This $110,000 conversion turns your DeLorean into an EV

U.K.'s Electrogenic devises (completely reversible) way to replace DMC-12's 130-hp V6 with 215-hp electric motor

Published Jul 08, 2024 • Last updated Jul 08, 2024 • 2 minute read

Electrogenic's DeLorean DMC-12 EV conversion Photo by Electrogenic

Yes, you can now buy a conversion kit to turn your DeLorean into an EV
Out with the 130-hp V6, replaced with a 215-hp electric motor
The swap is reversible, but also costs roughly CDN$113,000

Story continues below

The U.K. firm known for swapping out the gas powerplants of a wide variety of classic cars for electric motors and a raft of batteries is turning its attention to a different automotive icon: the DeLorean DMC-12. Electrogenic has tackled one-off EV conversion swaps on everything from a 1971 Citroen DS to a 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom, but its aim with the wedge-shaped stainless-steel DeLorean is to develop a “plug-and-play” conversion kit line, as it has for some other more popular classics like the Jaguar E-Type and Land Rover Defender.

The editorial staff at Driving.ca have mixed opinions on electric powertrain swaps in classic cars, but it’s hard to complain when the conversion Electrogenic’s offering is apparently completely reversible—the original structure remains unchanged, and the 43-kWh battery simply goes where the gas tank used to live. The electric motor is integrated into a new rear axle, and the whole shebang adds just 40 kg (88 lbs) to the DeLorean’s curb weight.

Electrogenic says the EV motor that replaces the – often-derided – 130-hp PRV V6 instead churns out about 215 horsepower and 229 lb-ft of torque. Routed through a fixed-ratio gearbox equipped (for the first time in an Electrogenic conversion) launch control, that output propels the electric DeLorean from zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.0 seconds, half the time of the stock DMC-12, making it a “true sports car.”

Story continues below

Electrogenic's DeLorean DMC-12 EV conversionPhoto by Electrogenic
Electrogenic's DeLorean DMC-12 EV conversionPhoto by Electrogenic
Electrogenic's DeLorean DMC-12 EV conversionPhoto by Electrogenic
Electrogenic's DeLorean DMC-12 EV conversionPhoto by Electrogenic
Electrogenic's DeLorean DMC-12 EV conversionPhoto by Electrogenic

The battery should be good for about 240 km (150 miles) and can be fully charged in less than an hour. Other features include regen-type brakes to charge said battery on the go; and a selection of two driving modes, Eco and Sport. Optional is an improved air-conditioning system, Apple CarPlay compatibility, and a bespoke digital dashboard.

The EV swap can be performed on manual- or automatic-trans DeLoreans, and the company’s partners across the U.K. are capable of pulling off the conversion with ease. Their handiwork won’t come cheap, of course, with Electrogenic figuring the process will cost between £65,000 and £85,000, equivalent to CDN$113,000 to $148,000, not including the donor car. At those prices, we reckon not many owners who do decide to opt in will ever elect to take advantage of the kit’s reversability and head Back to the Past.

Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on Instagram ,Facebook and X to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.

Nicholas Maronese

Nicholas has been part of the Driving.ca team since 2018, and writes specifically about classic cars – like his first and currently only car, his 1971 Plymouth Valiant Scamp – whenever possible, though he also enjoys exploring vehicular history, automotive design, and car culture. His specific areas of focus include American cars of the 1930s, ’60s, and ’70s.

Summary

Driving.ca News and Features editor; and a Driving.ca contributor since 2018 Professional writer and editor for over 10 years, seeing publication in some of the most widely read outlets in Canada and the U.S. Specialties include classic-car profiles, automotive history, and stories exploring obscure Canadian car culture

Education

Nicholas graduated from York University with a Bachelor’s in Professional Writing, and a minor in Philosophy. He also holds a Canadian Private Pilot’s Licence (PPL); and has been training to be a concours judge.

Experience

Nicholas started out writing news for Sympatico Autos (later renamed Autofocus) before eventually becoming that website’s chief editor. In 2018, he joined Driving.ca, and was not long after made the News and Features Editor. Nicholas has also contributed to the Toronto Star’s Wheels section; to Hagerty’s editorial efforts; and to an assortment of other publications. Nicholas has owned and maintained a 1971 Plymouth Valiant Scamp since 2012; and previously tinkered on a 1929 Ford Model A. He is a regular volunteer with the Cobble Beach Concours d’Elegance in Owen Sound, Ontario; and a frequent participant in Classic Car Adventures’ Maple Mille event in southern Ontario.

Major works by the author

Nicholas loves exploring overlooked corners of Canadian car culture. For Sympatico Autos, he put together a deep-dive look at General Motors’ disastrous introduction of its European Firenza to the Canadian market; drafted an authoritative history of the built-in-Canada MCV CH4 supercar; and arranged the first wind-tunnel test of a 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona “aero warrior” available online. For Driving.ca, he’s profiled Chris Hadfield’s passion for first-generation Ford Thunderbirds; proven that pre-war cars, excepting the Chrysler Airflow, were more aerodynamic backwards than forwards; and unearthed the story of the Ferguson Super Sport, a one-off roadster built in Toronto in the 1960s.

Learn more about Author

You must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.

Create an Account

Join the Conversation

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.