All-Electric Alfa Romeo Spider Drives Like a Miata
Electric Classic Cars didn’t just swap the powertrain of this all-electric Alfa Romeo Spider but also restored the car to its original glory.
British EV restomod outfit Electric Classic Cars has a knack for causing controversies. Earlier this month, ECC electrified a BMW E9 “Batmobile,” considered heretical in many circles. The company is now out to enrage purists once again, and the company recently unveiled an all-electric Alfa Romeo Spider.
There’s no denying that electric conversions are the best way to future-proof a classic car. Nevertheless, one has to be very careful when modifying a classic. Thankfully, the team at ECC knows its way around such vehicles. A 2-liter 4-cylinder IC engine powered this beautiful Italian roadster in its original spec.
The motor could produce 124 HP of power and 122 lb-ft of peak torque. ECC” s Alfa Romeo spider ditches its gas powerplant for a NetGain HyPer 9 motor. In this electric Alpha, the motor does not hook up directly to the wheel but instead to the drive shaft.
The motor of this all-electric Alfa Romeo Spider is quite a capable unit and deserves a potent power source.
Therefore, ECC uses seven Tesla Model S batteries to power the all-electric Alpha Romeo. The 35 kWh Tesla battery pack is good for 420 miles of driving range. Electric Classic Cars’ Richard Morgan claims that the power generated by the electric Alpha’s powertrain is similar to the roadster’s original power output.
Morgan also shared his thoughts on the electric Alpha Romeo Spider. “This is what we call a mild conversion,” explains Morgan. He further adds,” So, what we do with mild conversions is, we kind of try to replicate, if you like, the original power that the car used to have.”
Batteries of the Alpha are split between the front and rear to maintain the Spider’s original weight distribution. The car’s overall weight also closely matches that of the original roadster. The attention to detail throughout the car is awe-inspiring, and ECC even integrated the charging plug inside the gas pillar. Lastly, a gear selector replaces the Alpha’s manual shifter.
“The handling of it reminds me of a, an MX-5 (Miata), it’s, it’s just, I mean it’s not an all-out sports car that’s for sure, I mean you know there are certainly limits to the handling ability of the car, but it’s just so predictable and neutral, and it’s it just puts a smile on your face,” explains Morgan.
Image Source: Electric Classic Cars