‘Plug and play’ conversion package for first-generation Miata provides 160 hp, 150 miles of range and is only 220 lbs heavier
December 4, 2024 at 04:00
- Electrogenic’s conversion kit for the MX-5 gives the NA Miata 160 hp and 150 miles of real-world range.
- Weight is up by 220 lbs, but still low by EV standards at just 2,425 lbs, and the weight distribution is identical.
- The UK-based company already produces ‘drop-in’ EV kits for the original Land Rover, classic Mini and Porsche 911.
First-generation Mazda MX-5 owners look for a power boost have always had plenty of options available to them, including throttle bodies, turbochargers, superchargers and engine swaps. But now a UK company has come up with a greener alternative in the form of a plug and play EV conversion.
You might have heard of UK-based Electrogenic’s previous projects. The Oxford company makes drop-in EV packages for the original Land Rover Series and Defender, classic Minis and Porsche 911s, the Jaguar E-type and DeLorean DMC-12. It also hit the headlines when movie star Jason Momoa contracted the firm to perform a bespoke electro-conversion on his 1929 Rolls Royce Phantom II.
Related: Electrogenic’s DeLorean DMC-12 EV Still Needs Roads, But Not Gas
Like the company’s other EV kits, the Miata package is designed to be relatively simple to install, CAD modelling being employed to slot all of the components into the existing engine bay and tunnel space so no cutting or drilling is required. Electrogenic says the swap can be done by a trained mechanic in only a few days, and the kit is also fully reversible should the owner have a change of heart.
But with the single motor cranking out 160 hp (120 kW / 163 PS) instead of the original 1.6-liter combustion engine’s 116 hp (87 kW / 118 hp) and the zero to 60 mph (97 kmh) tumbling by about 3 seconds to 6 seconds, those owners might be having too much fun to want to switch back.
Yes, the 115 mph (185 km/h) top speed sounds less impressive – and it’s very close to stock – but irrelevant in a car that has always been about cornering fun. And Electrogenic says there’s more of that to be had because the weight distribution is the same as on a donor MX-5, but a huge jump in torque from 100 lb-ft (136 Nm) to 229 lb-ft (310 Nm) gives you more opportunities to exploit the chassis.
Naturally there’s a weight penalty, even if the distribution is the same, but it’s not terrible. The EV swap adds 220 lbs (100 kg), though the resulting 2,425 lbs (1,100 kg) curb weight makes it 27 lbs (12kg) lighter than a 2025 Miata RF, and only 84 lbs (38 kg) porkier than the current rag-top.
You even get multiple driving modes with different torque and regeneration characteristics, and though the 150-mile (240 km) range is way off modern EV standards, it’s probably as far as anyone would want to go in an early MX-5 in one hit no matter what kind of powertrain is under the hood. The 42 kWh battery can also be charged in an hour.
As with all of these classic EV conversions, this is a niche proposition. Maybe more than the others because the cost of the kit (still TBC but sure to be north of $20k) is going to be harder to justify on a car that even in mint condition is only worth $15-20k than it is on a classic 911 worth $120k. Some potential buyers might also be put off by the loss of the MX-5’s manual shift action, always one of the joys of driving a Miata, although Electrogenic has done custom manual conversions for customers in the past, so we image the team would do it again if offered the right kind of financial encouragement.
With Porsche about to reveal its 718 EVs and Alpine’s boss this week claiming the upcoming electric A110 will weigh less than rival combustion sports cars, machines like Electrogenic’s MX-5 kit are highly topical, and we’re sure we’ll only be seeing more in the years to come. Would you EV swap your classic NA Miata?
