cost if they do need to be replaced. I have pursued so many different options to convert a 53’ Dodge M37 to electric but currently not many options are available for that heavy of a vehicle. The energy density between fossil fuels and an electric battery does not compare yet but hopefully one day it will. This is one of the major problems with an electric semi truck. The gross vehicle available cargo weight is substantially reduced due to the weight of the batteries needed to get it going. Diesel fuel allows each semi truck to tow more weight in each load than electric is capable of. I appreciate the videos and enjoy them! Hopefully one day we can crack the battery problem “Achilles heel” of electric. Your correct in stated that an electric motor is far superior to any fossil fuel engine. The difference is the chemistry in which these engine derive there energy from is not comparable as of yet. Keep the content coming!

[@imarobot3757]

distance travelled is the problem for me I do a minimum of 200 miles a day , when it is minus 20 or 30 with snow on the road how far will that electric car get me ? With snow and ice it can take 2 or 3 hours to go 100 miles when the temps are low I would be very worried that I would be stuck dead on the highway not much worry with my gas cars as i get at least 350 to 500 miles on a tank cut that by 20% with heavy snow with traffic moving at 30 mph still nothing to worry about

[@imarobot3757]

that is true , look at how heavy some of the new electric hickuptrucks are now . Some are over 9,000 lbs with no load ,, hat is a hell of a lot of weight . Would not like to be in a car that gets t boned by that beast

[@deansmits006]

​@@imarobot3757 Yes, you and the 6 other people with the same driving needs can still get a gas car. That will be ok

[@deansmits006]

​@@imarobot3757 that's 1 EV. Other eV trucks are 6700-7100 lbs, around what a F-350 weighs. And I'd rather me tboned by that than a 14,000lb commercials truck, of which there are millions. The 1st gen of these long range EVs will be heavy, subsequent iterations will discover how to build around the new architecture and remove weight.

[@allosaurusfragilis7782]

I would say character, rather than soul. Listening to your engine, you can hear what you're feeling. That is, if the engine is struggling, or on song, with the wind behind you. It sounds different when it's cold, or lumpy when it's too hot. You can hear the odd misfire or pop and bang on the over run. You can hear the difference between a straight six or a V6, a V8 or 4 cylinder. When it's purring away nicely, you feel contented. I could go on and on. Maybe someone could put it more succinctly. ....maybe soul is not far off, now I think of it haha The electric motor, amazing though these installations are, is more like an on/off switch. It's always the same, regardless of what you're doing. I think what you guys do is terrific, and a great way of saving many of these vehicles. I'm just not there yet...I'm always a bit behind the times, mind you.

[@genestatler2514]

That was the most comprehensive explanation of pros & cons on petrol to electric conversion that I've ever heard!! Great job. Regards from Tennessee.

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Thanks Gene. 👍

[@spudproductions7606]

Hello 👍

[@genestatler2514]

@@ElectricClassicCars And something else about the sound of classic cars is that the technology in electronics is such that you can reproduce any classic car sound that you want to.

[@TobiasRieperGER]

I am from germany. I was a proud owner of a 1977 Kawasaki Z1000 A2. That one with 4 cyl, 4 carbs and 4 exhausts. In germany we have fuel with ethanol in it. You can't get fuel without since years. 5 years ago it gone so bad, that the fuel destroyed all the rubber parts, cast aluminium, paint and i always had water in the tank. In 2020 i was driving very often, cause we aren't allowed to do other stuff. Then i noticed, that the fuel got worse once more. Every 2 weeks i had to repair a carb. So i had to disassemble all 4, check them sync them install them. Then driving 200-300 km and the same crap. I had to change the fuel hoses every 2 weeks, too, and the fuel cock every 2 month. At the end i just filled in a few liters, drove it arround, and release the fuel from the bike. Yes, from the tank and all 4 carbs. But the problem came back. So i decide to sell it after a repair, and got lucky to sell it to a collector. Then i bought an electric motorbike for a damn high price, and was happy about the missing repairs. But then i noticed, that the range is not the promoted one. So i have to calculate my route, and don't go away from it. I miss my old Lady, but it was time to let her go. There is no way, to transform an old bike to electric. You will not get any good performance or range out of it.

[@MattTester]

Putting the engine of a classic on a shelf and saving it for its time in a museum, while using the car and getting all the benefits sounds great to me. Also I heard someone complain that twisty mountain roads aren't fun because it's a lot of work with the gears and the brakes cook, not in an EV. I hope the current energy prices aren't hurting business, anyone who fitted solar panels is really seeing the benefit now.

