This Fiat 500 is ELECTRIC! What's it like to drive?

I love electric vehicles, so when a chance came to test a freshly-completed Fiat 500, I leapt at the chance, grabbing the keys before testing had even been completed. Therefore, it is running at only 60% of its potential, but it's enough to know that electric power can be a very good thing.
This Electric 500 has a 15kwh battery back, which means 50-75 miles when fully charged, depending on terrain and speed.
This isn't about the environmental argument, because that is complex and not entirely clear. But, if you're going to go electric, it seems far better to build an EV out of an existing car, with batteries from a crashed Tesla.
Visit www.electricclassiccars.co.uk for more information and to see some of their other exciting projects! They are currently converting a Ferrari 308, and have previously converted several Volkswagens, a BMW E9 and a Porsche 911!

[@CauliflowerMcPugg]

I can't believe I going to say this about an electric car. I love it! What a great car to convert and it did look fun to drive 👍

[@paulrenowden8617]

I'm not necessarily an electric car fan, but like with all things we may have to embrace it. If things like this conversion means we can enjoy older cars well into the future, what's not to like? Great video.

[@charlesc.9012]

This is good. Transmission fluid and other service items may also become illegal in places like Germany, but then we can still go Cuban and replace it with a concocted hygroscopic grease from supermarket supplies. It is still greener than teslas and the leaf, because it was not replaced 20 times since the 50s

[@Andy-pu2iv]

It's not a "frunk"! Goddamit, man, we're British. Call it by it's proper name - the "froot"!

[@robertkirchner7981]

No frunks please. We're British.

[@Phil-1969]

Great little car , and great review Ian , your channel is one of the best on KZbin, for something a little different than the Main Stream car channels

[@HubNut]

Thank you.

[@julianparker6090]

Seeing that Fiat 500 brought back memories. I first drove one at 13 years old (off the road at school, it was donated). It didn't take long to get used to the lack of synchro gears. The electric conversion is a great concept for town/City use. Be interesting to see its performance at 100% power setting. I'd imagine the price will drop as it gets more developed. Great gear whine.

[@klwthe3rd]

I love it. Electric cars are really the future. If you can combine old styling with new technology I think it's a win win.

[@TranscendentalAirwaves]

For some reason when he pulled onto the bridge there with the oncoming cars ( 5:37 ) I was like "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHG!" at first. Probably cause I'm an American and it seemed like they were in the wrong lane at first. XD

[@TheMoistpotato]

Im currently restoring a 67 500f, and honestly contemplated a ev conversion. but the more i planned and thought it out. It honestly doesnt work for this car. A good portion of the overall experience of a classic 500 is the engine. It might not be powerful in stock form, but it is a solid aspect of the overall experience of the car, the feedback and sounds take the cake. The underpowered aspect is actually mostly fun, and makes you a much better driver. Planning your shifts, double clutching/ rev matching, momentum planning is all many aspects of driving this car to the limit. Making it a EV conversion, sadly takes away all these "driving" aspects. Its literally just a electric tin box after that. But to each their own. Kudos to whoever did this. I still wouldn't say no, but i would definitely keep a gasoline powered 500 in the garage along with the electric one.

[@Bicyclehub]

I agree with your view that a classic car does not need an ic engine to be fun and rewarding. What appeals to me is the knowledge that older cars have a bright future if we hang on to them. The smaller and lightweight the car, the better the power and range. I really hope that you will have the opportunity to power the Fox electrically eventually.

[@robinwells8879]

Achingly pretty car with a glorious scenic backdrop. The original gearbox will be engineered to handle the shock loads from a ICE which delivers torque in pulses so to speak whereas the electric motor delivers more torque but smoothly so it will offer less stress to the box. I long for the time when I will be able to go to a scrap yard and pick up a leaf power unit to put in a classic.

[@johnb.9806]

5 year old Leafs are 7-8 thousand Euros in Ireland which is a lot less than the 20 thousand pounds this little car kit is, and almost as much fun.

[@rogermcgowan5496]

T.v.

[@jamesward7425]

Best review yet.I was with you all the way there. It's got me thinking what I'd convert!

