California has passed SB 301, a bill introduced by state Senator Anthony Portantino (D-Burbank), which would allocate at least $2 million from the state's Clean Vehicle Rebate Program toward EV conversions instead of new vehicle sales. When the bill was proposed, it would have provided up to $2,000 per vehicle for people who converted their gasoline or diesel vehicles to zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). The current bill, as amended and passed by the Legislature, now provides up to $4,000 per vehicle.
The SEMA Action Network supported the bill, highlighting its benefits to small businesses. “Governor Newsom has an opportunity to create new jobs and support small businesses by signing SB 301 into law,” said Christian Robinson, SEMA's senior director of state government relations and grassroots engagement. “This bill will also help reduce emissions in California and make converting to zero-emission vehicles more accessible to all residents. SEMA urges the Governor to recognize the tremendous benefits SB 301 will bring to California and sign it into law.”
We asked Michael Bream, EV land speed racer and owner of EV modification company EV West, for his thoughts on SB 301. Bream said he appreciates that SEMA and the California Legislature have made some effort to encourage these DIY modifications, noting that small businesses and builders with smaller budgets could benefit. “All of these incentives were targeted at traditional automakers,” Bream said of discounts on new vehicle sales. He feels the move will encourage more hands-on involvement in EV swaps, noting that SEMA's influence is a big part of the bill. “I speak for most of the modding shops, but we're all grassroots people,” Bream said. “The DIY industry isn't big enough to lobby.”
Bream sees EV conversions as an opportunity to breathe new life into vintage cars with less-than-perfect powerplants, making them roadworthy again. And not all vintage cars are fire-breathing muscle cars or low-slung exotics. Many mundane utility vehicles would benefit from an EV conversion, such as Bream's VW bus, which is now able to withstand traffic jams.
Putting modern parts into classic cars is nothing new. Junkyards have loads of EV motors and batteries that can be reused. “There's a lot of time, effort, and engineering that goes into a modern car,” Bream says. Incorporating complex, intricately engineered parts into a new car rather than stripping them down and scrapping them is often the best use of those parts. Remember, hot rodders were recycling before it was trendy.
***
Be sure to check out the Hagerty Media homepage so you don't miss a thing. Bookmark.