SEMA Show 2025: from EV DeLorean Time Machine to Magnus Walker!
[Music] Hey guys, welcome to another episode. Welcome to SEMA on the future tech area where all the modified EVs and converted to electric cars have been uh featured this year. Maybe not as big as last year, but definitely a nice set of vehicles starting with this fantastic uh pickup truck. We we’ll do a complete video dedicated on this one. It it was buil by the Legacy EV team. And speaking of Legacy, we’ve got their stand here. So, let’s check them out. They have a fantastic um training um that they deliver on site and also online. So, let’s ask those guys what they have been up to. So, guys, what have you been up to on the training side of things? Yeah. Well, I think if you know Legacy EV, you’re familiar with our conversions, our parts distribution, but a core focus of one of our of our business as well is the training that we provide. So partnering with junior highs, high schools, community colleges, trade schools, traditional automotive programs, and really developing and providing additional pathways specifically around electric vehicles, high voltage safety. So really providing different programs for all levels of that EV journey. So, being able to teach the the younger students in a easy fun way about electric vehicles all the way up to your senior level kind of automotive tech students uh about EV powertrains and and troubleshooting diagnostic systems. Excellent. I wish I could have learned everything when I was a young kid. So, four years ago, I did follow the the original training you guys did, but uh it has evolved. Uh is it still something you can do partly online and then you visit your facility in Arizona? Yeah, absolutely. So, in addition to our partnerships with schools, we do individual training as well. So, we do have our EV boot camp certification, which is 5 days at our facility down in Phoenix. Um, a lot of that is going to be inerson hands-on, but there is a virtual aspect to that as well to get kind of that foundational knowledge. In addition to the certification boot camp, we have high voltage level one and level two virtual training courses. So if you work with a service center, if you work from a a fleet management perspective, you want to get your your uh staff educated on high voltage the safety concepts, you can come to us. We can teach them virtually instructorled. Uh kind of a smaller commitment than four or five days in person, but a very very effective course if you are looking to teach those foundational safety aspects for your team. Well, that’s fantastic because nowadays any shop like even a traditional shop even if they don’t do anything with EVs because they may end up working on a high voltage hybrid drivetrain, they should be trying. So that’s why you bring the solution. Yeah. Absolutely. And I think right now we’re seeing with the proliferation of electric vehicles on the road, but also a lot of uh uh government organizations that are electrifying their fleet. They have these maintenance workers that may not be familiar with high voltage battery packs. This is where some of this training is just really really important to to get these people educated and make everyone safe and and make sure Excellent. So u I guess check out legacyv.com for more information about training and on components from all over the country and yeah you deliver anywhere in the US complete system components and you do a fantastic build like this fantastic truck. Um so we we did a video with Rob so there’s a dedicated video about this truck but um where do you see the industry going with uh EV conversion? Do you see more important plug-in systems or people or shops still want to fine-tune and design their own system typically? Yeah, absolutely. I mean, again, I think with the popularity of just your modern-day electric vehicles, the idea is is really getting out there, people are seeing the advantages of it. And then on the flip side, a lot of people have some of these older cars that they’re just in love with and want to keep around. So, having that conversion as an option is definitely um growing in popularity. So, we’re at a time where it’s the best of both worlds from the past to the future, which is where we come in as Legacy EV. All right, cool. Thank you very much. And again, check out legacy.com. All right, next we are going to visit the guys from the UK, Edubs conversion offering complete system for classic uh Volkswagen. So, grab this mic and tell us everything about your business and the complete system you bring for classic Volkswagen buses and vans. So, what you see in front of you is our EO conversion system for classic VWs. Uh this fits into any uh classic VW camper from a 1950 split screen up to a VW type 2 bay window 1979. Uh what you can see obviously in front of me right now, you got battery box on there. You’ve got custom subframe on there. There’s our EUB drive unit on there as well, which is configurable up to 150 brake horsepower with 285 new meters