Workshop walk-around Ep2 - Fiat 500

An in depth look at this 1970 Fiat 500 we've converted to electric. This episode includes a more detailed look at some of the components that go into our Fiat 500 electric conversion kit and takes us on a little spin around the block to show you how driving an electric classic car with gears differs from a petrol version.
www.electricclassiccars.com
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/ electricclassiccars
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[@salvatoremertoli6493]

You are the best Moggy 😃👍. This Electric Fiat 500 of the 60s is a masterpiece. Congratulations to you and your team 😃👍

[@youxkio]

There was an American guy - the Reverend Gadget - he used to do the job you're doing. Unfortunately, he stopped doing videos about restoring and swapping old ICE cars to EV. Thank you, Richard for keeping up the soul of this. I love it.

[@michelguevara151]

finally, someone who gets it. yes electric has a gargantuan torque, but gears means less spin of your motor and more miles for your zap. excellently done.

[@Tom-evnut]

That mic really does a good job, alot easier to watch now I can actually hear you. Very informative. One small suggestion maybe some B roll shots / close ups of details when you talk about them, like charge point, battery up front and interior.

[@michaeliandolo2252]

I have been researching the various electric car conversion operations and am very impressed with you and your business. Your finished product is amazing. You maintain the authenticity of the classic car while adding the complete EV capability. As the owner of two classic MGs and and old Land Rover, I will very likely convert at least one of my vehicles. In a perfect world, you could "franchise" your operation globally so that your entire operation and designs could be sold world-wide. If that's too ambitious, maybe you could sell the conversion kits, or at least the design. I think it would be of great interest to people like me. In the meantime, I am looking forward to seeing what you do next.

[@MauricioYouTube]

I would definitely buy the Fiat 500 one. There's plenty available here stateside that aren't running making them good candidates for conversion

[@chrisdoozicom]

I agree with Mauricio

[@aet350z]

Brilliant 😎👍🏻 please say the defender is next 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻💪🏻

[@boomergonzales6115]

I'm so happy to have found your channel. I've been binging your content all day. For years I've wanted to do an electric conversion on a Pontiac Fiero, but most of my fellow local gearheads tell me it can't be done. Your channel gives me the inspiration to think it's more than possible.

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Welcome aboard!

[@MrGlassofwater]

Wow, I love the car and the conversion. Congratulations on your beautiful workshop.

[@rossburrow2813]

Excellent! Like seeing the individual parts of the kit, mini next please!?

[@MauricioYouTube]

Yes, I agree, it made so much sense seeing the kit out and put together like that.

[@angusbolton4418]

Do you strengthen the original gearbox, diffs in any of your conversions? How do they handle all that extra torque and BHP? Especially when you lit it up down the road 😉

[@ppolleunus]

Thank you for this very interesting video. I really like the way you showed and explained the exploded conversion parts.

[@alexisacm5614]

Awesome awesome work mate and Greetings from puebla, Mexico.

[@Yaaayishere]

You are not paying Spud enough. He needs his own channel.

[@mikejf4377]

You need to put a link to your website, great video. I hope you have a second season for your show.

[@xtrentesaux]

What is the cost of the complete conversion kit please?

[@dehsantanao1]

Beautifull!!! Love it

[@petemaxfield7686]

Great video. Would love some more info on the Westfield.

[@BojanBojovic]

This is brilliant!

[@forester32]

Very good stuff better than the new Mini! I see you have two Defenders in the workshop would be great to see how you have converted them and approximate cost involved would be nice to know, keep up the videos.

[@christopherhamilton5557]

I love seeing these old cars enjoying new life as EV’s. Amazing! 👏👏👏

[@bautiramada]

Spectacular! Thx for showing all details. I have a Fiat 600S, which is a little bigger than the 500. I'd love to convert it, does your kit work? Cheers!

[@martyparsons9419]

Fantastic video about your EV car conversion of the Fiat 500! Were you to convert a BMW Mini Cooper, that would be great to watch, as I have one, and want to convert it in 2022. Also, any details about charging and how the regenerative braking functions, would be great to watch as well. Thanks again!

