Convert your way to electric

If a car owner in the UK wants to make the switch to electric they will typically go about selling or scrapping their old combustion engine vehicle and buying a new, or second hand EV. This seems like a no-brainer, but in fact there is another way - retrofitting an existing car with an electric drivetrain. This technology may seem far-fetched, but if governments get the regulation right, it could play an important role in reducing transport emissions. 

Here in the UK retrofitting is currently done on some commercial fleet vehicles such as buses. Looking specifically at passenger vehicle conversions we find a small bespoke industry focusing on classic cars. They tend to cost over £18,000 and typically take around three months to deliver. With this price tag it is hard to fathom how conversions would have a big impact on the switch to electric. Looking abroad, however, draws a vastly different landscape on the potential of converting cars to electric - and we believe that the UK should follow the lead of other nations in implementing the necessary policies which would increase consumer choice, and help electrify the UK car fleet, whilst benefitting British drivers and cutting the nations carbon footprint.

Looking across the Channel

Looking at the UK market alone can be deceptive, since neighbouring France has already lifted their ban on conversions in 2020 for all cars except classics. A small but well funded group of businesses have sprung onto the scene with the emphasis being on facilitating the switch. The focus therefore, is on high volume cars such as the Fiat 500 and the Renault Twingo.

The French industry is highly regulated, meaning that the conversions are not bespoke but follow precise guidelines and use pre-made kits which drastically cuts costs. In the time it would take to drive from London to Edinburgh, your car could have gone from gas guzzling to electric, all for the much lower price of €5,500 (with government subsidies).

It should be noted that no figures could be found on how many of these conversions have been ordered so we will have to wait to see if this trend takes off. 

To see the true potential for conversions we need to look a little further afield. There is a global shortage of EVs around the world and Western countries are monopolising distribution centres and manufacturing capabilities. None of the large OEMs that do sell to the continent, such as Volkswagen, currently sell any EVs there. Thus, highlighting the issues of an unequal global switch.

Countries that have yet to start switching are quickly being priced out and at the bottom of the waiting list. Conversions therefore offer the potential to bypass the global queue. There is also the issue that many new EV models currently on the market are also not suitable for the terrain in certain regions. Converting existing stock makes sure they are suitable for the environment.

Source: https://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/115178797/richmond-engineer-converting-cars-and-public-to-electric-vehicle-potential

EV conversions in India

A number of start-ups in India have grasped the gap in the market and offer conversions with many specialising in 2-3 wheeler conversions. The government has permitted conversions since 2019 and a highly regulated industry has started to grow from there.

A number of regional Indian governments have set ambitious targets to convert 2 wheelers and rickshaws to electric. They have also signed up to COP26’s pledge on banning the sale of petrol and diesel vehicles by 2040. Conversions offer a way to do this inexpensively.

EV conversions on the African continent

And this method is catching on in a number of African countries. Safari vehicles have been targeted for conversion because they have a specific route and are easier to charge as they have a predetermined base. 

Kenya in particular is set for conversions to start becoming more mainstream. The government lifted the ban in 2019 and has written guidelines published for different types of vehicles to try to boost businesses offering this service and a number of start-ups have started offering.

The UK should learn from EV conversion leaders 

Heading back to the UK, we are in the minority when it comes to how we regulate and standardise this industry. We simply don’t. As baffling as that may sound, a person just has to re-register the fuel type of the car and have a letter from a mechanic confirming it qualifies for road tax exemption. We have also heard anecdotal evidence of car owners struggling to even get their fuel type changed.

The result is an industry that gives consumers no guarantees of a good, or even a safe conversion. It also means that each conversion will be wildly different even on the same models from the same garages. This creates the risk that rogue traders or poor consumer experiences could give the technology a bad name. 

There are some calls from industry leaders to try to standardise and regulate the passenger vehicle conversion industry, for example through creating standardised kits for each model converted. Here lies the potential for the UK’s industry. More standardisation and regulation could improve the rates, the timings and the cost of conversion.

Conversion technology should not be dismissed and the next few years will show us how big a part it will play globally. Here in the UK it may not be the defining way the switch is made. But a fleet of classic cars travelling UK roads with a green number plate would be a striking sight and its cultural power should not be under-estimated.