of torque from zero RPM. What type of capacity do you So we go we have three different capacities. The maximum goes up to 62 kwatt hours, which gives you a real world range of about 195 mi. Those are available with rapid charging as well. Oh yeah, that’s that’s a key point. Especially for the US market. You want rapid charging. You want to do long distances. Yeah. You don’t want the vehicle to let you down for range, you know, cuz classics aren’t great to drive really long distances regardless. So, but yeah, for sure. It’s got all that features all built in. Uh, all really, really good. Do you have various options for um the motors and torque? Yes. So, for the VW drive unit, then uh yes, we do. So, we can configure it through software to do different performances. Some people want that full level of performance of what it can give, but other people have got maybe a more sympathetic VW. So, we have options that have less horsepower, less top speed to be more sympathetic to the build. All right. So, you’re based in the UK and uh do you typically install the system when you offer it to a customer in the UK or do you typically ship them anywhere in the world? So, in the UK, yeah, we take care of the whole process. So, in the UK, we’re very business to customer focused. So, people come to us with their beloved VWs and normally they need a little bit of restoration as well. So, we take care of any restoration work that needs doing. Alongside that, we build the system and then once the two things are ready, they get connected and then we test it and deliver it back to the vehicle as one finished product. Here in the US, we’re starting to distribute it as a complete kit. So, we’re partnering with companies like Legacy EV to be able to do the training, installation, and afterare for the systems once we’ve shipped them over. So, speaking about training, who can install this in a in a in a bus? Uh do you sell to individual owners? Do you sell only to the trade? What’s your policy? At the moment, it’s kind of trade only. Uh here in the US we’re kind of letting Legacy EV to decide that process because they’re the ones who are offering the different training options. Okay. The main thing I feel is what’s missing is if you just say to somebody, hey, you’ve got to figure it out and it’s kind of on your own risk, then that’s not really good enough. What Legacy are really great at is doing some of the training aspects, too. So they can at least say, hey, you can be trained in this and trained in this and trained in this. And then it’s up to them if they want to say yes or no. But yeah, it’s a high voltage build, so of course it’s not for the faint-hearted. It does need a bit of tooling, a bit of garage work to install the system, but it’s designed to replicate the original engine and gearbox, which in a VW you could just drop out straight onto the floor and roll it out on a on a jack lift. Um, so it works in a very similar way. Okay. Uh, weightwise, where does it stand compared to the original drivetrain? So, compared to the original, it adds about 170 kilos of weight. But what’s so fantastic about the VWs is that they were originally the split screens weighed a ton and they could carry a ton. So having that high payload means you can get away with a little bit of extra weight and still have tons of space for camping interiors, for carrying passengers, for luggage, all sorts of other things people want to do. Speaking about camping, do you offer a system where you can use a traction battery to become a 12vt system to power all your um device and tools in the in the van? Yeah, we do. We have a couple of systems that do that. Um so we offer as part of our system something which we call an off-grid inverter. So that’s taking the DC power of the battery pack and converting it into 240 volt AC power. And then people can use that to power plug sockets in their van. But even things like induction hubs or coffee machines, that’s all possible inside. And you can do that completely off-grid, which is really quite cool. Okay. And going back to the rapid charging, do you offer an uh kn or do you type two uh or CCS? Yeah. So it’s a CCS options, both type one and type two up to 74 kilowatt hours. That’s what Sorry, 74 kW or the batteries are capable of taking. Um and yeah, we offer those alongside type one and type two options as well. All right. So what’s the next step for EDUBs in the US? Do you offer other platform or other systems also outside of the Volkswagen bus? Yeah, so we have Porsche 911 systems for G bodies as well that we offer alongside these. So they’re again fully finished exactly the same kind of method of installation but for Porsche 911s. Um we also have the EU drive units itself. So that’s with the specs that I gave earlier, but people can take those and install them into their own bespoke project. What we found at the show has been really fascinating. We’ve had loads of good discussions with people who are thinking about setting up their own little micro