20 January/February 2025 | E-Mobility Engineering Evice is using modern technologies and EV powertrains to improve some of the best cars ever built, starting with a beautiful Rolls-Royce Corniche, reports Will Gray Reinventing a legend When it comes to pure, opulent luxury, there are few more iconic cars than those produced by Rolls-Royce in the 1970s and 80s. In an era defined by the growth of wealth and a desire for social standing, these were seen by many as the best cars in the world, the ultimate head-turning status symbols of riches and fortune. The stunning Corniche was immediately snapped up on its release by famous celebrities such as Paul McCartney, Frank Sinatra and Tom Jones, while David Bowie, Michael Caine, Elton John and Dean Martin all queued up on a two-year waiting list. The car’s starring role in countless films and TV series made it a true icon of the era. Now, beautifully aged into the realms of a modern classic, vehicles such as the Corniche still evoke fond memories of the past and are increasingly sought after by collectors. However, at a time when emissions restrictions are pointing them towards extinction, the only way they can live on is by adopting synthetic fuels or an electric powertrain. Evice is focused on the latter, but its ambitions go far beyond a simple conversion. “Our intent has always been to make a much-improved version of the original,” says company founder and CEO Matthew Pearson. “These were the automotive pinnacle at one time, and our aim from the start was to see them into the 21st century in a completely different light. “A lot of restoration and conversion companies talk about redefining what the car is, but that’s not what we’re aiming for. We are focused on looking at incredible cars that could potentially be made even better with electrification and taking away all the compromises that were made in the originals. “We want to create classic cars that have zero impact at the place they are used, but we also want to develop great technology that proves an electric future can be exciting and better than what we have come from. That’s how we ended up with the Rolls-Royce and Bentley aspirations, because we feel these classics are even better as electric cars.” The company’s three co-founders – CEO Pearson, COO Charlie Metcalfe and CTO Will Burdett – met at Bath University on a mechanical engineering course. They went their separate ways, working at different companies in different industries, including stints in the high-end EV conversion world, before reuniting to create their own car company. Burdett has the most technical EV experience, having always worked on The beautiful lines of this classic RollsRoyce hide a complete 21st Century overhaul, with electric power and modern refinement (Images courtesy of Evice)
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