Although a noble thought by Aston Martin, this basically kills the whole point. Wondering what we are talking about? Aston Martin Works plans to protect the classic cars in the future by allowing them to live as Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs). It has produced the first model under its plan called the Heritage EV Programme.

Compromise Without Compromising

Aston Martin came up with this idea that if in the future internal combustion engines are outlawed, what will happen to these classics? These cars are delicate machines; given their age and the way they were built back in the day. So, the owners would not want to make permanent changes and lose the authenticity of the car by swapping the whole combustion engine with an electric drivetrain. It allows the car to retain as much of its original character as possible in its electric form, while also having the ability to fully revert back to its original combustion engine.

What They Had To Say?

This reversible powertrain has been developed using knowledge acquired during the development of the Rapide E that was showcased earlier this year.Aston Martin’s CEO, Andy Palmer, said, ‘We are very aware of the environmental and social pressures that threaten to restrict the use of classic cars in the years to come. Our Second Century Plan not only encompasses our new and future models, but also protects our treasured heritage.’

How It Works?

There are a few workshops that convert classic cars to electric vehicles these days, but none of them have a reversible concept. Want to know how this works? Well, in order to have the ability to reinstate the car’s original powertrain if desired, the workings of the powertrain sit on the original engine and gearbox mountings, with the ‘cassette’ (battery) enclosed within its own self-contained cell. It does not disrupt the original placement of the unit. ‘Umbilical cords,’ what Aston Martin likes to call it, are then fed from the main power unit to drive the car’s electrical systems. To monitor and manage all the systems, a dedicated screen is also discreetly fitted to the car’s interior.

Final Thoughts

Aston Martin will start working on all customers Heritage EV conversions from 2019. So, don’t expect this to be any cheap. Would you be willing to do this mod to your classic car, or would you go for a full-electric swap? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Further reading

Read our full review on the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6.