Dubai: Classic cars are getting an electric makeover
In a city where Bugattis and Bentleys are commonplace, Dubai's automotive enthusiasts are increasingly converting classic cars to electric ones, combining timeless design with silent, sustainable energy.
These bespoke electric conversions — where vintage masterpieces receive state-of-the-art battery powertrains — are rapidly becoming the ultimate statement of environmental consciousness and taste among the Emirates' elite collectors.
'There's an interesting movement around electric mobility in the UAE,' says Salman Hussain, CEO and co-founder of FUSE EV Conversions in Dubai. 'A lot of people are seeing fantastic new vehicles, initially from Tesla and then from China, which are constantly beating their petrol-powered competition in performance.'
The appeal goes beyond mere performance gains. 'People want to express their individuality on the roads, and electro-modding is another way of doing just that.'
This shift comes as the UAE embraces broader environmental initiatives. As Imthishan Giado, owner of Motoring Middle East, tells KT LUXE : 'Over the past decade, the region has seen a massive surge of interest in environmental awareness from becoming a fast follower in sustainable building construction to the adoption of electric vehicles, even in our challenging thermal conditions.'
For traditionalists, companies like FUSE EV are taking a craftsman's approach to win them over.
'For every purist that loves their classic and would think twice before changing a bolt on their vehicle if it wasn't an original factory item, there are many more people who would love the idea of owning a classic, but are anxious about the potential for constant breakdowns and parts hunting,' Hussain explains.
His team approaches each project with meticulous attention. 'We believe there is an absolute art to making these cars. From perfecting every component and its placement to bespoke interfaces, we approach these creations with the delicacy and intent of a master craftsman making a sushi roll.'
When it comes to popular models for electric conversion in Dubai, German classics appear to be leading the charge. 'A lot of people seem to love converting German vehicles, particularly VW Beetles and a few select Mercedes models,' says Hussain. This aligns with Giado's observations that 'popular models to convert include the evergreen VW Beetle, '60s icon Ford Mustang and the style-forward Mercedes SL of the 1960s and '70s'.
One such classic car owner is Dubai resident Sami Khoreibi. When he moved to the UAE in 2007 to launch the region's first solar company, few would have predicted his sustainability journey would lead to converting a classic 1982 Mercedes SL into an electric vehicle.
The Palestinian-Canadian entrepreneur, who sold his solar venture to a UK pension fund in 2017, has merged his passion for sustainability with his love of classic cars through a partnership with FUSE EV Conversions.
'I've always been a fan of classic vehicles,' Khoreibi said. 'But what I've found, having been a very unsuccessful car collector historically, is that the actual maintenance, smell, and all of the stuff that comes with classic car ownership is a huge barrier to sustainable entry.'
His interest in electric vehicles began in 2009 when he attended the launch of the Tesla Model S prototype in New York. 'It was like being in an iPhone with wheels,' he recalled. 'The car was completely silent, but the performance was nuts. That was really eye-opening to me that this technology has the potential to really change transport.'
After becoming one of the UAE's first Tesla owners in 2017, Khoreibi continued purchasing classic Mercedes vehicles that reminded him of his childhood. 'We had those cars growing up. I remember being a kid and seeing the large body S and SL class cars parked outside both in our homes and our friends' homes in Toronto, and it brings me back to a really, really nice time in my childhood,' he said.
However, the maintenance challenges of vintage vehicles frustrated him. 'I never went through the entire restoration process because I wasn't yet that committed to the process,' Khoreibi explained.
His solution came when he discovered FUSE EV Conversions. After visiting their workshop and seeing their early conversions, Khoreibi purchased a 1982 Mercedes SL specifically to convert it to electric power. 'I think I drove it twice just to enjoy it, but then with the intent that this is going to be converted into an electric, and I'm going to work closely with the team at FUSE to turn that into reality,' he said.
The project, which took 'a couple of years of engineering and restoration', has resulted in what Khoreibi describes as 'an amazing marriage' of nostalgia and cutting-edge technology.
'It's a really, really amazing merger of nostalgia and, ultimately, restoration of something that's classic with the most cutting-edge technology...of how the motors, the control systems, the lithium batteries, and everything in between communicate with each other,' he said.
Khoreibi chose the Mercedes SL model specifically because it wasn't a rare collector's item. 'This was a production car, so it's not a rare classic where removing the components could be viewed as a crime,' he explained. The car also held personal significance, as his family owned a 1980 Mercedes when it moved from Saudi Arabia to Canada.
His electrified Mercedes has already provided memorable family experiences. 'Just last weekend, we woke up early on Saturday morning, when it wasn't too hot, took our kids to Al Wasl, got a coffee, and I got to drive with the top down with my wife and our kids. And it was just an amazing experience,' Khoreibi said.
Converting classics isn't simply about cramming batteries where engines once lived. It requires a delicate balance of enhancing performance while preserving character. 'We aspire to elevate the driving experience over the original, without creating such an immense performance gap that the vehicle drives like a completely different car,' explains Hussain. 'We measure every vehicle's weight balance at least three times to get it right during the planning stage, and pay close attention to performance tuning to ensure it's as close to the original as possible.'
In some cases, this means preserving unexpected elements. 'Some of our EV customers even want the manual transmission to be usable,' he explains.
Electrifying a classic doesn't come cheap, but costs are becoming more reasonable as technology advances.
'Generally, these conversions start at around Dh145,000, but depending on the client's personal taste, can extend far beyond that starting point,' Hussain reveals. 'On average, our customers pay Dh230,000 per conversion.'
Giado confirms this pricing reality: 'While Chinese carmakers are working fast to reduce barriers to entry, for now, electric cars can be an expensive indulgence for most. This is doubly so when one chooses to convert an existing internal combustion engine vehicle to electric power.'
The art of electrifying classics involves preserving their aesthetic charm while incorporating modern technology.
'It's a delicate balance between maintaining that classic vehicle look and ensuring it's what contemporary customers expect in terms of a premium driving feel,' says Hussain. 'In our Patrol, we used a monochrome display just like you'd see in electronics from the '90s. In some other builds, we forgo the screen altogether for classic-style gauges powered by electronics underneath.'
Is this merely a passing fad or the beginning of a sustainable approach to classic car preservation?
According to Hussain, 'There's been a huge rise in resto-modding in the USA and Europe —and electro-modding is at the cutting edge of this trend. The market for electrification kits alone is expected to reach $1.43 billion by 2030.'
Giado offers a more measured perspective. 'Converting classic cars to electric propulsion can be a contentious topic for many passionate owners who adore the sensations and elaborate process required to drive older vehicles. It's unlikely to ever become mainstream for the vintage world.'
'As parts become ever more impossible to source and technical know-how diminishes, classic car owners may yet change their tune as electric conversions become the most cost-effective option'.
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