conversion industries. So, they’ll have a particular vehicle they really want to do, but they can recognize that ED is a good person to partner with for the design, the engineering. We’ve got really great supply and obviously 12 years of experience of doing conversions. So, we can say to them, hey, okay, that’s a great vehicle. Let’s consider that motor, that battery pack, and we can make it work for them. Excellent. Well, kids, thank you very much, guys. If you want to check out Edub, it’s edubscon conversion.com or is it.co.uk. It’s both. Okay. Well, that was easy. All right. Cool. All right, I’ll grab the mic and I’ll carry on my tour. Thank you, K. See you later. All right, going back to um this fantastic pickup truck. Again, there’s a dedicated video, but I really could not pass it and not show it to you. It’s just one of the nicest, not only EV truck, but uh truck in general. So, yeah, check out the video. We’ve done the complete dedicated video dropping soon. All right, another set of Teslas from Rune EVs with a few mods. Nothing silly this year. We’ve been we’ve seen some very crazy build, including the TSK Tesla Model 3 with the Ybody and the full front facial conversion like the Cybert truck. So again, we’ll do a dedicated video about this um and visit again those guys in LA. So again, in a nutshell, widebody full front clip conversion and a few nice add-ons, which brings us to this fantastic Battle of the Builder Contender. Um, look at this beauty. It started as a full project restoration. It has been completely redone. Those guys picked it up. Um, it looked like it was in very good condition, but when they start driving it, they realize how bad it was. brought it back to their early location and fully restored and converted it. Same thing for this one. We’ll have a complete dedicated video. All right. Some of our vehicles that have nothing to do with EVs are still on the future tech um area, but I guess future tech is a very broad term. Um before we visit the guys at Talk Train, those guys do something very cool. They use a Tesla Model 3 platform to make a a little truck. Um and then you can add the body you want or use it as is in a factory. But they repurpose a complete system from Tesla Model 3s. So going back to Torren, let’s see if anyone is available because they have a very cool new system based on the Model 3 motor. So, the same system as we had previously from Revolt with the Model S motors, but now based on a more compact and even easily more available Model 3 drivetrain, either as the regular one or as the performance option and also they always have their gearboxes. So, check those guys out at talk trends and they’re also bringing new product earlier next year. So, we’ll uh tell you more about those guys. Now, going back to some of the Teslas, this fully swam Model 3, I did a video about this in San Diego, oh, actually in Long Beach not so long ago with this cool dude. And he has upgraded to a fuller compite upgrade with everything fully uh based on um batteries and power uh stations, so it can go anywhere. It kind of wanted to do another landing theme build, but when you’ve got a wide body that is slam onto the ground, it’s kind of hard to do this. So, it’s still quite fun. So, now this Jeep Vaggon fully electric about 600 horsepower and some very nice wheels and paint treatment from Bisimoto and probably the nicest car at the SEMA show. I’m not talking about EVs. I’m talking about the nicest car. This is This looks like a million bucks. probably cost a million bucks, but it’s fully Corvette, fully built to the highest standards I’ve ever seen. We’ll do a fully dedicated video also on this. It uses Second Life battery packs, which I always like repurposing those batteries, but the level of finish is absolutely incredible. So, I was expecting this car to be in the Battle of the Builder. Apparently, it is not, which is kind of uh odd, but we’ll see at the end of the show what happened. But um the company is called Vault and Steel, and I highly encourage you guys to check them out because they’re going to bring some very high-end builds onto the market. They’re based in California. Now, those guys we know, I visited them and did a full video about them. CRI cars. So, they are cars, they’re not buggies. Um well, that’s what they say. There fantastic toys and they’re building a handful of them. uh each year and I think it’s time to visit them again because the platform has evolved significantly and those things can fly. They jump, they take a huge abuse and you can take them in the desert and push them to the limits. Another Model 3 um that’s a performance a really recent car 2025 car with the full Liberty W body kit. As far as I’m aware, this is a carbon, not a carbon fiber, but a fiberglass of plastic widebody, but it looks very very OEM looking. And the time machine. So, imagine electric die machine that would solve so many issues. Uh, as it would not break down in the movie, would it? Um, and last but not least, those fantastic