The floodgates of electric vehicles have opened and the rightfully so. The days of fossil fuel-powered cars are numbered and soon, their production numbers will dwindle till it becomes completely obsolete. So what is the fate then for precious old classics driven by a finite natural source?
While that future may still be a distant reality, these are three prime examples of how classic cars could be sustainable as much as it’s hard to accept, should the day ever come when petrol pumps get replaced with electric charging stations.
Jaguar E-Type Zero
Once dubbed the most beautiful car ever built by Enzo Ferrari himself, the Jaguar E-type Zero offers performance more outstanding than its original petrol-powered self. With 295 hp on the taps and 46 kgs off the original weight, 0 to 100 km/h takes just 5.5 seconds, a second quicker than the original Series 1.
Its 40kWh lithium ion battery which shares the same dimension and weight as the original engine takes up to 6-7 hours of charging offers a “real world” range of 270 km, assisted by low weight and good aerodynamics. As the electric powertrain is placed precisely in the same position as the original engine, weight distribution is unchanged – ensuring that it drives, brakes, rides and handles the same as the orignal E-type.
Aside from modifications to its powertrain with tech and components borrowed from the upcoming I-PACE, Jaguar Land Rover’s first production all-electric vehicle, it also adopts LED lighting for energy efficiency.
Ferrari 308 GTE
It’s strange to not hear the bellow of a V8 from a 1978 Ferrari 308 GTS. This poor soul of a car was actually a victim of a nightmarish fire that ultimately led to its EV conversion after being completely stripped to its frame. Now its famously known as the GTE due to its ultra complicated electric powertrain conversion.
Utilising a 46 kWh lithium battery that offers a driving range of about 240 km depending on how its driven, it produces around 330 hp with the same amount of torque.
Its three electric motors transmit power to the rear wheels through a 5-speed Porsche G50 manual tranmission – a truly sacrilegious Frankenstein of a project. Like the E-type, the 308 GTE also comes with LED daytime running lights and head lamps.
Porsche 911 E
This is a 1979 Porsche 911 SC Targa that originally came with a 3.2-litre engine. After a complete restoration and electric vehicle conversion, driving it sensibly will net you around 300 km in driving range.
As you can see in the video, the conversion is as thorough as it gets – with the fuel filler section replaced with a charging point and the boot in front occupied by 54 kWh battery packs. The batteries power two electric motors placed one each in the front and back.
With the option to drive in Eco or Power mode, 0 to 100 km/h now takes around 6 seconds with a top speed of around 240 km/h. The space that used to house the source of its performance, the engine, has been emptied out to create some boot space – unorthodox for a 911. A Porsche 911 that’s front heavy with a boot in the back – what do you think of that!
Source: (911) Fully Charged Show / Electric Classic Cars (308) Electric GT
