Electric Lada Niva
The legendary Lada Niva has never won any competition for aesthetics but remains one of the 4 × 4 most loved by off-road enthusiasts. This is due to the typically Russian reliability and resistance, which make it a vehicle that is still in great demand on the second-hand market. Thanks to the German company Elantrie, Lada Niva aficionados have another option besides the usual petrol or diesel: the switch to electricity.The upcoming emissions regulations will not leave much room for maneuver for older vehicles unless they are modified to comply with new laws. Along with the growth of the EV market, the current transition period (energy) sees the proliferation of companies dedicated to thermal-electrical conversion. We have already seen some examples, both for classic cars and for super sports models of yesteryear.
In this specific case, any owner of a Lada Niva can bring his vehicle to Elantrie and "transform" it into an EV for only 2,800 Euros. If, on the other hand, we do not have the means at our disposal, the costs go up a lot, since they are close to 20,000 euros. In both cases, the installation of the electric motor and the replacement of the thermal one do not change almost anything on an aesthetic level (as you can see from the images). And even performance is not affected, on the contrary: in the electric version, the total horsepower is 87 against the original 82.
The other specifications spread by Elantrie include a power socket to connect various accessories and tools that use the normal 220v connection (for cooking, mowing, warming up and so on). The maximum range, on the other hand, is estimated at about 300 kilometers per charge. As for the battery life, they maintain 80% of functionality even after 450,000 km following the "correct behavior" in charging (such as recharging mainly around 50%).
In general, the German company claims that the running costs of the electric Lada Niva are less than half compared to those of the original version. An estimate calculated based on the cost of petrol and on the consumption of the original Lada Niva, about 15 liters per 100 km. Certainly, given the overall low cost, the Elantrie conversion is interesting for those who, in addition to off-road vehicles, also love the environment.
You Can Now Convert Your Lada Niva To Electric Power For Just €2,800
A German company called Elantrie, owned by Schmid GmbH, is offering an electric conversion of the Lada 4×4, a.k.a. the Lada Niva, which can be retrofitted to all ICE-powered models. The fully electric powertrain allows the owners to step into the era of electrification with a low-cost conversion while retaining most of the car’s original components and capabilities.
The electric Niva looks identical to the immortal Russian off-roader, apart from the lack of an exhaust pipe and the addition of a hood scoop. Under the bonnet though, there is an electric motor driving the existing crankshaft and sending power to all four wheels. The electric motor produces 87 hp (65 kW / 88 PS) which won’t impress anyone, but it is still slightly better than the stock model’s 82 hp (61 kW / 83 PS).
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The energy is stored in a LiFePO4 lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 30 kWh that’s located where the fuel tank used to be. According to the company, the off-roader’s range is between 130-300 km (81-186 miles) depending on use. The durable battery will still be good for 80 percent of its original performance even after 450,000 km (280,000 miles) and 9,000 cycles, if you charge them when they reach 50 percent of their power as suggested.
Another cool feature is that the Lada can be integrated into the power grid, storing excess energy and feeding it back to the system when needed. There is also a 220-volt socket in the boot, supporting any electrical appliance of up to 2,000 watts such as gardening tools or camping equipment.
Read More: 2020 Lada Niva Gains A More Comfortable Cabin, Exterior Stays Largely The Same
The cost for the conversion is around €2,800 ($3,288). If you are not an existing owner, a brand new Niva that is already converted to electric power would cost you €19,900 ($23,371).
Elantrie states that the ICE-powered Niva consumes an average of 15 lt/100 km, which translates to a fuel cost of €3,175 ($3,728) per year for 14,600 km (9,072 miles). The equivalent cost for the electric version with home charging would be just €1,174 ($1,379), saving €2,000 ($2,349) in the first year alone. Those figures apply for Germany, but the savings are indicative of other European markets where petrol is even more expensive.
Finally, besides the Russian off-roader, the company is also offering the same conversion for the previous-generation Dacia Sandero.
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