► Intriguing electric Mazda MX-5 conversion
► Built using brand new bespoke components
► 0-60mph in 6sec, 150-mile driving range
Electrogenic has developed a ‘plug and play’ electric vehicle (EV) conversion for the Mk1 Mazda MX-5. The British firm has already made a name for itself creating what it calls ‘drop-in’ EV powertrains for Land Rover Defenders, older Porsche 911s, the Jaguar E-Type and the classic Mini – now it’s amped-up perhaps the most accessible modern classic of them all.
Coming at a time when the buying public and the auto industry seems to be going cold on the whole electric car bandwagon, could this be the perfect tonic to put a bit of zip back into the concept? After a duff budget Dacia EV and an apparently controversial Jaguar relaunch, can a machine as pure and simple as the original NA MX-5 put us back on the right path again?
Can an electric MX-5 possibly be any good?
Obviously, we’re going to have to reserve judgement until we’ve driven it – which is likely to be sometime in early 2025. And at the moment there’s a glaring lack of information about the price of the MX-5 EV conversion, which could put a downer on the whole thing. But that aside there’s a lot of Good News emanating for the direction of the Electrogenic workshop here.
To be clear, your humble scribe has previously been a serial early Mazda MX-5 owner – the last a Eunos Roadster modified with ITBs and a lot of Flyin’ Miata reinforcement – so is as likely as anyone to be dubious about an electric motor to carry through the fundamental character of this diminutive sports car. Let’s take a look at the stats.
First up, the 120kW electric motor. That’s equivalent to 161bhp – a chunky boost over even 1.8-litre Mk1 MX-5s (which have, or had, roughly 130bhp) before you even get to the instant 229lb ft of torque. While there are plenty of more powerful Mk1s out there now, that should certainly be enough to keep the rear-wheel drive handling interesting.
Especially since the whole car still only weighs 1100kg according to Electrogenic. That’s about 100kg more than the standard model (depending on spec), and means a 21 per cent improvement in power-to-weight. It’ll do 0-60mph ‘in around 6 seconds’, which seems entirely believable, and top speed is 115mph.
No word about chassis or suspension changes to cope with the increase – probably a decision for the owner, as there’s already a lot of choice in those arenas. But thanks to Electrogenic’s proprietary Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) and associated software, you do get variable driving modes and from Eco to Sport, complete with variable brake regeneration to assist the existing hydraulic friction stopping arrangement.
What about driving range and recharging?
Having completed a 3D scan of the base vehicle, Electrogenic has developed a bespoke conversion package that fits within the structure of the MX-5 in a manner that is entirely reversible.
As a result there is 42kWh in brand new ‘OEM grade’ batteries positioned under the bonnet and in the area previous occupied by the fuel tank. There’s no reduction in boot space, and the batteries have been mounted as low as possible to maintain a decent centre of gravity.
This is enough capacity, says Electrogenic, to offer electric MX-5 drivers 150 miles of driving range per charge. CCS rapid charging is available, and apparently means a full top-up in an hour or less. Neatly, the charging port is under the original fuel-filler flap.
There’s got to be a catch…
Well, lack of immediate pricing raises these eyebrows. Though even a relatively punchy figure won’t necessarily put MX-5 enthusiasts who want go greener off, as there are certainly pricey conventional conversions on the market – such as the Rocketeer Cars MXV6, which uses a 3.0-litre Jaguar engine.
Probably more of a concern is how evocative something like this can still manage to feel. Alternative upgrades – be they big-budget turbo builds, howling individual throttle bodies or more exotic cylinder configurations – all offer an extension to the already visceral early MX-5 experience.
Part of our reservation here is that sadly Electrogenic has had to do away with the snicky manual gearbox, replacing it with the inevitable EV single-speed transmission. This does mean the conversion is just as suitable for old automatic models, which could be a boon if you’re after an inexpensive donor to start the project.
How long does the conversion take, and will it be available for other MX-5s?
Electrogenic says the MX-5 electrification kit has been designed so it can be completed by a trained mechanic in ‘just a few days’.
Given these old Mazdas are rather like large Meccano (usually with added rust, but that’s a different problem) it seems likely many enthusiasts might be able to carry out the conversion at home. Though there is that high voltage to be mindful of.
We asked whether it would be possible to use the tech on a Mk2 MX-5, since though the NB looks swoopier it’s fundamentally the same as the NA underneath. At this stage the PR team was unable to confirm if it would be compatible (we’d bet it largely is, though). Hopefully we’ll have some pricing info very soon.