If you’ve ever sat in your classic Land Rover, lovingly wiped a drip of oil from the driveway, and thought, “I love this old beast, but I wish it were silent and didn’t require a second mortgage to run,” then listen up. In a move that’s sure to get heritage purists and EV advocates talking, British technology company Electrogenic has officially brought its world-leading electric vehicle conversion kits to New Zealand.
The Oxford-based firm, known for its clever “drop-in” EV powertrains, has partnered with a local legend, the Franklin Motor Company, to be its first-ever installer in Aotearoa.
For those in the know, Franklin Motor Company is an internationally recognised Land Rover specialist with a simple mission: to “keep the Land Rover alive.” Now, that mission includes a high-voltage twist, as they will be installing Electrogenic’s full range of Defender and Series kits, transforming these agricultural icons into silent, torquey off-roaders.
So, what exactly is a “drop-in” kit? Think of it as a heart transplant for your car, but one that’s completely reversible. Electrogenic’s main selling point is that its kits are designed to fit neatly into the vehicle’s existing architecture, meaning no cutting, drilling, or other irreversible modifications are needed. The kits can be installed by a trained mechanic and, should you ever miss the rumble and fumes of the original engine, the whole process can be reversed.
The list of potential candidates for this electric makeover is a veritable who’s who of automotive royalty. The kits cater to a range of iconic models, including the original Mini, classic Porsche 911, Jaguar E-Type (XKE), and even the DeLorean DMC-12 and Mazda MX-5 (Miata).
This isn’t just a case of throwing in a battery and a motor. Electrogenic develops and manufactures its own technology, from in-house vehicle control software and digital dashboards to compact gearboxes. The driver gets modern controls with Sport, Eco, and Traffic modes, and Defender kits even come with a regenerative braking-based hill-descent control function. For total convenience, all kits are equipped for both 6.6kW AC charging and CCS rapid charging.
The move into New Zealand is part of a strategic global expansion for the British firm, which is also strengthening its UK network with new partners. Steve Drummond, co-founder of Electrogenic, said, “We’re delighted to announce these excellent additions to our world-leading partner installer network… more customers than ever before will have local access to our transformative EV powertrain technology.”
For classic car owners in New Zealand, this partnership opens up a fascinating new chapter, offering a high-quality, well-engineered path to electrification without sacrificing the soul (or the chassis) of their cherished vehicles. The future of classic motoring just got a whole lot quieter, and probably a lot quicker off the lights.
