Electric Fox: Ford Mustang's Manual-Shift EV Revival

In contrast to typical electric vehicle conversions that use repurposed Tesla drivetrains, this particular conversion solely utilizes after-market components.

• In the early 1990s, a Ford Mustang Foxbody underwent an upgrade where its engine was swapped out for an electric motor but kept its original five-speed manual transmission intact.
• It has become more than double the power it initially had, and surprisingly, it is also slightly lighter compared to numerous electric vehicle conversions.
• For this electric vehicle conversion, only brand-new after-market components were utilized, hence there isn’t a refurbished Tesla engine beneath its bonnet.

Modifying vintage automobiles to operate on electric power is a sensitive subject among traditionalists who prefer maintaining the authenticity of older vehicles with their original internal combustion engines. However, even though you might not endorse every conversion from gas to electric, certain transformations prove to be more sensible than others, particularly when it comes to these earlier models. 1990s Fox-body Ford Mustang might be one of them.

The name alludes to the third-generation Mustang constructed using what’s known as the "Fox platform." This chassis supported over a dozen rear-wheel-drive vehicles from Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury. The Mustang made its debut in 1978 and stayed in production up till 1993. It gained significant popularity compared to the smaller and less powerful second-generation version.

However, similar to many performance cars of that time, it would not measure up to contemporary standards for speed. Without either the 5.0-liter V8 or the 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine in your Fox Mustang, achieving a 0-to-60 mph acceleration typically took more than 10 seconds. Even so, the V8 took approximately 7.5 seconds to accelerate the car to 60 mph; this time decreased to about six seconds after the introduction of electronic fuel injection increased the engine's output to 225 horsepower.

Perhaps that's why the fact that the low-mileage, single-owner Mustang was transformed into an electric vehicle by FuelTech in Georgia doesn't seem like such a significant change.

The main aspects of this specific transformation are highlighted in a video posted by The Racing Channel The original manual transmission, which you wouldn't need in an electric vehicle, nevertheless enhances the driving experience and doesn't add any extra weight compared to the standard model.

Even though in an EV conversion When you remove the bulky engine, you typically end up making the vehicle heavier due to added battery packs. However, this particular conversion is about 50 pounds lighter compared to the standard model, which is quite remarkable. With an output of 500 horsepower and more than 700 pound-feet of torque, it will likely feel as exhilarating as riding a rocket.

The current transmission might not survive under such high torque since it wasn’t meant for that kind of power, but the constructors intend to maintain a manual setup. Thus, they’ll most likely install a fresh gearbox once this one inevitably gives out.

The weight distribution across the two axles was maintained evenly by dividing the battery pack (capacity unknown). Approximately half of it is positioned beneath the hood, surrounding the drivetrain, inverter, and various electronic components, with the remaining portion located at the rear.

During their drive, the most peculiar aspect of the vehicle is changing gears. The process mirrors what you'd experience with a conventional internal combustion engine, complete with audible changes in the motor's revolutions per minute and subtle vibrations from the clutch engagement during gear shifts. If I were behind the wheel, I might rely heavily on the clutch simply due to how responsive it feels. This genuine feel surpasses systems used by certain automakers that simulate manual transmission features and sounds within electric vehicles.

While EVs don’t need a manual transmission since they have a lot of torque from virtually zero RPM, having one with cogs that you can swap is more engaging for a keen driver. When you don’t want to go through the gears, you can simply leave it in second or third, as it has more than enough torque to get the car off the line without you having to start in first.

The most impressive aspect is that you don’t need to use the clutch to separate the motor from the transmission because the electric motor’s revolutions per minute drop to zero upon stopping. We believe there’s significant potential for such modifications, particularly as this approach is notably straightforward—you can retain the stock transmission, driveshaft, differential, axles, and all conventional suspension parts.

Would you convert an old classic to run on electricity similarly to this? Tell us in the comments.

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