[@akr01364]

I love how they integrated the charge point into the emblem here. I have to say that with Aston Martin doing something of the same to old models with bad running gear (at least, I hope that's the ones that are being converted, ahem) that this really is a cool way of restomodding. Take that Fast and the Ferrous. (it's early here)

[@earnestbunbury2103]

"Peek-a-boo"

[@leprechaunshelper]

What I like with this channel is it’s down to earth no frills real world format and Ian does a splendid job of presenting it in a relaxed friendly and informative way with the hint of alternative comedy thrown in ! Much applause and appreciation from me drinking yet more coffee in my hub nut mug and of course some biscuits are mandatory 🍪🍪🍪👌👌👌

[@patricioaroncastrillonross8372]

This is an amazing car, and an extraordinary way to give more use and convenience to a classic car which would otherwise mostly been abandoned. Plus it's environmentaly friendly. I live in Argentina, and we don't have the Fiat 500 but we have the Fiat 600, it has an inline 4 engine which doesn't make a lot of power but just enough to take on the road and even the highway ( if you're brave). They're fantastic little cars. I wouldn't do an electric conversion tho, mainly because electric cars are not really as popular where I live AND it would be very expensive, but the sound of an engine for me is part of the experience

[@steve1962]

The phrase "Italian classic " and "electric" normally equates to a horror story but in this case it seems to work quite well. Tidy job on the conversion too, nice job. Perhaps once the 100% battery is up and running this little Fiat will be...."Scorchio!!"

[@nigeltrueman6101]

I think you're absolutely spot on in your assessment of the conversation. Yes it's expensive but the car 'looks' original and the engineering has clearly been well thought through. The conversion makes the car an improvement on the original in terms of acceleration which is important these days. It has better brakes as a consequence and no doubt handles a bit better (you didn't mention road handling but did state it had been properly weight distributed ). The negative of range is an issue but the 500 was a town car so it electric guise it serves its purpose. Good review

[@nigeltrueman6101]

Fiat X1/9 would make a great electric conversation. The original 1300 was very under powered and the torque from the direct drive would liven the car considerably

[@sim6699]

Low pressure supercharger would improve the car while keeping it somewhat original

[@FFVoyager]

@@sim6699 as the public move towards electric cars (and they will) the demand for fossil fuel will fall. At some point, probably in the next 20 years, we'll see fuel stations closing as the demand falls - then no matter what 'origanlity' you want, using the old things will be increasingly difficult.

[@neilwalsh4058]

The original X1/9 hit 60mph in 12 seconds and was good for just over 100mph. Not bad for a 1300cc engine in 1972. Have you had a look at figures for similar sized sports cars from that time?

[@bobtepedino5661]

Love it! It's so efficient that it is capable of going 20 on flat ground with the power turned off!

[@aidanfell4297]

This was the first video I saw of yours, and then I got hooked on your videos. Nice stuff.

[@SvennsCarchannel]

I like that convercion!! Such a cute car! I imagine the electric drive drivetrain helps the rather dredful ride the standard 500 has!!

[@easyfishing1936]

Hi a very intriguing video. So if cars like this are fully developed I can see this being the future of small town cars, and if costs are reduced as I’m sure they will, they will become affordable to the ordinary person. Petrol heads will hate them but I believe they are the future.

[@chrisredfield3240]

This is a great car but this sort of thing will never be very affordable. Probably £20k to get this sort of car. When you consider safety it does not really add up. Don't get me wrong i love this car and I'm a huge fan of fiat 500's

[@RWBHere]

It looks as though more batteries could be fitted, at the expense of storage space and cost, which could give it twice the range. Great car, great fun and a great review, Ian. Thank-you.

[@PaulinesPastimes]

Ooh, imagine TWC with an electric motor. The overtaking would be even more startling. You wouldn't want 60hp though! Just so you know next time, 70 kph is 43 mph, 80 kph is 50 mph, 90 kph is 55 mph and 100kph is 62mph :-)) I grew up with imperial in Australia and then they changed to metric in 1974. I have never been able to visualise distance since.

