Converting fuel cars to electric cars

This Dutch company proves that it is possible

Racing monsters such as a Ford Mustang, a Corvette or a Porsche 911. But also a van deux chevaux, a VW Transporter or a Honda. The Dutch company EV Europe is converting them to electric cars. Energy transition expert Marjon Castelijns has her second-hand Land rover Defender 110 converted to travel through Africa electrically and on solar panels for nine months. “This shows that much more is possible,” she says.

It may sound complicated, but it is not, according to co-owner Peter-Jan Schouten of EV Europe. “You actually convert a fuel car to electric in a few steps,” he says. First he removes the engine block and fuel tank to gain space. The electric motor is then mounted against the gearbox. In most cases it remains in place, although you no longer have to switch it.

Seventy cars converted

The batteries are placed in the engine compartment, because the electric motor is much smaller than the fuel engine. To increase the range, extra batteries can also be placed under the car or in the trunk. The charger is then connected, often where you used to fill up with petrol, the whole thing is wired, connected and tested. Then the car has to pass the RDW inspection and you're done. EV Europe has already converted seventy cars in this way.

Conversion kits all over the world

In this way, the company helps to make the Dutch and European vehicle fleet more sustainable. From 2035, no new cars or vans may be sold in EU countries with a petrol or diesel engine. In addition to converting cars yourself, the company also sells conversion kits. Do-it-yourself packages for handy tinkerers that contain an electric motor, battery pack, charger, cables and all other necessary parts. To support them, EV Europe has created various instructional videos. Schouten: “We sell more than a hundred kits per year. They go all over the world. From South Africa to New Zealand, from Australia to Europe.”

Faster and more reliable

EV Europe was created in 2018 from a merger of Heijnsdijk Electric Cars and EV Custom. With the latter company, Schouten converted vintage cars into electric cars. “I had a Corvette myself and I didn't feel very comfortable driving through the city with such blue fumes and that noise,” he says. “But the most important reason is not even sustainability, but that the cars become more reliable and nice and fast through conversion. It just drives much nicer. In addition, you want to keep up with the times.”

See here how EV Europe converts fuel cars to electric:

Gap in the market

It turned out to be a gap in the market. More and more owners of vintage cars wanted to have them converted to electric. That saves on maintenance, they can simply enter environmental zones in cities again and they have something unique. Schouten bought all parts and batteries from Vincent Heijnsdijk's company. He had also converted a fuel car to electric and was featured in the newspaper. Then the number of requests from others exploded. He started an online shop for European approved parts, where Schouten came knocking. They once went to a large customer together and then decided to go together. EV Europe was born. The fast-growing company in Delft's mission is to convert or have as many fuel cars converted as possible.

Land Rover conversion

And then Marjon Castelijns showed up on the sidewalk with her Land rover Defender. She wants to have it converted to electric and then travel through Eastern Africa with her daughter for nine months. Similar to the Dutch couple Renske Cox and Maarten van Pel, who drove all the way to South Africa, but with a new electric car. EV Europe had already sold approximately twenty conversion kits for the Land rover Defender, but this was the first time that it had to do the work itself. In addition to the standard conversion package, the company is installing a fast charger and installing an extendable solar panel system on the roof, so that Castelijns can charge the Land rover itself if there is no socket or charging station nearby.

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