Lancia Beta Forum

Just came accross this on Instagram; looks like someone is having his HPE converted to electric. Any thoughts?

Each to their own. I think it will loose a lot of it's essential Betaness but it's still a style statement and if your local government is banning petrol cars from the city then it might be worthwhile. What county plates are those?

It would make a superb feature car for the NEC!

I'm actually quite interested to know how they will do it.

EDIT - From their website
"Our conversions start from £12,000 for a basic DC motor conversion using reconditioned parts. We recommend budgeting £20,000 or more for an appropriate conversion and other sympathetic upgrades" and "Affordability is our prime focus."
That's not quite affordability as I'd understand it!

They are Belgian export plates; as it happens, I know the car: it used to belong to a friend of mine who lives in Brussels.

Haven't checked their website yet, but... yes, that's a lot of money!

Personally, I wouldn't be tempted (yet - who knows what the future brings), but I find it interesting too.

It may be viable if they can keep the weight distribution the same so it still handles and if they can use the original subframe so that you could put a petrol engine back in. I have my doubts though surely better to buy a modern electric for normal use and keep the Beta for occasional use.

If they live in an area which has or will have restrictive use of petrol engine cars (such as Central Paris?) then I can see the logic, as to the cost, not as much as buying a new car.....

It would of course make a rather unusual car to own and practical to boot.

I can see a few classic conversions being done over the next few years.

Peter

And just seen this post on the LMC forum. IF anyone wants to me to get in touch, please send me a message.

"I have decided to convert my 1985 Beta HPE 2.0. i.e. to electric, after discovering that the engine block will need a rebore, as one of the cylinder valves had gotten stuck over some time. There are a number of good spares including some new start engine and electronic controller parts etc., as well as the petrol tank and other pieces when these are removed. I would be interested in selling the parts as a lot. Send me a message if of interest, the car is in central London."

Peter

Sounds very interesting, I've emailed the company to ask if I can do a feature on the project.
Their initial reply via Instagram was very positive.

Will keep you posted.
Tony.

The HPE had a brief appearance on this weeks BBC Click program, the owner of the Electric Car Company is happy for me to visit any time, once they start the conversion (with consent from the HPE owner)

If your in the UK, you can see the clip on BBC iplayer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0003xz8/click-preventing-pollution?fbclid=IwAR0xavJH5kNRWtpl4zH711BxsuA-GGR3bQMF_su8TQiYd7XpNjy9C433rIE (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0003xz8/click-preventing-pollution?fbclid=IwAR0xavJH5kNRWtpl4zH711BxsuA-GGR3bQMF_su8TQiYd7XpNjy9C433rIE)

Skip to 16.06

Tony.