top of page
lucindabrassey

The future of sustainable driving with Retroelectric

Updated: Sep 26


As we’re becoming aware of the increasing need to live more sustainably, it’s no surprise that many of us are starting to consider how we travel.


Electric cars have been a hot topic over the last few years. The UK Government is currently set to ban the production of internal combustion engine (ICE) cars by 2035. Yet, there remains a debate on the speed of rollout for electric cars.


If you own a classic car, going electric might be way off your radar. But if you’re exploring how to be more sustainable in the long term, a conversion could be the answer.


Firstly, let’s look at traditional cars versus electric. . .


The environmental impact of ICE cars


Just how much pollution are traditional ICE cars contributing to?


Greenmatch has reported that domestic transport in the UK produces the equivalent of 99 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. As of 2022, transport is estimated to be responsible for 28% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK.


And it’s not just the damage to the environment we need to be concerned about. Car pollution is linked to an array of health issues, including heart disease and respiratory problems, which is a concern for those living in built-up areas and cities.


Areas such as London have been testing Low-Traffic Neighbourhood schemes to tackle the issue, yet the problem remains with vehicles simply being diverted onto surrounding roads.



Are EVs better than traditional cars?


There’s been much debate about whether EVs are better for the environment, mainly due to the emissions produced during production.


It’s correct that the production of an EV can be less sustainable than a traditional combustion engine car. It’s estimated that the increase in carbon emissions during the production period of an EV could be up to 60%.


However, according to the Government’s Climate Change Committee, this carbon debt is offset by the car’s use within about two years. Once they’re on the road, electric motors can get up to twice as many miles with the same amount of energy as a combustion engine.




While EVs might have a higher manufacturing carbon cost in the short term, in the long term, they more than make up for the emissions produced during production.


What does this mean for classic car drivers? 


If you’ve already got a classic, you may not have considered the level of emissions it's producing. Although likely the per mile emmissions cost is very high the reality is many classics don't drive a lot of miles.


In fact, a study by Loop suggests that classics contribute to as little as 0.22% of all transport emissions in the UK. Again not a huge surprise when it's estimated the average mileage for a classic car is 1,200 miles per year, which is significantly less compared to the 7,200 miles average of a modern car.


So why would you want to go electric?


Well one of the reasons for the low mileage is reliability concerns or additional maintenance or time requirements to keep the car on the road.


Converting to electric now could help solve that problem. Here are just some of the benefits of converting your classic car:


  • Minimal maintenance

  • Cheaper running costs

  • Increased longevity

  • Improved performance to keep up with modern traffic


Not only will you be able to keep your classic going for much longer (and more reliability too boot), but you also won’t be contributing to the emissions that come from the production of a new car.




Conclusion


For a sustainable future, EVs are certainly the way forward. As technologies advance, we should expect the emissions from battery production to dramatically reduce, along with the development of renewable energy resources.


If you want to explore options for your classic, then take a look at some of our conversions here.


Whether you’re looking to drive greener or you want to extend the life of your classic, Retroelectric is here to help. Contact us to see what we can do for you.


About Retro Electrics: At Retroelectric, our concept is simple: to take what is truly great about classic cars and improve upon the parts that aren’t. We’ve kept the quintessential good looks, driving characteristics, and timeless designs and upgraded the engine performance, braking, and handling. The result is a fusion of modern and heritage. 


30 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page