[@alfonsodriver1324]

Great Video Ian - great fun, all told, and many thanks. Very enjoyable, and interesting with its existing crash gearbox, giving a choice or ratios. Apart from the present expense, as you say, the conversion is not for every car, but that is a great application here, transforming a normally very noisy vertical twin Fiat engined Nuova into a fun runabout with oodles of character. Best wishes.

[@marknelson5929]

I'd have one! Seems the perfect compromise with this type of classic. Perfect for a city or village runabout, yet with classic styling. Well done.

[@MapleMarmite]

Never had any feelings against electric vehicles but also not given them a lot of consideration due to lack of affordability - to me, anyway. This is the first time I have felt that I would like to have one and wish I could afford it. Great video and you did a good job of promoting the electric conversion. At the cost of conversion, I think we are only going to see the most popular/valuable models electrified. Imagine a lottery win and giving them TWC to work their magic on!

[@StephenButlerOne]

Love these 500s and being EV and in such a good state I love it. When I was about 11 my dad took partial Payment from a job, a fiat 126, it had just one front seat as the owner had just done a round trip from Liverpool to Berlin to watch the wall come down. It was a wreck. We use to go to bike (crosser) meets back then, so we would that the 126 and it's what I learnt to drive on. I'd love one now. Especally as it would stop my teens wanting lifts lol.

[@StephenButlerOne]

Only just found your channel, and every vid I've seen seems to have a family memory attached to it, or at least related to it. You have a new sub. I'd liek a 126 EV. Would be great. But a death trap.

[@ItsRickysChannelSHORTS]

I probably expect, because of how small the classic fiat 500 is, that you will go quite far with a charge due to how lightweight the car is. It's essentially a road legal go kart. If you are a classic car fanatic but also an eco-buff, this Fiat 500 is literally the best of both worlds. Can someone do a mini next? I would get one in a heartbeat!

[@markdavis2475]

I have a lot of affection for the Fiat 500, the first car I had after passing my test at 17. Lots of fun spun it more than once in the rain! Drove it everywhere. Got it up to 65mph on the M3, could have been faster! I loved the gearbox, dog boxes are fun, pump the clutch on upshifts, double-declutch on downshifts, easy! The engine was the weakest link, over revving would break the crank and /or knock out the main bearings. Also, it was easy to strip the spark plug threads and the exhaust had a habit of falling off, so the bonnet if you forgot to latch it! Updating to an EV is a very logical step.

[@dazt103]

A great conversation and well put together. Appreciate it is all relative, when you weigh the cost of running an ev against the cost of keeping a classic car road worthy. But £17k? still too much for me. Hopefully though the conversion cost will come down as they inevitably become more popular.

[@Andy-pu2iv]

It's great to see someone turning their thoughts to what happens to classics when the petrol runs out. I'm all for it. And I'm sure they've thought of this too, but if the engineering can be reversed (i.e. revert back to the original propulsive power) then there is absolutely nothing wrong with conversions such as this. +

[@Wok_Agenda]

When petrol runs out we will go back to the dark ages

[@thedirectionoflife5384]

My dad had one of those with Abarth trim! (It wasn’t actually an Abarth though) it had the proper 17.5 hp Engine and was from 1975!

[@christastic100]

Looks great fun to drive and different to see a classic electric car. As always great to watch Hubnut

[@themadcoachman]

Hubnut i linked your video to the Fiat 500 owners group uk , so the views are going to go up on this awesome roadtest

[@michaelnedsmar9106]

I can remember the first EV I ever drove , No heaters or doors ,The front bench seat was Uncomfortable , The steering was vague , it had just 1 headlight , 3 wheels and the top speed was only 12mph fully laden ,the Noise was deafening with bottles of Gold tops and R whites lemonade rattling when you you hit potholes if you hit a corner to fast the vehicle would roll over on its side and there would be broken glass and loafs of mothers pride bread scattered everywhere ! I think my Boss Bob had a weak bladder as he was always stopping off at different lady's houses who used to let him use their toilets at 20 minuets each time ! ! Well he was always doing up his flies when leaving their front door . One day an angry looking man coming chasing after Bob , maybe he didn't flush the chain after him . I could never work out how many of the kids in the area looked like my old Boss. Bob used to let me have a drive when heading back to the yard on weekends while he slept on the bench next to me, he use to look exhausted. My wages of £2.00 per day in 1977 -1978 wasn't bad for a Boy of 12 or 13. Does anyone else remember the first EVs or was lucky enough to drive them? kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4C4YmquqpqpgdE

[@stephencresswell4760]

Can’t imagine it will be much fun in winter, in the dark, with the lights, heater and wipers draining the battery along with the motor.

