Replacing Internal Combustion Engines with Electric Drivetrains

Here’s a company that does ICE-to-EV conversions, specializing in extremely high-end vehicles.

The challenge I see here is that almost all these cars in decent condition have functioning, top-end gasoline engines, and thus you’re throwing away something of great value.  You may find junker Rolls Royces and Bentleys with old, tired engines and transmissions, but then you’re spending a fortune in restoring the car itself.

Perhaps 10 years ago the idea of converting mass number of ICE vehicles was a live concept, largely on the basis that scaling EV production couldn’t happen fast enough to reduce carbon emissions in time to keep climate change from spiraling out of control.  It was none other than Intel’s Andy Grove who was making a push for this business model, suggesting that it could happen in Mexico, where labor is cheaper.

As we now know, it never took off, and at this point, with all the world’s automakers building EVs from the ground up, it’s something that will be relegated to history.

Now, no one’s saying that this can’t be a boutique business.  I’m sure there are wealthy people who want an electric Aston Martin or Dino Ferrari (pictured) and are fairly unconcerned with what they pay for it.