Teaching an Old Bronco New Tricks
A new automotive design, technology, and engineering firm introduced its first production vehicle: an electric classic Ford Bronco. The new Zero Labs Automotive vehicle is based on the first-generation Ford Bronco (1966-’77). It is handcrafted by the company with aerospace-grade carbon fiber body panels and parts, molded wood consoles, and features more than 1,000 newly designed parts.
To retain the off-road capability of the Bronco, the Zero Labs Ford Bronco features an Atlas 2 (two-speed) transfer case, Currie front and rear differentials, adjustable FOX coil over suspension complete with Brembo 6 piston caliper brakes.
Electric performance includes digital Telematics, custom all-digital gauge display, VCU and CAN Network, 70 kWh battery, 190-mile range, Level 2 charging and a 360 horsepower permanent magnet AC motor. The vehicle is fully digital.
“This is a classic vehicle so there are no giant edge-to-edge screens to distract the driver from a simple driving experience,” Zero Labs stated in a news release. “The digital gauge cluster was faithfully recreated from the original design, and all vehicle diagnostics and controls are behind a hidden screen or viewable from the user’s mobile phone.”
Just 150 of these first-edition electric vehicles are available for reservation, according to the company.
Adam Roe is CEO and founder of Zero Labs Automotive. After selling his agency business in 2015, he hired a team of race vehicle engineers, electrical engineers, vehicle prototype manufactures, composite engineers, aerospace fabricators and premium classic car manufacturers to focus on one problem.
“Given the world’s growing commitment to clean energy, what do we do with our past? Classic vehicles represent how we keep our past alive, the spirit of who we are, a conflict between pride and shame, and now they are a symbol for change,” Roe said.
“A clean energy future does not have to come at the expense of our past,” Roe said. “We have committed ourselves to providing car lovers with both the spirit of the past and a clean energy future but at today’s standards. I am proud to say, after three years and thousands of hours in development, we have created a meaningful production vehicle so unique that one look is all it takes to forever change the way we separate the relationship between our past and our future.”