[@HubNut]

That's an issue. I did drive it in winter though. ;-)

[@cannedcatfood377]

Great video. Bring on electric classics especially in the compacts and sedans. Yes it won't take much to convince my wife to visit Wales. I also want to trace back my paternal roots in Cornwall and Devon too. Those parts of Europe looks so beautiful from here in North America.

[@sbomorse]

When James May did his piece on the original 500, I said I'd love one electrified! Perfect little commuter car! I've owned 3 classic Panda's and I'd love either a Selecta converted to Electric or the 4X4/Sisley.

[@JTucci100]

At 10:31, it sounds like a friction powered toy car. I hope the economics change to make it affordable soon. Glad this was recommended to me by KZbin and glad there are people able to show us what is possible by making videos like this.

[@Ginogizio]

Wow this is very cool, a little classic car like this would be a nice thing to have in our garage. Ironically here in Italy is impossible by the law certify a car like this, you can't even change the size of the tires so forget about making it electric. Indeed If I could I would start a busines like this convering classics into electric. Very good job guys!

[@royproctor1932]

Very nice. One of my favourite cars. To be electrified is brilliant. Thanks for showing us.

[@gryfandjane]

What an elegant conversion! Thanks for the ride.

[@SPTSuperSprinter156]

Looks a right hoot. Love the sound it makes. These electric conversions with gearbox still in place (think the last one I saw you do was a beetle) seem great. May not have much power but with electric motors supplying all of the torque all of the time I bet it feels punchy still.

[@HowardLeVert]

Have seen an electric Minor, on the BBC I think?

[@63MIJ63]

This is the future. Good or bad I think we will al eventually be running electric to keep the classics going.

[@IOWPCV]

Given me great hope in electric vehicles 🚗Ian ... maybe the future isn’t so bad . If we could get air fresheners that smell of petrol and oil were sorted 😎

[@recommendedforyou6235]

Love the idea of a classic electric. Great vid thanks Ian!

[@freetickettoheaven4965]

Love the sound it makes! Would be very popular at a local Cars n Coffee meetup.

[@dg115]

I love my nissan leaf it's unbeatable in the city so easy to drive. But I also enjoy old classic cars with all the noise's and smells. The way I see it if electric vehicles able me to drive and get around then great. Converting classic cars to electric I think makes sense to some but certainly not all classic motors.

[@lrochfort]

Love that combination of transmission whine and flying saucer electric motor sound.

[@RichieRouge206]

Actually loving it - so well done and I love the motor noise. Great video

[@jamesgibson5606]

It has a 1970-1 registration and it looks absolutely amazing.

[@damntuff62]

Brilliant video Ian wish it was me driving that, and what a vast difference in performance! I wonder if FIAT is watching, I just mentioned to my daughter she'll be driving electric cars very soon as manufacturers make them more affordable and I like the idea of E classic

[@alunhoskins4513]

I love this! I have a 1970 FIAT 500 and I’d be happy to have it converted to EV. Secures a future for the car. Sadly though….just not affordable for me, excellent though it is. Great video 👌

[@kroneditor9266]

Looked like great fun and a really nice conversion so kudos to the owner.

[@hughmnyks]

Great little car. Dreamt of building my own electric Fiat 500 back in ‘71 but my Dad wouldn’t let me keep it on the garage roof. Doomed to failure it was, anyway, because I envisaged putting three stater motors together to power it...

[@Christerart1]

That whine would drive me nuts!

[@MotoringCultureMagazine]

I'm a big fan of these conversions. They give a new lease on life to classic cars for a very long time into the future.

