Electrogenic reveals E-Type with ‘drop in’ EV kit

British EV company Electrogenic, known for market-leading, classic car EV conversions, has revealed the first customer Jaguar E-Type (or XK-E) fitted with one of its plug-and-play, ‘drop-in’ EV conversion kits.

Thanks to Electrogenic’s clever packaging and innovative battery pack construction, the electrified classic is also lighter than the original ‘60s machine.

The easy to install, entirely reversible package ‘drop-in’ kits feature the innovative tech that has underpinned Electrogenic’s sustained growth in recent years – developed and honed over the course of countless bespoke EV conversion projects. The kits are offered globally via Electrogenic’s partner network.

“We’re delighted to reveal the first customer E-Type fitted with our game-changing drop-in conversion kit, said co-founder of Electrogenic, Steve Drummond. “Thanks to our cutting-edge, proprietary EV technology, the E-Type – for many the most beautiful car of all – is now just as good to drive as it is to look at. Our drop-in kit range preserves this true British design icon for the future, ensuring it can be admired, and enjoyed, by generations to come.”

Electrogenic also offers EV powertrains for Land Rover, classic Mini, Porsche 911 and Triumph Stag.

The kits are designed to be easily fitted by a qualified technician, slotting neatly into the existing vehicle architecture and are offered alongside Electrogenic’s bespoke conversions.

The 1962 E-Type series 1 roadster, finished in a stunning hue of opalescent silver blue, sports the E43 package that equips the classic with 43kW of brand-new, OEM-grade batteries for 150-plus miles of range in real world driving.

With 160bhp (120kW) and 460 lb/ft (620Nm) of instant torque (at the crank), the E43 kit equipped E-Type can hit 60 mph in under six seconds. Thanks to reserves of torque it, Electrogenic said it packs real performance punch at any speed. The kits drive through a neatly packaged single-speed, fixed ratio transmission.

The E-Type Kit range also includes larger-capacity E48 and E63 options, which feature 48kW and 63kW of batteries, delivering 160-plus and 200-plus miles of range respectively.

As with all Electrogenic conversions, the batteries are densely packed together using the firm’s mounting system. Thanks to the packaging of the cells and carefully designed battery boxes, an impressive amount of battery capacity is accommodated within the E-Type’s original structure, despite its extremely tight interior dimensions.

For E-Types, the motor bolts into the space vacated by the gearbox and the batteries are nestled low in the engine bay, replacing the cast-iron engine block, and at the rear of the car instead of the fuel tank and spare wheel. Weight distribution is carefully optimised to ensure superb, natural handling.

In the E63 model, additional battery packs are tucked away in the space behind the rear seat, again carefully placed to ensure superb weight distribution.

Thanks to the use of cutting-edge, lightweight componentry, extra weight is kept to a minimum; the E43 and E48 variants are lighter than the standard car. Even in large battery E63 form, an Electrogenic electrified E-Type weighs no more than a conventionally powered example.

The sophisticated packages have been extensively developed by Electrogenic’s engineering and software development teams to include all the modern features a driver could need. The E-Type packages have optimised Eco, Sport and Traffic profiles, honed over the course of an extensive testing program, along with energy-recouping regeneration for the brakes and throttle. The settings are infinitely configurable and can be tailored to an owner’s specific requirements.

The original Smiths instruments have been repurposed to display vital information; the fuel gauge now shows state of charge, the oil temperature gauge is now charger temperature, engine temperature is now motor temperature, while RPM shows RPM of motor with a scale factor of half.

Electrogenic’s E-Type kit is compatible with Series 1 to 3 cars, in coupe and roadster form. All kits include rapid CCS charging as standard. A full charge via CCS takes around 50 minutes.

“Having seen extraordinary international demand since we launched our drop-in kit range at the end of last year, it’s immensely satisfying to now be delivering kit converted classics – like this stunning E-Type – to new owners all over the world, ready to be enjoyed for decades to come,” said Drummond.

“We can’t wait to continue delivering clean, reliable classic motoring to enthusiasts around the globe at scale, working in close partnership with our ever-growing network of installer partners.

“These kit deliveries truly mark the dawn of a new chapter for the company, taking the business to a whole new level.”

Electrogenic’s drop-in kits feature the firm’s proprietary EV technology that has underpinned the company’s rapid rise and sustained growth in recent years, developed in-house by a team comprising leading automotive engineers, programmers and electrical experts.

The kits reflect Electrogenic’s approach of developing and manufacturing its own technology, which includes in-house designed software, printed circuit boards and digital dashboards, as well as vehicle management technology that can integrate any of the latest technology such as motors and battery modules to incorporate the best new tech into its conversion packages.

The drop-in kits also use highly innovative mechanical componentry, including a unique system for creating high-density battery packs and exceptionally compact in-line and transverse reduction gearboxes, all manufactured in the UK.