Evie’s a top model

This story first appeared in the March issue of EVtalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

Evie the plug-in electric 1957 Ford Fairlane is on tour.

The converted classic car will be at shows and events throughout the country as well as featuring on social media, tv and in advertisements as Mercury’s poster child for EVs.

She still looks like a 1957 Ford Fairlane, it’s just that the power plant under her bonnet has a 170kW Siemens electric bus motor run by 218 batteries.

OK, so the fuel gauge is no longer relevant – for obvious reasons. But everything looks original and it’s nearly all painted in Mercury’s bright yellow, complete with a few bees.

Even the fuel cap opens to reveal a Chademo fast charge port, with Evie also having 10amp household and 32amp three-phase plugs.

Evie is a head turner. That much was apparent when her “minder” Mike Tripp took the EVtalk team for a spin.

The top was down for the cruise in Auckland – it can even retract or come up on the road. Waves, toots and calls came from all directions.

Tripp, or “Trippy” as he’s known, has long had an interest in vehicles and provides a variety for filming. He was contacted to help organise Evie’s conversion from gas guzzler to electric.

About 15 to 20 people throughout the country were involved in the transformation, from auto electricians to panel beaters and painters.
All the work was done in under six months, even though many parts had to be made or adapted.

“Nothing’s off the shelf,” Tripp says.

The story of Evie’s transformation features in a video made by Mercury, which has long been promoting the benefits of EVs to Kiwis.

“This car is the true embodiment of energy freedom, and a symbol of our escape from fossil fuel reliance,” Mercury chief executive Fraser Whineray says.

“To have everyone enjoying emission-free vehicles would be wonderful for our country.”

So what’s the verdict on Evie after all the work?
“It goes very well,” Tripp says.

Evie weighs 2.2 tonnes, the batteries accounting for about 400kg. As a classic, she’s exempt from some of the more modern requirements but had to comply with the latest rules around braking.

“We dialled up the regenerative braking so that there’s more braking power than required,” Tripp says.

Evie got up to around 120kmh (75mph on her speedo) in track testing at Pukekohe and can get to 100kmh in 9.11 seconds, Tripp says.
But built for comfort rather than speed, Evie will be spending most of her time cruising.