[@flashbeaster]

I took one lesson from this video. Whatever old car gets its original engine replaced with electric can be used in daily life and put back on the road. Think about it, old cars have crazy fuel consumption and emissions, and difficult maitenance. With rebuild like those, what is the problem ? Honestly, what is - maybe the lack of power stations being everywhere. I have a bit older car with 2.0 engine myself. Iam keeping it and try to keep it, even for a cost of trying to rebuild it for electric. Love your car for life and do not worry about running/maintenance/fuel costs. The dream of mine, maybe even of classic car collector ?

[@richardmatthews711]

I am glad that the high voltage wiring is sealed away as I would not like you to become a bright spark or the video to be shocking. My feeling is that vehicles in the future will have both an electric motor and ICE as I have my doubts over whether the UK would ever manage if everybody had pure electric cars.

[@petermcilroy1176]

Impressive. It certainly does blow away a “normal” Fiat 500 and at 60% too!

[@christopherhunter2892]

How cool is that ! Fabulous. Love the whine. Gives it a bit of character.

[@jesuspobre88]

We're looking at the future. I'm sure pretty soon the money will be in doing these conversions on regular cars over to electric. 👍

[@tienenaar2295]

Love it! There was even some spare space left in the "Frunk" so maybe a slightly bigger battery me possible. Getting a range of about 100 miles would be lovely!

[@leenevin8451]

I’ve been in one with an upgraded 600 engine and i enjoyed it

[@furiousdriving]

I always loved the 500 until I drove one! Resto modded ones are great, but stock they are slightly scary!

[@keithwelton]

Your route westwards from Llanidloes used to be my favourite motorcycling route via Dylife to Machynlleth. The only problems with electric cars are as you say, price and range. A weekend trip to the shops of Shrewsbury or Chester are 60 and 100 Miles respectively and my favourite beach and camping area is a round trip of nearly 90 miles. A Jaguar I Pace would be nice but they start at £63k.

[@pagegreer5081]

Thats so neat to see a vintage vehicle converted to electric. To me the #s for conversion is the most enteresting. Did they do videos on building of the car?

[@HubNut]

I don't think so. They have some videos on their Facebook page. facebook.com/pg/electricclassiccars/videos/?ref=page_internal

[@willswheels283]

I think how a classic car sounds is to me part of the experience of driving a classic car, for example driving a Morris Minor without that fruity exhaust note would take away one of the characteristics of that car, or maybe consider that Austin Allegro without the A series whine, it just wouldn’t sound or feel right with an electric motor driving the wheels, yes it’d be much quicker, cheaper to run and better for the environment but it’d be flat, no fizz, no purr of an engine makes it sound somewhat dull. I’m not against Electric cars, I like the Nissan Leaf for example, good looking car and it is what it is and what it was designed to be. But in a classic car?? Errm, not sure really...mixed feelings.

[@yaddahaysmarmalite4059]

I absolutely agree that the way forward for commuter, 'round town use electric cars is to make them small and light weight in order to maximize efficiency. There's no need to make them to compete against internal combustion powered car performance; they should be their own thing. I'd prefer three wheels like a Messerschmitt~ but with bigger wheels. I've often thought the arrangement would work well on a three wheel platform with the motor and batteries up front whilst being front wheel drive. It doesn't have to be complicated. The technology will need time to mature as was also required for fuel burners.

[@lancpudn]

Very nice review on this classic Fiat 500, I love how they've converted it to electric, what a little pocket rocket that will be when it's "run in". An Electric Reliant Fox would be fantastic but as things are at the moment it's all a bit too expensive, unless the salvage yards fill up with Nissan Leafs or something. I'm really liking the EV cars in general, I just cant wait until prices come down to get a BEV, I'm halfway there at the moment with a KIA hybrid car.

[@Tomoose1985]

I'm steadily getting through your back catalogue, you must have thought I was a right Muppet when asking you what you thought about electric classics when I spoke to you at the NEC 🤣 This is definitely a conversion which is more appealing than the standard engine equivalent!

[@HubNut]

I never assume folk have seen all of my videos. There are many!

[@terencehawkes3933]

You get to drive the most interesting cars. I would love one of those.

[@andysalter4473]

A great review Ian, what a great little car!

