Retro roundup: can EVs go further than their classic counterparts?

The future might be electric, but some car makers are going back through their archives when designing their new models.

Retro EVs based on popular classic models are very fashionable right now, with modern reinterpretations of historic models in vogue.

But which takes you further — the modern electric or the classic petrol car? And which costs the least to run? We crunched the numbers on seven retro EVs and their gas-guzzling counterparts to find out.

Methodology

We compared the manufacturers’ data for each car, where available. We worked out the range of the petrol cars by multiplying the mpg with the tank size, in US gallons. For the electric versions, we calculated the cost of a full recharge from a home charger.

Petrol fuel costs are based on latest AAA data, which shows the average cost of a US gallon as US$3.20. The average cost of electricity is US$0.17/kWh according to the average electricity rates from the US Energy Information Administration. Annual fuel costs are based on the average US mileage of 14,489 miles a year.

For comparison, the average cost of petrol in Europe is US$4.93 a gallon, and the average cost of domestic electricity is US$0.31/kWh, so the cost of running these cars in Europe will be higher than in America.

Volkswagen ID Buzz vs classic Volkswagen Camper

In the 1950s, Volkswagen customized its Type-2 ‘combi’ van to create the Westfalia Camper, an icon of the camping world. Millions of versions of the Type-2 were sold and its legacy has inspired Volkswagen vans to this day. The ID Buzz is Volkswagen’s all-electric take on the original, a day van that oozes beach vibes. With a manufacturer-claimed range of 277 miles, the ID Buzz will also take you further than its older brother – and cost three-quarters less to run over the course of a year.

Volkswagen ID Buzz

Estimated range: 277 miles

Estimated annual electricity cost: US$765

Classic Volkswagen camper

Estimated range: 264 miles

Estimated annual fuel cost: US$3,179

Ford Mustang Mach-E vs Ford Mustang Fastback

The Ford Mustang gained iconic status in the 1968 Steve McQueen film Bullitt. In continuous production since 1965, Ford has gone on to sell more than 10 million cars. The Mustang has since been reinvented in electric form with the Mach-E, which goes further than the petrol version, but is also four times cheaper to fuel.

Ford Mustang Mach-E Extended Rage Battery

Estimated range: 372 miles

Estimated annual electricity cost: US$603

Ford Mustang V8 2015

Estimated range: 316 miles

Estimated annual fuel cost: US$2,392

Fiat 500e vs Fiat 500 Cinquecento Berlina

The cute little 500 Cinquecento Berlina was Fiat’s answer to the city car. Introduced in 1957, it was diminutive inside and out and offered affordable, stylish motoring for the masses. More than 20 years after the original ceased production, Fiat relaunched the 500 as a grown-up city car that still packs a chic vibe. The 500e is the electric version, which travels further than its original cousin and costs substantially less to run.

Fiat 500e

Estimated range: 199 miles

Estimated annual electricity cost: US$398

Fiat 500 Cinquencento Berlina

Estimated range: 135 miles

Estimated annual fuel cost: US$1,891

Ford Capri vs Ford Capri MKIII

The Ford Capri was the blue collar sportscar of the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s. Ford produced three generations of the Capri, culminating in the MKIII which ended production in 1986. More than 35 years later, the Capri is back as an electric-only sports hatchback. While the EV version can’t go quite as far on a full charge as the petrol version, it costs a lot less in energy costs over a year. 

Ford Capri

Estimated range: 389 miles

Estimated annual electricity cost: US$488

Ford Capri MKII

Estimated range: 398 miles

Estimated annual fuel cost: US$1,784 

Ford F150 Lightning vs Ford F150

The Ford F150 is the best-selling truck of all time. In fact, it’s one of the United States’ most popular cars, regularly topping the sales lists even to this day. It’s been in production for more than 70 years, and unsurprisingly Ford wasn’t keen to kill its golden goose in the move to electric. The F150 Lightning is the new all-electric version that promises 320 miles of range, which isn’t as much as the petrol version, but costs a lot less to own.

Ford F150 Lightning

Estimated range: 320

Estimated annual electricity cost: US$1,008

Ford F150

Estimated range: 552 miles

Estimated annual fuel cost: US$1,934

Hummer EV vs Hummer H1

Hummer takes the idea of big and super-sizes it. Originally designed for the United States military, passenger versions of the ‘Humvee’ soon followed in 1992. Called the H1, its first customer was Arnold Schwarzenegger. Recently, General Motors, which owns the Hummer brand, relaunched the model, available as both a pick-up and an SUV. With a giant battery, the new version travels further than its petrol equivalent – famed for its low miles-per-gallon – and is considerably cheaper to run.

Hummer EV pickup

Estimated range: 367 miles

Estimated annual electricity cost: US$1,669

Hummer H1

Estimated range: 342

Estimated annual fuel cost: US$3,868

Renault 5 electric vs Renault 5

Celebrating its 50th birthday in 2022, the Renault 5 was launched in the 1970s to bring cheap motoring to young people. It was a huge hit, and Renault sold more than 5.5 million in 13 years, before the car ceased production in 1985. Now the icon is back as the R5, a futuristic take on the classic. It can't go quite as far as its petrol cousin, but it costs a lot less to drive.

Renault 5 electric

Estimated range: 249 miles

Estimated annual electricity cost: US$514

Renault 5

Estimated range: 310 miles

Estimated annual fuel cost: US$1,496

By charging at home or work (and topping up on the move when you need to), electric cars are much cheaper to run than their petrol forefathers. But the key to successfully transition to an EV is getting your charging strategy right.

HERE EV Charge Points uses machine learning combined with GPS probes, vehicle sensor data and correlated historical time/day, weather and traffic pattern data to help EV drivers avoid charge and range anxiety.