two Mustang. Again, same thing. We’ll have two dedicated videos. Uh, these one are from Elton. So those guys, what they’re doing instead of adding a drivetrain in a car, they actually bring a complete chassis and bolt on the original body on top of it. So this is the prototype. It looks fantastic, but still prototype. You can tell from what you’ll see in the back, but this is the finished product. Ironically, it’s all patina, but it’s a fully finished product. Same thing. We’ll have a fully dedicated video. So watch this space to learn more about this bad boy. So, we’re here to talk about obviously conversion to EV and I would like your feedback not only on converted to electric classic cars, but also where say brand like Porsches are taking their brand new OEM electric uh base. Well, it’s probably what you call high voltage rock and roll, right? Everyone seems to be talking about it, but no one’s really buying it. Look at Porsche and the TYON and Audi and the Utron and Mercedes and the G Wagon, right? These are just three from Germany that no one really seems to care about. But the good thing about EVs or electric cars, right, is they’re fast and quiet. So, here we are at SEMO where everything’s loud and noisy and EVs are the complete opposite. Well, you can still make them noisy if you do a big burnout. Yeah, sure. You just hear different types of noises. I’m not against EVs. I’ve driven the Pinfirina Batista, the 2000 horsepower all electric hypercar, which I’m designing a one of livery. That’s perhaps the fastest car I’ve ever driven. And as you know, it’s built on the Rimaca platform. So whether it’s a Tesla Remaca or a 1929 electric Rolls-Royce Ghost, you know, we all need electricity to sort of move around. So, I’m not anti-EV. It’s a, you know, it’s horses for courses and you got to adapt to the environment. What was the first EV you ever drove? Probably the Porsche Tyan when it came out in 2019 at the launch. It’s crazy to think it’s only six, six, seven years since it came out and the Audi products also. Sure. So, what’s your point of view with uh iconic say 964 converted to electric provided say the weight distribution is respected the way the power is. But it’s not just 964. people are, you know, put an electric motor in everything from 356s all the way through. So, I’ve driven quite a few electric conversions. I’ve talked to quite a lot of aftermarket companies that want to get me involved in some capacity, whether it’s Ford Mustangs, early Porsches or vintage Rolls-Royces or Broncos. You know, everyone’s, you know, putting electric motors in things. Ultimately, the concern obviously always is range, but what you get back is instant torque, speed, and uh, you know, the ability to drive every wheel. So, and also new system and new technology bring rapid charging and that makes those EVs just as quick to charge on the motorway on the freeway as an OEM. Well, if you have access to an electric charger, you know, here’s an example. I recently drove from LA to Denver, 161 miles, five states, four tanks of gas in 14 hours over the Rockies at 12,000 ft. I didn’t see a lot of electric charging stations on that road. So, I break it down to this. Electric cars are great in urban commuter environments in the city. Yeah, they’re not great for driving across country. When you go on your open road, you’re always tethered to where there’s a charger, then you got to hope the charger works. Then you got to download an app to your phone. So, it’s not really that easy. So, I will actually What do you think? Well, exactly. I’m going to contradict your point a little bit. Of course, your friendship. Of course, you my point. Last year, uh, March 2004, we went cross country from Jacksonville, Florida all the way to San Diego. You probably mean 2024. 2024. Yeah. Sorry. Uh, we drove four electric trucks. Cybertruck, Silverado EV, F-150 Lightning, and the Rivian R1T. And we drove from Jacksonville, Florida all the way to San Diego in 42 to 43 hours. And all of them found a way to charge either on the freeway or slightly off the freeway a couple of miles away. It’s not the best situation when you have to get off the freeway to charge at the next Walmart for you have to get off the freeway to charge at the next gas station, right? Yeah. True, true. But the point is after the uh we went to San Diego, we drove to LA and all the way back to Denver crossing um over all the snowy area. And there are some uh chargers. I never said they weren’t charged. No, no, no. But my point was you always hear with charging, you know, you got to find the charger, you got to download an app, you got to make sure it waits, works, all that stuff. What would be your ID classic car converted to electric? A vintage Rolls-Royce. Okay. Because Rolls-Royces are already quiet. So, if you can make a vintage Rolls-Royce even quieter, potentially more reliable, that’ be fantastic. That was my point. Yeah. So, you say you’ve been approached with with companies. Have you ever consider working on a