[@DomRivers67]

When everybody has an electric vehicle with 200 mile range at a top speed of 100mph, the current technology dictates you will use 3.2 times the electric your average UK house does for the present 1.4 cars per household. The grid in its present form cannot even slightly cope (nor can your wallet) so this needs to be rolled out with massive alternative energy sources, a lowering of performance expectations, brought out in the freight industry first (that electric suits, with the high torque and enforced tacho breaks) Its sadly a bit of a headache...before you even go into a massive lithium mining demand rocketing costs.

[@HubNut]

Yet power companies seem to think they can cope. The grid does not run at 100% for 24hrs a day. Electric cars can actually help balance the load through smart chargers.

[@DomRivers67]

@@HubNut Steve Rose did a great article for Motorcycle News where they did the maths and found it somewhat (or rather, vastly) wanting, I think it will start to become more polarised as we get past the 15-20% usage mark. I'm certain the government aren't pushing to LOSE the revenues raised by fuel tax, its hardly a philanthropic organisation. I can certainly see legislation in future whereby new builds will have to have a certain percentage of the roof given to solar, or similar.

[@FFVoyager]

@@DomRivers67 do you not ever consider how much electricity is used to get the oil refined into petrol and pumped to you car? (It's surprisingly large!)

[@chrisbarrett5132]

Two pints of semi-skimmed and a small tub of cream please.

[@earnestbunbury2103]

lol

[@AlanCooney]

Yes - high speed milk float

[@julianevans9548]

I don't know how anyone could put up with that horrible whine.

[@tonys1636]

@@julianevans9548 Not driven an high mileage Lada then, diff whine is painful to listen to.

[@RETROCAM73]

Great 500 great video Ian really enjoyed this 🙂👍🏻

[@jryalls]

The want is strong with this one and I’m not even an electric car fan.

[@steveni6086]

hi mate not spoke in a while hope your keeping well and hope you and your family have a happy new year,

[@Levenstone132]

Not the first electric Fiat 500.Scalextric made one! I think it was about twelve bob! This is great though,almost as if it should have been electric in the first place but for the technology. '67 Mustang though? (It's been done) no , that needs to rumble!

[@trimester1]

Great camera position for the test drive. Beautiful scenery.......

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

I used to really dislike small cars but now am actually starting to like them. My sister had a Fiat Cinquecento the only really annoying thing was that the gear ratio was messed up, first gear was so short that it was handier to go to second from the get go. Electric cars are the future, drove a Model S100D that thing is quick and expensive. I'd be looking for a i3 Rex when in need of another car. Till then my Peugeot 1007 (sliding doors) will be my means of transportation.

[@lindapeterson5810]

Well this is unexpected, never know what will come up! Love it - beyond the budget, but love it!

[@yamyamrob4130]

Not big fan of electric cars but got say as a means for driving local what a great car -now if could get the battery etc price down this would be a fantastic seller

[@b.2221]

That's a fine example of engineering in that little Fiat, and if you had the money that would be a keeper errand car 👍 Tam.

[@wanderinggentile]

These electric conversions are a nascent technology. Remember $500 calculators and $2000 VCRs... In ten years as manufacturing and installation become standardised, there will be cottage industries in places like Latin America and South Asia replacing petrol engines for the simple joy that electrics will be faster and cheaper to live with.

[@chrisredfield3240]

What year was a calculator $500 and a vcr $2000

[@wanderinggentile]

@@chrisredfield3240 The calculator was about 1972, The VCR was 1976.

[@chrisredfield3240]

@@wanderinggentile i see you already adjusted for inflation so that's fair enough. You can probably still buy a $2000 vcr now would be high end gear.

[@wanderinggentile]

@@chrisredfield3240 Not adjusted for inflation. The original Betamax from 1976 was $1999. The desktop version of the calculator had dropped to $350 by 1974.

[@chrisredfield3240]

@@wanderinggentile well i'm never going to complain about prices coming down. so fingers crossed

[@Toby_the_Glen]

Not forgetting that Fiat actually manufactured it's own 'Fiat Panda Elettra' back in the early 90s

[@mendhamsmusicmoviesmovemen8075]

Lovely car. Very quiet and 'nippy' to 'boot.' You enjoyed that!

