Here’s What Grads of Auto Mechanic College Should Know About the Electric Vintage Car Trend
Vintage cars are something truly special. The grunt of the engine allied with the beautiful sleek exterior of an ancient Ferrari or Mini is a feast for eyes and ears. What might be a little surprising, though, is that many vintage car owners have decided to replace their car’s old engine with an electric motor. It’s a phenomenon that has been growing in popularity, with some businesses even dedicating their operations to the trend.
If you’re passionate about cars, here’s what you need to know about this exciting new development.
What’s Making the Electric Vintage Car Trend Possible?
Classic cars and electric motors might not seem like a likely combination, so what’s behind the growing trend? Part of it comes down to advances in technology. As sales of brand new electric cars continue to rise, the cost of making them falls.
The consequent sale of second-hand parts from electric cars has a knock on impact on the industry. When a car has been taken off the road, many of the components remain valuable, including the electric motor. Some mechanics are taking advantage of this by placing these motors under the hoods of old Volkswagens, Corvettes, and other old school beauties. Call it extreme upcycling or next-level ingenuity—either way, if you become a mechanic, it’s possible that you’ll encounter a customer who’s looking to bring their beloved relic into the 21st century.
Grads of Auto Mechanic College Know Upfront Costs Can Be High
One of the primary downsides to using a vintage car is the very high gas consumption that comes with it. Switching to electric would allow drivers to enjoy their vintage vehicles without having to pay a fortune to fill the gas tank. In Calgary, one adventurous gearhead who electrified his 1966 Volvo believes it now costs him $3 to drive between Edmonton and Calgary. However, as grads of auto mechanic college can probably guess, there are still some pretty hefty upfront costs for customers to navigate first.
South of the border, one company completes the modifications at a cost of around $18,000. However, some companies around the globe have shown it’s possible to carry out the work for a slightly lower price tag. As electric cars and the tech that goes inside of them continues to become more affordable, this trend could continue to grow in popularity.
Where Is The Trend Heading?
A Bloomberg forecast last year said that electric cars could outsell fossil-fuel powered vehicles within two decades due to the dropping price of batteries. In fact, that forecast even made the claim that by 2025, both gas-powered and electric cars will cost about the same. Does that mean the vintage EV trend is likely to continue? It’s hard to say for sure. However, more than a few businesses are betting on it. EV West, a small garage in California, specializes in making the conversion from gas to electric. Across the Atlantic in Europe, one Dutch company, known as Voitures Extravert, has also dedicated the bulk of its operations to converting classic cars into EVs.
It’s a movement that has already made the leap from hobbyists working at home to professionals working on a much bigger scale. Part of it might come down to fuel savings, part of it might come down to a desire to reduce environmental impact, but at the end of the day one of the biggest reasons behind the trend might just be that it’s a really cool combination. Adding an electric motor to a vintage car helps breathe new life into a cherished classic, and helps keep it from being a relic only to be admired in garages.
Are you passionate about cars?
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