DeLorean EV Conversion Would Make Doc Brown Say 'Great Scott!'

• The DeLorean DMC-12 can be converted into an EV with a new bolt-on kit from Electrogenic.
• Along with a 43.0-kWh battery, the conversion includes a 215-hp electric motor that's claimed to take the DeLorean from zero to 60 mph in under five seconds.
• While Electrogenic doesn't say how much the DeLorean EV kit costs, the company says cutting, drilling, and welding are not required.

While the DeLorean DMC-12 is beloved for its starring role in the Back to the Future trilogy, most moviegoers probably don't realize the sleek stainless-steel-bodied coupe was actually gutless. That was a byproduct of the wimpy 130-hp V-6 mounted behind the driver, which we estimated back in 1981 would shove the gullwinged two-seater from zero to 60 mph in 9.0 seconds. Not great. However, Electrogenic—a U.K.-based company—has a solution to take the classic DeLorean from poky to punchy with its new bolt-on EV conversion kit.

The Electric DeLorean DMC-12

Along with a 42.0-kWh battery pack that's located where the gas tank used to be, the new electric motor, inverter, charger, and cooling system neatly fit in the engine compartment. The unit has a stainless-steel finish that matches the DeLorean's body, not to mention "Electrogenic" written on it in DeLorean-like font. Custom driveshafts and a control unit with selectable drive modes (Sport, Eco, Town) are also included in the kit.

DeLorean Electrogenic EV kit trunk

Electrogenic says the electric motor generates 215 horsepower, which is 85 more than the stock motor. The conversion is claimed to keep the car within about 70 pounds of its original curb weight, which we estimated to be 2700 pounds. With the EV powertrain, Electrogenic claims the DeLorean will go from zero to 60 mph in under five seconds. Too many hard takeoffs will help deplete the battery's state of charge, making it difficult to reach the estimated 150 miles of driving range. A CCS-type charge port does allow for DC fast-charging, although Electrogenic doesn't specify the peak charging rate or estimated charging times.

In the past few years, DeLorean prices have started to average over $50,000 on Bring a Trailer, which—like Car and Driver—is part of Hearst Autos. Electrogenic doesn't say how much the DMC-12 conversion costs, but the company says its drop-in kit bolts to the original engine mounts. There's apparently no cutting, drilling, or welding—however there's still undoubtedly a lot of work involved in removing the old components and wiring up the EV bits.

Still, despite the unknown pricing and limited driving range, the electric DeLorean looks like a surefire way to get Doc Brown to exclaim, "Great Scott!"