How do you make electric cars more attractive? For some automobile lovers in Japan, the answer is turning retro cars into beautiful eco-friendly electric vehicles.
One such example is the e-bug, an electric car based on the old version of the iconic Beetle, which was produced for more than half a century until 2003. The Beetle’s round body and unique flapping engine sounds have long hooked the hearts of motorists and car enthusiasts, and while the electric vehicle looks just the same as the original Beetle, there’s one big difference: the engine makes barely any noise. When the gas pedal is pressed, smooth engine sounds are elicited and the vehicle starts moving slowly. That is because the engine has been replaced with an electric motor.
What makes these retro cars extra appealing is that while older time-tested automobiles tend to break down quite frequently, these classic-car-turned electric cars don’t. So if slick Teslas and box-shaped BMW’s are not your things when it comes to electric cars, maybe you should consider one of these retro beauties.
