Classic petrol and diesel cars could remain on the road in a fully electric future, according to a leading expert.
Daniel Forsberg, CTEK’s Marketing Manager, warned that completely scrapping combustion models would be a “waste” as most petrol and diesel vehicles could be converted.
ICE to EV conversions are already available across the UK but can cost tens of thousands of pounds making it unaffordable for almost all road users.
CTEK has issued a 10-point plan on how to make the technology more affordable which would help bring down the cost of EV ownership.
Daniel said: “Converting older ICE vehicles to electric power makes environmental sense – the millions of ICE cars on the road embody a huge amount of material resources and manufacturing manpower and energy costs.
“A future in which tens of millions of ICE cars are all scrapped would be a tremendous waste of money, materials and the carbon dioxide already emitted during their making. And manufacturing a new EV involves a large carbon cost.”
He added: “Currently conversions are expensive, which is one reason classic car owners are the main customer base.
“They often have the finances to pay for it and the incentive of wanting to give a cherished vehicle a fossil fuel-free future.
“To bring this option to the masses, drivers need incentivising and auto businesses need to be attracted to offer an affordable conversion service by making the process simpler.
“The UK has a strong automotive industry with many skilled employees who can develop methods and processes to implement electric conversion in a cost-effective and environmentally conscious way.”
Among their demands, CTEK has called for the introduction of standardized requirements for EV conversions which are “clear and easy” to follow.
They also want to see new financial subsidies or incentives to those who convert their petrol and diesel models to run on electric power.
CTEK wants to see eco-friendly loans available for those who want to spend money converting their vehicles for EV use.
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Extra training should be offered to mechanics wanting to get involved in EV conversion while a simplified inspection process should also be launched.
CTEK has called for extra technical support while more funds should be diverted into research and development of the technology.
Daniel concluded: “The UK has many reasons to incentivise the conversion of older cars to electric power – environmental, economic and employment.
“In Sweden our Government is looking seriously at this and in France there are already subsidies and a supportive regulatory framework, which has encouraged Renault to become active in conversion.
“Imagine if some of the most numerous petrol and diesel cars on UK roads, such as Ford Fiestas and VW Golfs, could be cheaply converted to electric. That would be a real game-changer on the UK’s drive to its EV future.”
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Classic Petrol and Diesel Cars Could Be Converted to EVs, Expert Says