[@TheAlexantube]

are the Tesla batteries watercooled? If you wanted to sacrifice the front boot size, could the front end fit many more modules to increase range?

[@robtome2563]

Geweldig goed top gemaakt en werkt super👍👍👏👏👏

[@RobShaw78]

That was great! Brilliant explanation and walk around. Only thing I'd suggest is using the auto white balance on your video software to make the colours more accurate. I assume the car was pure white, but it looked like a vintage white in the footage. B roll shots would be a good addition too, but you covered all the closeups so that was good. Again, great video though. Can't wait for the next one!!

[@ElectricClassicCars]

OK, thanks I'll try that. The car is a kind of off white, bordering on cream.

[@vincentrolfe1384]

@@ElectricClassicCars Looked like a cream paint to me.

[@savedfaves]

You're such a perfectionist, ha. Like myself.

[@ColinMsc2011]

Great video, thanks for posting. Two quick questions 1. Do you need to upgrade the clutch for the higher power? 2. Can you use a standard garage and test for an MOT?

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Yes and yes. 👍

[@MeisterTheFunk]

Do you need any battery management system with the Tesla batteries?

[@PiDsPagePrototypes]

The mass difference and placements,.. should have much better spread of mass on to each wheel, and that'll lead to less tail happiness of rear engine swing axles. That method of shifting and no clutch at lights,.. not unlike a Mini-Matic fourspeed. Could this rig fit in the Giardinara version?

[@mikep490]

Nicely done. How do you prevent motor over-rev? On earlier conversions guys would often bolt their DC motor to the gearbox. Problems came up when shifting or starting out and the car was not fully in gear. The motor would rev too high and was sometimes damaged.

[@moestrei]

Thats a DC motor issue, not an issue with AC as the conroller limits the revs.

[@ammaralsaigh168]

Hi there.. nice work .. fascinating. Question.. how do you convert . The high voltage that operates the motor to operate the rest of the 12 volt originally fitted things in the car like lights wipers indicator ECT..

[@ElectricClassicCars]

We leave the original 12v battery and charge it off the main EV battery via a DC/DC converter. The 12v battery still runs things like lights and wipers. 👍

[@rocega2005]

So, it would be the same with a 6 volt in my 1966 VW sedan, you would keep that original... that seems tidy and neat. 👍🏻

[@MrMittellaufer]

How to solve the problem of heating the engine and batteries while driving? How to maintain the temperature of the batteries in winter? This will affect the battery life cycle. What will happen to the motor if you drive into a deep puddle? There will be no short circuit?

[@Mark-M72]

You could do my Passat CC next but my budget is prob only half what it needs to be going by your show :-P

[@vincentrolfe1384]

I have a 2006 2.7L Sprinter van good for highway 800 miles between fill ups. I drive from Chicago to Seattle and back going 1000 miles a day at 70 mph. Is there a battery electric conversion that could go 500 miles per charge of highway and recharge in 3 hrs.? My Sprinter is the 3 meter WB model at 5000 lbs total weight with 5 speed automatic with top speed of 85 mph. What do you think?

[@JohnMitch]

For how many miles is the electric motor good for??

[@Grahame59]

Very impressive. Have you converted an Imp yet? Similar layout to the 500 of course but a tad larger so maybe room for an extra battery for more range? Where are you based?

[@ElectricClassicCars]

Nobody has brought us an Imp to convert yet. We're based in Mid-Wales. 👍

[@matthewspry4217]

Put that old petrol engine in a museum case

[@allanrickerby1576]

this is excellent. can you tell me the name of the kit you installed and approximate cost

[@ElectricClassicCars]

It's our kit. Contact us via the website. 👍

[@FairlyOldGit]

I have to ask, - what is it like setting off in first gear ????

[@fury1968]

I've been wanting to see an electrified Nissan Figaro. Is it more problematic to convert a car that has an automatic transmission?

[@michaelj7069]

This was awesome and it was great to include the drive along. Thank you so much! BTW was that a Lancia Flaminia getting the electric treatment in the background? So cool.