[@markpitt5248]

I really like this, we are just seeing the 'bleeding edge' of this technology where it is expensive and experimental but over time it will be accepted, its performance will improve and the cost will drop. It's exciting as it means as long as you have a solid frame you can build an electric classic car, there are countless 'projects' out there that are left to deteriorate due to cost and availability of spares, this option will no doubt save many classics from disappearing from our roads.

[@adorabasilwinterpock6035]

The engine is an essential part of a classic car. I can accept modern cars being electric but classic ones?? No.

[@markpitt5248]

@@adorabasilwinterpock6035 I don't believe it is. Most classics out there wont have the original engine or if they do it would have been heavily modified and serviced to the point its a 'Triggers Broom' (Google it, very funny scene from Only Fools and Horses). Also I'm not saying if a classic has a perfectly good engine it should be ripped out to make it electric, this is an option where a car is left to rot into the dirt because the engine/transmission spares are unobtainium or beyond economic repair, to me its about getting classics back on the road for the modern world.

[@sdfft820]

In India they built the Fiat Padmini which was also a beautiful car that could easily converted to electric

[@dandy1dandy198]

Loved this video Ian, cheered me up amidst Brexit woes. This certainly looked fun. For me it would be a confidence issue with electric vehicles. Think of all the cars you could buy with the price of a conversion though haha. If we had a nice stereo and an tree air freshener who would know the difference?! Keep up the fab vids mate.

[@chilman6461]

It's brilliant reliable electric excellent idea tremendous or brexit for sort o dear I see wot I've Don sorry

[@earnestbunbury2103]

At least you don't have Trump ... :-(((

[@chilman6461]

@pmailkeey wish we had trump for brexit to mate

[@chilman6461]

@pmailkeey haha I would love to give you the keys mate

[@Spac8]

First electric conversion I have ever liked, mainly because, as you say, Fiat 500's are dreadful little cars. 😂 Brilliant stuff as usual though!

[@jimdavis8804]

Great lil car. Whoever built that car did a greatJob.

[@Nikki_Holland]

Wow that looks awesome fun. I quite like the humming noise

[@inglepropnoosegarm7801]

Yes....I know it's the future, but they do all make me think of milk floats. Many years ago a mad friend of mine took the engine out of a Robin and replaced it with a milk float motor and many car batteries. The ignition key consisted of two very big wires that created spectacular sparks when brought manually together for 'go mode'. I have no idea if it was legal, I suspect not. But he used it around town for some time. I went in it once and that was enough for me. Astonishing acceleration, it was more or less on or off. Also, I was almost run over by a Toyota Prius in 'stealth mode' because it was so bloody quiet.

[@Crook570]

Need an electric classic mini cooper!

[@huwdavies6650]

I don't know if you are aware, but Next Thursday the 25th of June 2020 at 21:00 on Quest, there is a New series called Vintage Voltage. It follows the exploits of a company in Newtown who convert classic cars to electric. I think that company is called Electric Classic Cars.🤔

[@adamtoms2726]

Absolutely delightful. It is impressive how much acceleration that has whilst only running at 60%. I think the future of motoring has to include multiple energy sources. At the moment the only two energy sources that I can see working is electric and hydrogen. Electric power, certainly has it's place for low mileage users in today's current world. If batteries could be removed and swapped out at a current petrol station for example and they have a ready supply of fully charged batteries that were universal this would make electric be much more appealing and avoid the dreaded range anxiety. I see hydrogen being a much better long term solution. Although there certainly doesn't seem to be the same level of investment and research going into hydrogen versus electric. Is this because the oil industry is worried about their profits? But if it did I think electric would then become the betamax and hydrogen the VHS of the day!

[@raychambers3646]

Icon (Jonathan Ward)has done one of these ,he had to pay a lot of attention to curing the rattles and bangs! If they did the little multipla that would be cool.

[@GoCotton]

So this is running about 36 bhp at the moment and it already looks like a blast. With 60, I imagine it will be very amusing indeed.

[@polloloci21]

Awesome- i can see the appeal especially for this car.

[@AndySnap]

What a lovely thing that is! The latest EV technology is the 'engine' certain cars are better with then internal combustion. This little 500 a perfect example, as the EV powerpack is a smaller, simpler, better fit in a tiny car, yet with more power.