California-based company, Electric GT has turned this 1978 Ferrari 308 GTS into an electric car.
California-based company, Electric GT has turned this 1978 Ferrari 308 GTS into an electric car.
© Electric GT
A similar Ferrari 308 model became famous in the 1980s in the TV detective series, "Magnum P.I." starring Tom Selleck. Cue the theme music!
A similar Ferrari 308 model became famous in the 1980s in the TV detective series, "Magnum P.I." starring Tom Selleck. Cue the theme music!
© Electric GT
The car met a fiery end on a California highway according to it's restorer Eric Hutchison who says the car, if not regularly serviced, was prone to the fuel hose bursting. Hutchison picked up the wreck in a San Diego scrap yard for $10,000.<a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2016%2F05%2F05%2Fmotorsport%2Fferrari-308-electric-world-first%2Findex.html"><strong> </strong></a>
The car met a fiery end on a California highway according to it's restorer Eric Hutchison who says the car, if not regularly serviced, was prone to the fuel hose bursting. Hutchison picked up the wreck in a San Diego scrap yard for $10,000.
© Electric GT
Hutchison and his friend and electric car restorer Michael Bream set about replacing the burned-out remains V8 engine and its four Weber carburetors with a electric motor.
Hutchison and his friend and electric car restorer Michael Bream set about replacing the burned-out remains V8 engine and its four Weber carburetors with a electric motor.
© Electric GT
The new triple electric motor sits in the position where the V8 originally sat.
The new triple electric motor sits in the position where the V8 originally sat.
© Electric GT
The motors are powered by three batteries -- one at the front of the car and two at the back where the gas tanks used to sit.
The motors are powered by three batteries -- one at the front of the car and two at the back where the gas tanks used to sit.
© Electric GT
The current battery capacity is 30 kilowatts but Hutchison says that capacity can be doubled.
The current battery capacity is 30 kilowatts but Hutchison says that capacity can be doubled.
© Electric GT
The car currently has a range of 70-100 miles, Hutchison says.
The car currently has a range of 70-100 miles, Hutchison says.
Douglas Sonders
Hutchison used a Porsche G50 5 speed gearbox in a "flipped mid-engine orientation." Manual gearboxes in EVs improve efficiency and performance, according to Electric GT.
Hutchison used a Porsche G50 5 speed gearbox in a "flipped mid-engine orientation." Manual gearboxes in EVs improve efficiency and performance, according to Electric GT.
© Electric GT
Hutchison's 18-month restoration was followed by Ferrari enthusiasts in the online forum <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ferrarichat.com%2Fforum%2F" target="_blank" target="_blank">FerrariChat.com</a>. "Several guys from the forum came to see the project and some even flew across the country. The support was awesome," Hutchison says.
Hutchison's 18-month restoration was followed by Ferrari enthusiasts in the online forum FerrariChat.com. "Several guys from the forum came to see the project and some even flew across the country. The support was awesome," Hutchison says.
© Electric GT
Hutchison will be racing at the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.refuelraces.com" target="_blank" target="_blank">Re-Fuel Electric Car Races</a> at the Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey on May 22. "I love that I can drive a high performance Ferrari by charging it on my solar panels at home," Hutchison said.<br /> <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2F2016%2F05%2F05%2Fmotorsport%2Fferrari-308-electric-world-first%2Findex.html"><strong>READ THE FULL STORY HERE </strong></a>
Hutchison will be racing at the Re-Fuel Electric Car Races at the Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey on May 22. "I love that I can drive a high performance Ferrari by charging it on my solar panels at home," Hutchison said.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
© Electric GT