[@denis9450]

Ps to below the cars like the Jag and Cobra were never mass produced but I have no problem with the main stream cars of the time including your VW and Land Rovers were made in many different forms from Ambulances to Farm Vehicles.

[@craigwood8434]

Soul? Internal combustion engines ignite our senses because of the primitive combination of fire and noise. The caveman in me likes it. :) That said, I’m a modern man and delight in anything that gets me from point A to B faster and more reliably. Love your work. Keep it up!

[@spudproductions7606]

Thanks 👍😀

[@robcerrato6528]

So glad you brought up the cobalt and lithium issues people have. The people who make these arguments conveniently ignore the constant environmental catastrophe that using fossil fuels creates. Climate change, oil spills, smog, asthma, noise pollution… the list goes on and on. Great video and I really hope it dispels some of these ridiculous notions about our cars “souls”.

[@peterwalker8096]

I 100% agree with you, I’m saving right now for a kit to change over my 1963 Willys pickup, been watching y’all for a while and enjoy seeing the older vehicles get a second life.

[@spudproductions7606]

Cool👍😀

[@PaulM745]

A Willys that does 0-100 km/h in 3 seconds flat... THAT I WANT TO SEE!!! 😅

[@user-pt1ow8hx5l]

Your bank manager and next of kin will be delighted. I think. If you intend to drive the Willys. And save on petrol, repairs and depreciation.

[@LongStep]

I'm going to share this video. I've tried to tell people these same things, but without the experience that you have. Thanks for putting this together in one video. I used to think a car's soul-essence was the engine. Now I believe it's the responsiveness of the car. Brakes, throttle, balance, steering... all the points of human interaction. That's what brings a smile to our faces.

[@MrSpinneyhorse]

Great video, very nicely explained on the pros and cons...... i have a 1983 Range Rover Classic with a V8 but the amount of milage that i do in it, its most likely not worth the expense. As for the heart and soul of a car, it's the whole package not just the engine, which is the big part of course for me. The sound, the vibration, the smell the thought of this car not starting........ It's machines that we have all grown up with, and got to know, its a feeling of the past i guess. An EV will no doubt give you its own feeling of a soul........ I would like the idea of listening to the wind, and the countryside as you drive through the lanes and hills.... but then i like the burble of a V8 too? Can you add a noise simulator of an engine,,,,, when needed at a push of a button? My thoughts would be if i was going to convert a car, would be something more modern...say an early Audi q8 3.0 with all the safety features...... best of both worlds!! A real every day car.

[@beinghappy1312]

People often comment how my crazy e-scooter costs more than a gasoline one. I tell them for having cleaner air and a cleaner environment to live in the cost difference is well worth it. Then there's also the fact that repairs and maintenance is much lower, reliability is through the roof too.

[@GardnerHappy]

How much of the initial cost is because of the batteries? If prices on batteries dropped to half, how much cheaper would a conversion of a Range Rover be?

[@fentonfun]

Have you converted a Triumph TR7? One of my favorites in the day!

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Not yet!

[@rogerlockwood2363]

Seeing as jaguar are selling conversions them self for their cars I don't see it as bad. I have had classic cars and would love another.

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Jaguar don't do conversions. They thought about it, promised lots of customers they would do it then decided not to do it. ☹️

[@Smiler7]

A sin would be painting an E-Type Jaguar lime green! Batteries are fine by me, Rocket man!

[@sam20736]

I have a ural with a sidecar .i.m very interrested in a electric conversion for that. Room enough for the batteries and some serious advantage in weight distribution en relaibility .... cant even write that word here ....

[@pablopicaro7649]

A guy in my town also has Ural with sidecar, has a lever to engage 2wd

[@brainwithani5693]

First of all, I love the spirit of this channel. This is a group of people who really love and appreciate cars. Second, I think the "soul" of the car is all the work that goes into it. Yes, the engine is a beautiful piece of art in some vehicles, and a turd in others. Purists seem to forget that these are machines that were originally built for profit. Maybe the engineers put their heart into it (Ferrari) or maybe not (GM) but either way, it's a product at the end of the day. It's the owners and drivers and culture that give the car it's personality. I would love to see you guys collaborate with someone like Jay Leno one day. He would really appreciate what you guys are doing!

[@spudproductions7606]

👍👍

[@acefoxuk]

Haha no way, the exact video I was hoping you would make! I have conversations about this with friends and family all the time, great job! Hopefully we will all come to our senses one day 🤞🏻

[@spudproductions7606]

Thanks John 👍😀

[@pieteri.duplessis]

Some engines are like artwork, to an extend and worth retaining. The question then, need it be retained fitted in a typical original state (talking about engines, that is) or can it be placed on a stand for the show.

