LATEST NEWS
Electric fizz for classics arrives
Richard Bosselman
August 7, 2025
Whether you should is a question that will raise passionate opinion, but whether you could … well, that one’s been resolved.
CONVERTING classic combustion engined cars into electrics for a whole new age and fresh life is a controversial subject.
But those who feel it’s time to effect a motor and battery transplant for an original Mini, classic Porsche 911, Land Rover Defender and Series models, DeLorean DMC-12, Jaguar E-Type (XKE) and Mazda MX-5 can now achieve that process with professionally-developed drop-in kits.
The supplier is British EV technology company Electrogenic, known for its world-leading electric vehicle powertrain solutions.
Access to its drivetrains has become easier with appointment of a distributor for New Zealand.
The Oxford-based firm’s range of EV powertrain products – including popular ‘drop-in’ electric conversion kits – will avail through Franklin Motor Company, which bases in Pukekohe and has until now operated as a Land Rover restoration specialist.
Specific local pricing for the equipment, and cost of installation if undertaken by the distributor, has not been shared, but it’s not a cheap consideration in the UK, according to a spokesman who told MotoringNZ.com: “A ballpark installed cost for one of the Defender or E-type kits would be £65k - £85k (depending on spec) plus taxes. So around $145k to $190k in NZ.”
Electrogenic’s main selling point is that its conversion isn’t a one-way street.
Done as recommended, the conversion is a reversible process that preserves the car’s original bodywork, avoiding any drilling or cutting.
This ensures the vehicle can revert to its factory specifications if desired - a reassuring feature for purists hesitant to permanently alter a classic icon.
It nonetheless recommends that the kits are installed by a trained mechanic.
Electrogenic develops and manufactures its own technology, from in-house vehicle control software and digital dashboards to compact gearboxes.
The driver gets modern controls with Sport, Eco, and Traffic modes. Land Rover kits even come with a regenerative braking-based hill-descent control function.
Kits are equipped for both 6.6kW AC charging and CCS rapid charging.
The move into New Zealand is part of a strategic global expansion for the British firm, whose business splits into four main areas.
In addition to the development and manufacture of EV conversion kits, it also involves in electrification for the military; designing electric powertrains for small car manufacturers (as in small scale, rather than small vehicles) and one-off bespoke electric conversions.
The most famous of the latter involved a 1929 Rolls Royce Phantom II for actor Jason Momoa (Aquaman, Khal Drogo).
Billed by Electrogenic as “the most ambitious and complex EV conversion ever undertaken”, the job of plucking out the original mammoth 7.7-litre pushrod straight-six and four-speed transmission pairing - which develops around 50kW - has been swapped for a 150kW electric motor and 93kWh worth of aluminium-cowled batteries took 18 months to complete.
The firm’s most recent project was with the MX-5 in its original generation (pop-up headlight) NA format, with the process adding just 100kg to the famously lightweight roadster, taking overall kerb count to 1100kg. It also preserves its alluring 50-50 weight distribution.
The MX-5 runs a 42kWh battery pack split between the former engine bay and the rear fuel tank area, feeding an electric motor making 120kW and 310 Nm of torque.
While some Electrogenic projects preserve manual gearboxes, the Mazda conversion opts for a single-speed transmission, departing from its traditional driving feel.
The updated powertrain delivers a 21 percent boost in the power-to-weight ratio.The car accelerates to 96kmh in about six seconds and has a top speed of 185kmh.
The range is rated at over 240 kilometres, with a fast charge taking approximately an hour.
