Aston Martin is committed to electrifying classic cars so that their history does not fall into disuse

The ever-growing passion for classic vehicles is colliding head-on with the increasing restrictions on the use of combustion engines that city councils and local authorities in the main European countries, Spain among them, are beginning to impose. It is a clearly unequal battle in which the jewels of automotive history are clearly set to lose… or maybe not!

Immersed in the electrification process of its current range of products and of the future models that are expected to join it in the coming years, a brand with such a long tradition in car production in general and in legendary models in particular, such as the British Aston Martin, could not abandon to their fate the large legion of followers who treasure some of the jewels created by the Gaydon-based brand throughout its history.

To this end, through its Heritage division, the department in charge of developing modifications and components to serve owners of the brand’s classic vehicles, it is working together with the brand’s engineering teams who are working on the electrification of the current model range on an interesting concept of reversible electric propulsion that will allow the original car to be driven in fully electric mode, as well as continuing to use the combustion engine wherever it may still be permitted.

Classic cars with modern technology: Cassette EV electric powertrain

Led directly by the engineering division of Aston Martin Works, the electrification concept that Aston Martin Heritage is working on is built around a new EV powertrain designed as a “Cassette”, the form that gives the creation its name. Thanks to the Cassette EV being developed by the Gaydon engineers, the brand’s classic vehicles will be able to remain in use and mitigate the effects of any future legislation that might restrict the use of such attractive models.

Drawing on the knowledge gained in the development of the Rapide E and on the planning of the future and ever-closer Lagonda range, and thanks to the collaboration of the brand’s competition division, Aston Martin Works, the revolutionary Cassette EV from Aston Martin will allow owners of the brand’s jewels to keep using them day to day while complying with the requirements that environmental legislation is setting.

“We are very aware of the environmental and social pressures that threaten to restrict the use of classic cars in the coming years. Our Second Century Plan for Aston Martin not only covers our new and future models, but also protects our cherished heritage,” says Andy Palmer, president of Aston Martin.

“Driving a classic Aston Martin with pure EV power is a unique experience that will undoubtedly be extremely appealing to many owners of a classic Aston, and especially to those who live in urban areas!” says Paul Spiers, president of Aston Martin Works.

Given the importance that collectors of Aston Martin place on their jewels, it is vital for the Gaydon brand that, whatever way the Cassette EV is integrated into the engine bay of the vehicle, it maintains its essence while preserving the integrity of the original vehicle it comes from. These qualities are what led Aston Martin to opt for producing this solution to address the problem that new clean mobility trends pose for the future of classic vehicles.

The first model to receive the Cassette EV will be a 1970 DB6 MKII Volante, an original model handmade at the Newport Pagnell facility. Located above the engine and gearbox, the Cassette EV is housed within its own completely independent cell, from which a series of separate cables emerge that supply power to the vehicle’s various electrical systems. A screen discreetly integrated into the vehicle’s dashboard allows the flow of energy managed by the Cassette EV to be controlled discreetly.

For Aston Martin, the system behind the Cassette EV is the perfect solution for classic car enthusiasts to keep enjoying driving in a socially responsible way in the future, and to be able to return the car to its original state at any time, with only its combustion engine, whenever the owner wishes, since the system devised by the engineers does not damage the car’s original bodywork or engine in any way. “I believe this not only keeps Aston Martin a unique and very special manufacturer, but also makes us a true forward-looking leader in this field,” asserts Andy Palmer.

“We are sure that many collectors will also find it interesting to add to their collections a new division dedicated to former models converted into electric vehicles (EV). We expect that many of them will add to their collections over the coming years classic cars converted to electric vehicles,” says Spiers.

Starting in 2019, once the initial project evaluation and the development of the Cassette EV have been completed and all relevant tests have been carried out on the test model, a DB6 Volante, Aston Martin intends to begin, through its Heritage division and with Aston Martin Works, converting classic cars to electric technology.