[@conservativemike3768]

A quiet, trouble-free, and lighter-weight classic Jag is VERY appealing.

[@deansmits006]

This is the big advantage of Jaguar going EV. Their reliability will go way up! I'm talking modern Jaguar, lol

[@conservativemike3768]

@@deansmits006 / Enables the owner to refocus $/time on optimizing the suspension and interior improvements.

[@williamstachour4019]

And those are some GORGEOUS cars. That E-Type, that Defender. Spectacular stuff.

[@robeigner4390]

Best video I've seen that compares ICE to EVs. Very well done and easy to understand, except for those close minded petrol heads. As for the soul of a car, I feel it's the ride not the engine. I'm still waiting to get an EV and both the power and ride of my Tacoma truck stink. I hate loud cars, especially those with stupid exhaust amplifiers. Give me a quiet ride with enough power to get where I'm going and I'm happy. I just wish you guys would come up with an EV conversion for my 2013 Toyota Tacoma (Hilux in your area?). I have plenty of room under the bed for batteries and after installation of the motor in the front to use my transfer case for 4WD, I would have room for a frunk and with some suspension changes, still enough to carry close to a ton. My truck is paid off and is not like the big, fat trucks of today. I doubt I'll ever be able to pay for the Cybertruck I have reserved so doing a conversion might actually cost me less. LFP batteries are a given with enough to handle towing and long drives along the West Coast of the USA.

[@OpticalMan]

Classic cars are not known for their crash safety but I would be interested to know how converting a vehicle to electric affects this. Does it make it safer by reinforcing the front of car or does it make it worse by taking away the crumple zones? In more modern vehicles the engine is designed to be pushed underneath the passenger compartment in the event of a heavy front end collision. When a vehicle is converted to electric what happens to the battery box in the event of a collision? Would it get pushed through in to the passenger compartment? Do they catch fire?

[@MrAdopado]

I would be very surprised if they can do a lot to improve crash protection ... certainly not up to the standard of modern cars that have been designed with safety in mind. Petrol fuelled classic cars are certainly more prone to fires than modern vehicles! Despite following the increase in EV use (and being an owner) over several years I haven't seen an issue with fires following crashes ... maybe the risks are different for a conversion.

[@carlmeyer6242]

This is quite an interesting perspective on the relationship between an electric car and a petrol car. I find them completely different machines. Like the difference between a motorcycle and a car. You can have a car with a motorcycle engine or a motorcycle with a cars engine. Sometimes an electric motor destroys a car and sometimes it improves it.

[@ezpoppy55]

Fact: people like what they know. The new and different scares them. Im 67, and have been driving all manner of vehicles for more than 50 years (experience). Mind you, no Formula 1 cars. But pretty much everything else in terms of transportation. I bought my Tesla Model 3 SR+ (the poor man’s Tesla) in 2021, and have about 25,000 miles on it. I do daily commutes of about 1,000 miles/month, but also long road trips (for example, a 5,500 miles this past July from California to Kentucky and back). In a nutshell, no way in hell would I I ever own an ICE vehicle again. All the points you made are spot on and brilliant.

[@spudproductions7606]

Thanks👍😀

[@michaelgarforth2861]

I have a 1997 Toyota MR2. What would it cost to convert.

[@ToreDL87]

I wouldn't know, pretty sure it depreciates the value but if the owner plans on keeping it till death, in other words dead set on the whole venture (literally) then that's not a biggie.

[@pasad335]

It has often been the case that a particular vehicle benefited from an engine swap, sometimes to a completely different manufacturer. That was never considered a sin, it was a way to make the car legitimately better. Similarly, swapping in an EV package is great if it improves the product. Further, I say forget about 'reversibility'; no one is ever going to put a gas engine back in one of these if it's done properly. EV technology is only going to improve. Batteries will get smaller and lighter for the same capacity, same with motors/inverters, etc. Plan to adopt those changes, not go back to gas.

[@kiwijonowilson]

I have been a bit of a petrol head myself, which a number of twincam / turbo charged / mid engined cars over the years. I don't miss those ICE engines at all now I have gone electric (we currently have a Tesla Model 3 and an old Nissan LEAF for running about town that just keeps going without any servicing). Sure I'm no longer young but I think when I was young I would have enjoyed the Model 3 just as much as I do now (if not more). That all said there is a small subset of classic cars that are worth keeping in ICE form - those rare cars with great sounding engines - and less likely to be daily drivers! Could you imagine taking an original Supermarine Spitfire IX and converting it to electric when part of the air show attraction is the roar of that Merlin engine!