[@cleansoul4u2]

Hi Guys I really love this kit and I would like to put it on my 67 fiat 500 but I am not sure if I can in Italy. Any help.

[@carloduroni5629]

The "Bianchina Classic Club" (www.bianchina.it) did an electric conversion that I saw at the Padova Fair. They retained the original gearchange in order to maintain the original registration (the car had original "black" plates). They told me that the conversion cost was around 8000 Euro.

[@simonechristopher8727]

Great Video--- Is there still the need for the original battery?

[@888johnmac]

sort of , usually you keep a 12v battery to run lights , wipers , stereo etc .. but because you don't need a big battery to start a petrol/gas/diesel engine & it can be charged from the main battery pack you can fit a really small ( for example ) motorbike one

[@MrOzzyCam]

My first car was a Fiat 850 sports, 903cc I would love to have an electric version. The old car could do 100 mph and I beat a lot of my mates in that car but if it had a 600 hp Tesla version that would be awesome.....LOL. The car used to rust as I watched though as I lived in Bondi NSW Australia and we got sea spray, everything rusted. You would want to do something with the gearbox. I went through the splines on my driveshafts on the 850, stripping them clean with the original motor.

[@spa3010]

It's 3rd needed to pull away or could you just stay in 4th?

[@htw112]

Looks really good, I don't see the "KIT" for the fiat 500 on your website

[@ElectricClassicCars]

As there's multiple options it's best to contact us via the website for pricing on the kits. 👍

[@Redsmeg68]

do you include fuel weight in your calculations ?

[@smev4341]

My father restored two 1930’s Lagondas. What would it take to make them electric?

[@davidgee9095]

Great episode, I guess this conversion kit has been developed for small cars. Would it work in a microcar like a goggomobil sedan? Particularly an Australian made one which has a fibreglass body making them very light. It would be a very interesting vehicle to convert to EV, do you think it is possible?

[@MauricioYouTube]

The Fiat uses an induction motor, which is perfect for smaller cars, so I would think it's fine. Plus the battery and charging setup seems to be similar to your challenge

[@ghosthead84]

Do you only convert cars that customers bring in or can you source a classic car for a customer and then restore and convert it to electric for them?

[@ElectricClassicCars]

We can source the car and build it for you, no problem. Contact us via the website to discuss options.👍

[@luek-b]

Do the T2 bus next, the one you see before you start driving

[@GuthrieDennis]

Any water proofing needed on the motor?

[@clausbecker9350]

Very nice walk through ! Could you discuss reliability?

[@blimpism]

I'd love to see a 70's Lotus Elite, preferably in white...then I'd remortgage the house to take it off your hands ;-)

[@aidanbloomfield8194]

Do these sort of conversions work with a traditional automatic gear box?

[@dlittlester]

Good question, Aidan. but since it seems nobody has replied to you in 7 months, my unqualified answer would be no. Something to do with the ability to pump oil around the transmission, I believe. I read something about it a long time ago, but forget the details.

[@teroblepuns]

Won't the charger cover rattle on a bumpy road since it folds down loosely?

[@ElectricClassicCars]

No, it has a small magnet in it to keep it closed.

[@wtsailor]

Could you upgrade a 2012 Volt for more mileage?

[@IfItAintBrokeStillFixIt]

what is the procedure to legally change the Log book/title(UK) to electric ?

[@Blib27]

This is our car. Richard at ECC provides us with a letter to send to the DVLA, along with the V5. They update their records and we are good to go!

[@gordoncovell7864]

Will this come as a kit and if so how much will it cost please

[@robertallgeier2109]

Did the owner lady and her son enjoy getting it back in all its electric glory?

[@t2tatu]

💖💖💖

[@markrowley7955]

you guys ever done a hillman imp?

[@knowledgebyte]

One day I’ll see if I can find a cheaper Boxster and get a kit

[@eddiepatterson5025]

Have you had any clients from the USA 🇺🇸 have you doing any American cars.