conversion to electric car? Sure. You know, I literally at least once a month talk to someone about doing an electric car conver, you know, and I’ve driven quite a few electric vintage cars, whether it’s Broncos, Porsches, uh, Mercedes, you know, I’m not opposed to it. It’s just a different type of mobility. Okay, let’s um going back to your collection, what did you get recently outside of your Porsches, the the Rolls-Royce? Did you get any new cars we haven’t really seen or heard of? Uh we’re definitely in our vintage Rolls-Royce era from the ‘ 60s and ‘7s. So, right now we’re focusing on Shadows, Shadow Coups from that era cuz they represent great value for money and ultimately a great driving experience. Okay. And a lot of style and a lot of quality. So, will you be styling the exterior, the interior of those Rolls-Royce? Time will tell. Never seen that. Look at those guys from current LA. I’ve seen those are two vehicles. We’ll check out real quick. Those guys are are fully solving issues with Tesla battery packs and um replacing modules and so on. More and more companies are doing so not only in the US but also around the globe. A few more um body kit options and vinyl wrap which are becoming pretty common. It’s always nice to stand out from the other Model 3. Actually, this morning I was stuck in the Tesla loop and there was four white model wise in front of us. So, I appreciate why people always want to bring more color to their build. Now, going back to current, those guys in are building some um cars including this uh fastback. That’s going to be quite a badass car. 65 iconic 65 fast pack 600 horsepower 85 kilowatt hour which is quite interesting because it looks like more and more of those build bring larger capacity battery packs. So typically we used to see 50 to 60 to maybe 70 kilowatt hour packs but no more and more we see 85 90 um kilowatt hour pack which completely changes the game especially when you couple it to more and more common uh CCS or rapid charging options. But as far as EVs and conversion to EVs, that’s pretty much it for this year’s uh cinema show. I’m I’m sure we’ll find another couple of modified Teslas or modified EVs, but definitely not as many as previous years. Uh is it a trend? Is it where the industry is going? I’m not too sure. Maybe the EV industry doesn’t feel supported by SEMA or maybe SEMA does not really understand yet where the market is going with EVs. One thing’s for sure, the enthusiasm for EV hasn’t changed whatsoever. Uh, people still love it. Uh, higher finish, higher budget bills are popping all around the US and around the globe with more companies offering $500,000 bill to a million dollar bills. So, yeah, the enthusiasm for EVs is not going anywhere. And even OEM is bringing some fun parts like Hyundai with the EV9. So, not a huge amount of work, but it just looks super cool. rised up suspension, roof bar. Some sometimes you don’t need much more, but yeah, look at that. So, I’m sorry, it’s the Ionic 9. Uh, but yeah, it’s big time. Obviously, this was filmed as a live stream type of videos because uh there’s only so much we can film in one go. But guys, let us know if you like what you saw today and give us a thumbs up. And guys, we’ll see you in the next one. Would [Music] you believe me if I told you you can do a radical change to your car in less time it take to supercharge your Tesla? Let’s check it out. [Music] I have partnered with Alo Black to create custom design that hides your old rim and replace it with a nice flush disc that not only protects your rims but also improve efficiency. First step is to install the hub. It just goes in. You can push this in. Tighten it by hand. Then you use a special tool. Here we go. Next step is just to open the disc. And this one is the custom design one. 88 mph. Because when this baby hits 88, you’re going to see some serious. Next step is simply to screw this on. And because this is the right side of the car, screw anticlockwise. And you use the tool to lock it in. And to secure the whole thing, you screw on one very last screw. All right. It only took 12 minutes, which is way less than it takes the Tesla to supercharge. So in the next few weeks, I will know if efficiency has actually improved. But in the meantime, you can order your own set of disc. And again, you can use any numbers, any letter you want up to 25 characters and use the code below. But more importantly, send us your photos of your Tesla with your auto disc.
Join us LIVE from the 2025 SEMA Show as we visit the Future Tech area, home of the wildest converted classics and the hottest modified EVs.
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From a mad DeLorean Time Machine to a stunning electric Corvette, we check out the builds pushing the industry forward and speak with Legend Magnus Walker about the future of EV culture.
We also catch up with Legacy EV, eDubs, and key specialists shaping the electric-conversion world today.
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