[@adam-g7crq]

Love to see a Routemaster electric conversion driving around London.

[@a.bloke2.0alwayslearning.23]

AND we could convert some Steam Locomotives ! .

[@jimsouthlondon7061]

UK Heritage Railways converting their old steamers to run their boilers on cleaner efficient LPG and then onto Hydrogen

[@jimsouthlondon7061]

Do away with dirty expensive coal and add dye into the stake to simulate smoke.

[@andicog]

@@jimsouthlondon7061 you'd think they would burn biomass, after all, UK power stations have converted from coal to biomass as we are told its clean and sustainable despite being shipped in from Canada on large oil burning ships.

[@vincer8691]

Soul is how the sound of the engine makes you feel.

[@bigmountain7561]

I am sold on electric, but I still love the ICE’s. The problem is both forms of transportation require natural resources. The way that these materials are obtained is egregious. So now we are left with drilling and fracking for the liquid gold or strip mining for the nickel and lithium. The only positive about electric is no fumes. It’s six of one and a half dozen of another. I had made a statement “Imagine if after the big asteroid slammed into the Gulf of Mexico nothing but the animals survived and no humans existed except for our ancestors visiting from where we originated and just observed the planet almost like a giant zoo”. So am still waiting for the technology to be fully developed. Thank You 🙏 Great Videos!!!!

[@robertschallhorn3814]

You can add a stereo connected to the tach and it can create a sound track to blast your ears when you want to hear the noise of a muffler

[@georgedaville4662]

Superb presentation of what your business is about. Apart from the fact that that E Type Jaguar Coupe looks absolutely sensational in that green metallic colour, is that it’s performance will totally eclipse its original. I suspect that you guys at ECC are fully booked for sometime to come, but this video is a superb sales pitch. Another classic Richard 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿👍

[@lexiaontube]

You're right about "personality" , "soul" always sounded too streched. The constant pumping motion inside the engine and the heat byproduct together with the fuel material consumed, the noise and the exhauseted gases are similar to a living orgamism while the totally still electric engine is a cold magic like operation.

[@henryschilling1120]

One thing is once again, cost. You didn’t bring it up and I didn’t read a thousand comments but let’s talk about cost to repair/replace an ICE. Take that Jag for instance. I’ll bet you’d be hard pressed to rebuild that (correctly) for 20k. The Jensen would be fairly cheap as it’s just a 440 Chrysler but you get my point.

[@markwellington1254]

So for me I can do a lot better with less noise, proven by my wife pulling her Nissan Leaf into the garage yesterday and I was so taken aback with thee silence. Great sound! The local avenue just a block or two away is full of ICE noise all day and all night. Beautiful Jag!

[@johnbusath711]

The soul is the engineering and technology of the time the car was developed. Not against what you are doing but I do understand what a purest would say about what you do.

[@locknut5382]

At around 4:00 - Soul is one of those words which most people misunderstand and therefore misuse. You do not _have_ a soul. You _are_ a soul. In other words, a soul is a life. Once that is understood, we can see that neither an engine nor a motor has life. Therefore neither has soul. On an anthropomorphic level, a noisy vibrating engine can seem to be alive, and the effects of both propulsive machines give the appearance of being alive. But neither is any more alive than any other tool.

[@carlolaatst5649]

It really depends on the car. If the car is stunning to look at but has terrible reliability, than it makes sense to convert it to electric.

[@IAmSoMuchBetterThanYou]

So all Italian cars and anything British from the 60s and 70s and most of the 1980s.

[@Papa-Bogey]

Hasn’t this argument/discussion been around since the dawn of hot rodding? “Chevy in a Ford”? “Why are you modifying that classic?” “Why are you chopping that top?” ... why? Because it’s MINE. I own it, I care for it, and I modify it, if I so choose.

[@homestead2607]

Well said Richard. I’m doing a DIY conversion on an old Kit Car at the moment, just up the road from you, and I’m constantly having this sort of conversation with friends and relatives. Keep up the good work.

[@RustyChapman]

I'm old enough to know that these Jags were very popular, here in the US, back in the '60s, but in the '80s, living in Florida, I worked with a mechanic that pulled the Jag motor out of these cars and replaced them with a small block Chevy, along with an adequate sized radiator for the subtropical climate.