[@minniesaab7255]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@GratdchsTwo]

Can we purchase the whole kit from you ? And if so how much

[@TheMvial]

i like

[@briananthony4044]

What if water gets into those slots at one end of the motor?

[@TheMvial]

Qué velocidad alcanza? VElocity?

[@garygrant4138]

Why not 4th gear (straight through the gearbox) all the time?

[@robbiegerard7857]

Does it have a heater for those winter months?

[@scraverX]

Electric one, think oversize hair dryer- as he often says

[@user-zo3fv9ex8h]

This radio system shall be thrown out of this amazing car)

[@markd5504]

Just watched the episode of Vintage Voltage that shows the work you did on this Fiat. Great program and I think what you do to these cars is brilliant, but I’ve got to say how you attached the front badge so it hinged over the charging point using a 4” butt door hinge is probably the crudest thing I’ve ever seen. I did wonder how it was going to look when the chap was making it, but it wasn’t till the end of the show as they were filming the end product that I paused it on the badge and I thought it looked absolutely terrible. Shame because you probably did a great job on the car but I come away thinking what other shoddy modifications were done.

[@locker60]

What about a heater and blower for the windscreen

[@ElectricClassicCars]

They are electric. Think hand dryer in a washroom,.instant heat. 😁👍

[@user-wk6ye2jc4c]

Молодец

[@evapendaki2530]

I like your videos I have a Fiat Ritmo Super 85 would you be able to convert this car to electric and how much roughly how to contact you Regards

[@SimonLytton]

Midget next please!

[@richardflook5347]

Is the motor open to the road

[@firebladeflow]

Looks like it... I give it one winter season with rain and salt...

[@mohamedhasanain5155]

I wonder how much it costed to convert such car!

[@advanceglazingsolutionsinc5527]

How much it cost a conversion like this one?

[@ppolleunus]

Next: Classic Mini 🙏 Ideally RWD, as surely more funny 😁

[@jackpalmer4052]

Can I sugest a 4wd electric mini to race the Binky, hehe. Also can I have a job?

[@christianocampos158]

How much would it cost if I didn't have a Fiat 500 and just came and ordered one?

[@tortigueira13]

Great job! I would love to do this to my 76 mini 1000! Is it costly? By the way, I’m from Portugal.

[@evilmario6061]

25,000 Euro

[@adrianriches456]

Are you based in Newtown Mid Wales?

[@cadeedwards2335]

What’s that red car in the background?

[@ElectricClassicCars]

MG Midget 👍

[@cadeedwards2335]

@@ElectricClassicCars thanks!

[@zyanbezzant998]

The frunk

[@jbgulfport1]

Hi I want you guys to convert my restored 1980 Toyota Corolla wagon. But I want more range and hp. How can I contact you?

[@louishubner9164]

Hello, can we buy this car somewhere? I am very impresed by your car !

[@E69apeTheMatrix420]

was this filmed in the 70s? I want to electric convert my top spec VW Phaeton but may as well buy a new Tesla for what its worth.

[@keithwilson9118]

What is the service cost on the electric side of things

[@theoxbowlakeband4678]

Any need for suspension mods? And I take it you converted to electric brakes!?

[@scraverX]

They keep the traditional hydraulic brakes and sometimes add an electric vacuum pump to run the vacuum assist if present.

[@JustBadly]

Let's see you convert a 2005 Mercedes-Benz SLK convertible 3.5 litre with tip-tronic gears. You won't even be able to get the windows to wind down.

[@888johnmac]

lol , they've already done a few SLK's

[@JustBadly]

@@888johnmac link please

[@philnotley5138]

The low miles per charge would be a constant annoyance for me I’m afraid anything less than a couple of hundred would have me in constant charge anxiety

[@scraverX]

How do you manage your mobile phone? Tablet? Laptop computer? The kids’ Nintendo Switch? If you are most people you try to leave home with it already fully charged and top it up as needed - like while at work, sitting in the food court, at a restaurant… where ever.

[@TheHuntercamper]

It is nice that we are burying OPEC

[@tlv6666]

Some people really do have to much money .