Leaving an Electric Legacy

This article originally appeared in the June 2024 issue of THE SHOP magazine.

There is growing acceptance of taking classic vehicles with ICE powertrains and swapping them with electric ones, but regardless of which side you fall on, as industry professionals I think we all would rather see a vehicle being driven than collecting dust.

While there’s certainly still a place for keeping a Ferrari V-12 with a half-dozen Weber carburetors singing, there are some less-popular classics where the drivetrain parts are becoming harder and harder to find.

The Gas Monkey Garage Testarossa EV swap with parts from Legacy EV in an example of how taking a classic and converting it to EV makes sense in some situations. Keeping the dust off of cool rides and bringing smiles to owners and onlookers is what drives our industry forward.

It turns out that Legacy EV is a company of auto enthusiasts who want to see classics on the road and is looking to help shops do it profitably. The company is a leader in electric vehicle (EV) aftermarket applications and education programs.

Legacy EV offers complete EV conversion kits, EV components, training courses and technical build support. Products from different EV component manufacturers are available, so customers don’t have to be pigeonholed into a one-size-fits-all solution.

In addition to making cool products, Legacy EV also wants the next generation of techs to be able to integrate EV components safely and profitably. The company’s stance is to provide training to mechanics to ensure the transition to electric doesn’t result in the loss of ICE vehicles and trusted auto mechanics.

It’s fitting that the president and co-founder is named Mavrick. He certainly is one.

STARTING WITH SAFETY

As this fledgling industry begins to take flight, it will need trained technicians and proven best practices.

Legacy’s Mavrick Knoles says, “We helped to create the Electric Vehicle Technician Education Council (EVTEC). Newly established EV technician standards of EV production and training will help get novices up to speed quickly on safety and procedures.”

There are also programs for techs coming from the gasoline world, starting with the EV Fundamentals Certification program that focuses on High Voltage Safety and trains new techs on the proper use of protective gloves when working with batteries capable of delivering high voltage and current outputs.

Next is instruction on systematic safety and procedural safety. Knoles notes Legacy EV batteries feature internal fire suppression. Once techs have the knowledge foundation for a safe build, they can then turn to Legacy EV for a multitude of battery, motor and controller solutions.

“One of the most popular swaps commonplace in our world is using Tesla equipment, which we are happy to help with,” says Rob Ward of Legacy EV.

However, Tesla does not sell its products a la carte, meaning supplies can be limited.

“There are only so many Teslas with bad drivers that are going to wrap themselves around a telephone pole and become a suitable donor drivetrain for a project build,” Ward laughs.

Legacy EV offers solutions from Cascadia, Fellten, Revolt and Zonic, each with their own benefits. In all, the company works with more than 60 smaller suppliers to make sure customers can get everything needed for a successful EV conversion.

“It’s our job to weed through the vaporware for solid products with brand-agnostic product support,” Ward reveals.

The company is even working with the Carroll Shelby Automotive Program at Northeast Texas Community College to help automotive technician students earn an EV certification. It is the nation’s first program offered by an accredited college to prepare students to work on EV systems and conversions through a comprehensive curriculum and hands-on training, program officials believe.

“We’re thrilled to announce this new Legacy EV certification program for the students at the Carroll Shelby Automotive Program,” says Knoles. “As EVs continue to make up greater market share among drivers, the demand for technicians trained in repair and maintenance is critical. Working with the Carroll Shelby Automotive Program, we are establishing a new standard for EV education as we train the next generation of auto mechanics.”

Legacy EV’s certification for the program will include a five-part curriculum that offers an in-depth education on EV history and technology including motors, batteries, chargers and converters. During the hands-on training portion of the course, students work on EV motors and learn how to apply what they already know about gas engines to electric motors.

Jon McCullough, EVP for advancement at Northeast Texas Community College, says, “Carroll Shelby was committed to embracing new technologies and blazing new trails. Before he passed, Carroll forecasted the automotive industry’s embrace of electric technology. That future is coming to fruition, and we’re honored that his automotive program will be the first in the country to offer an on-campus EV certification from an accredited college.”

GET ON THE BENCH

It can be tricky for students new to EVs to visualize abstract ideas, so Legacy EV has created a training bench suitable for educators.

The 100V Electric Vehicle Training Bench is designed to teach hands-on EV fundamentals that prepare students for careers in the e-mobility industry and enable those who are already working in the space to gain valuable industry knowledge. It allows students to understand the fundamentals of EV powertrains and safety functions of various components and systems.

“We are thrilled to unveil the 100V EV Training Bench, which is designed to create a foundational understanding of EV technology without limiting students to any one OEM platform, which in turn helps prepare students for a dynamic career in the growing EV industry,” says Knoles. “Students can use this bench to gain invaluable hands-on experience in a structured setting, before moving on to become EV technicians.”

A number of colleges, including Heartland Community College, J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College, and Saddleback College, have purchased the benches. The systems include a designated space for a laptop for real-time programming and datalogging, a programmable motor controller to commission, test and tune the motor system, and a programmable battery management and charging system. They can connect to a controller area network (CAN) to interpret data.

HOW ABOUT MY BUILD?

The company always has EV solutions at its disposal in its Tempe, Arizona, headquarters and warehouse, where 25 people are working to put systems together and the team is growing. Legacy EV (legacyev.com) can ship internationally to 22 countries with its freight partners.

To showcase the differences among different EV solutions, Legacy is embarking on a High/Low series of builds of a 1966 Chevy C10 using both premium cost-no-object components and the first EV conversion kit with everything you need to get the wheels spinning under $10,000.

For higher-end builds for those who want creature comforts such as air conditioning or power steering, Knoles notes, “any accessory on a pulley just needs to be replaced with a 12V version.”

ARMING TECHS WITH PARTS & SMARTS

Recently, Legacy EV partnered with UK-based Fellten to offer products that can convert older vehicles to EVs. At last year’s SEMA Show, the two companies announced the collaboration, calling it a new era for the e-conversion industry in the United States.

Leveraging Fellten’s advanced conversion solutions and Legacy EV’s leading position in U.S.-wide distribution and dedicated training, the partnership is poised to bridge the past’s automotive legacy with the future of electric propulsion, officials noted. Legacy EV will serve as the exclusive distributor for Fellten’s state-of-the-art components, e-motors, battery packs, and its complete bolt-on, plug-in conversion systems throughout the USA.

Because the company is based in England, it has some Land Rover applications that are already pre-engineered to work out of the box. Classic Land Rovers have become wildly popular, but their classic drivetrains are lackluster, and it is very challenging to keep oil drippings off of the floors of customer garages.

Legacy now has access to “an everything you need in one box solution” for the off-road platform. The deal also encompasses coverage for Fellten’s three-year warranty.

To ensure optimal product utilization and consumer satisfaction, Legacy EV will harness its vast network, providing rigorous training for technicians across all 50 states.

“By joining forces with Legacy EV, we’re not just introducing our products to the U.S. market, we’re ensuring they’re backed by the gold-standard of EV conversion expertise. It’s a testament to the potential we see in this partnership,” says Chris Hazell of Fellten.

Also at SEMA, teams from both companies performed a swap in a 1930 Ford Model A hot rod. It was wild to watch a vehicle drive into the Las Vegas Convention Center with gas in the tank and then leave under electric power.

“The transition to electric doesn’t require abandoning our automotive heritage,” Knoles believes. “With innovative solutions and our expertise, we can preserve classics for a new generation in the most straightforward way possible for conversion specialists.”