Why Scrap Your Old Car? Turn it to Electric, Here's how

Now, a Dubai-based garage, Fuse EV, converts classic cars into electric vehicles (EV).

If you imagine new, modern and swanky cars when you think of electric vehicles, then it's time to think again.

The brainchild of Dubai entrepreneur Salman Hussain and Mihai Stumbea, Fuse was founded in late 2022.

One of the first cars the company worked on was the Peel P50, a three-wheeled micro-car that was listed in the 2010 Guinness World Records as the smallest production car ever made.

The team first assesses the car, removes the engine and then installs the drivetrain systems to convert it into the EV. However, Salman says, it is not as easy as it sounds. “It is a custom project and requires a lot of work,” he said.

“Each car is different so there is a lot of customisation, but I would say it is worth it. Even after installing the new system, we take time to assess the vehicle to see if it needs upgrades, like weight distribution, handling and cornering.”

The cost of the project depends on how extensive the modifications are. “In the UK and US, such projects cost between 40,000 to 50,000 pounds or dollars,” informed Salman.

“Here we have tried to keep the costs low. A small car with not a lot of range will cost about Dh40,000 to 50,000 to convert. However, if the owner wants to install more power it will cost more. A project we are working on now, with 400 horsepower with cost roughly Dh200,000 to 300,000.”

According to him, converting a classic car into EV gives it a new lease of life. “A lot of classic car enthusiasts find it very difficult to maintain it. The engine stalls and it is hard to find spare parts. The owner spends a lot of time looking for the required parts and by the time it is shipped, and he gets it, the driving season is over. Converting these cars to EV makes the lives of the owners so much easier. Also, when we work in the garage with the classic cars, we are choking in just 10 minutes. The fumes are really bad for the environment. We are making a huge impact by converting them to EVs.”