Great potential in electrifying older cars

The course is held in collaboration with Electric Classic Cars and taught by the company's founder, Richard Morgan. The head of automotive studies at IÐAN, Sigurður Svavar Indriðason, talks about the course and the incredible possibilities that electrifying older cars entails. He himself dreams of being able to electrify the first car he ever owned and still has: a 2000 VW Bora.

What is the idea behind this course?

“In my job, you're always thinking about being able to offer something new and fresh when it comes to education, and since electrification is in full swing, you're closely following the developments taking place there. Although the main focus is on new electric cars, I've noticed that it's becoming increasingly popular to convert old cars into electric ones, thereby keeping older classic cars on the road.

But at the same time, they enjoy the benefits that an electric car's powertrain has to offer, such as more economical operation and greater driving pleasure.

Here I saw an opportunity to unite many different groups within the automotive industry who may not have been very interested in electrification until now, e.g., classic car enthusiasts, jeep enthusiasts, and the tourism industry. This course would also give those who are very interested in such projects but don't know where to start a little support and would possibly encourage some to want to specialize in such conversions here in Iceland.”

Tell me about the instructor. How did you meet him?

“Richard is the owner of Electric Classic Cars, and they run a YouTube channel that I've been following for some time, where they go over the projects they are taking on. I found this very interesting, and Richard clearly has a great passion for what he's doing, and the company has a very good reputation. So last summer, I decided to try contacting ECC to see if they were interested in a collaboration, and they responded wonderfully to the idea. Originally, the idea was just to have a theoretical course, but Richard actually had the idea to take it all the way and actually convert a car into an electric car during the course.”

A Land Rover? Why? What possibilities do you see in this?

“Many things play into that. ECC has a lot of experience when it comes to converting Land Rovers, as they are based in the UK and have, for example, been converting Safari cars in South Africa into electric cars, and it only takes a few days using equipment from a Nissan Leaf. The Land Rover is also very popular in Iceland and somewhat unites the classic car community and jeep enthusiasts, and to some extent, it is intertwined with Icelandic automotive history. The Land Rover Defender is also widely used in the tourism industry, so this will also be a kind of pilot project in relation to whether it's possible to electrify that industry to some extent.”

What is the strangest or most unexpected car you have seen electrified – and did it actually work?

“I know that ECC has electrified a Ferrari Testarossa, which for some is probably a bit strange, as Ferraris are rather known for large engines and a loud exhaust sound.”

If you had to choose one classic car that should never be electrified – what car would it be and why?

“Tough question. In reality, I think any car can be electrified, but it depends on each person's taste and what people are looking for. In my mind, it would perhaps be the old American V8 cars.”

What surprises people the most when they see how complicated – or simple – it is to electrify an older car?

“It's always complicated, but you can buy all sorts of kits that simplify the conversion. For example, in our case, ECC has already done all the groundwork and designed and manufactured mounts and an electrical ‘loom,’ so the execution itself is not that complicated, but the preparation can take a very long time.”.”

What is one thing that people completely underestimate – and one thing they overestimate – in a conversion like this?

“As with many projects of this kind, the time and money involved are often underestimated. In most cases, it's not cheap, although you can save money by using components from electric cars, such as electric motors and batteries.”

What are the biggest obstacles today: the technology, the regulations, or people's mindset?

“It's perhaps mainly the knowledge and lack of experience here in Iceland, but hopefully, this course will change that. It's also important that people who undertake such projects have a good knowledge of electric cars and how to work on them.”

If participants remember only one thing after the course, what do you want it to be?

“That anything is possible.”

Do you have a dream car that you would like to electrify yourself?

“Yes, my first car, a 2000 model VW Bora that I've owned for almost 20 years.”

The course will be held twice: Register here if you want to attend the course on 13 April. And here if you want to attend the course on 14 April.