Retrofitting is emerging as a viable option to make old vehicles future-ready
In this post, we take a look at why this HM Ambassador will remain immune to the old car ban in Delhi. We know that the pollution in Delhi results in toxic air quality. Now, while there are many reasons for that, vehicular pollution is among the significant contributors to the emissions. Hence, the government keeps bringing new norms and policies to tackle the situation. Banning old cars and introducing ethanol-blended petrol are such measures, which are aimed at reducing vehicular emissions.
Old HM Ambassador Remains Unaffected by Delhi Old Car Ban
This post stems from Torque_Bhai on YouTube. The host is at this workshop, interacting with the owner. The latter explains that they have been in the business for 7 years. They primarily convert existing commercial vehicles and passenger cars into EVs by retrofitting the electric powertrain. They take the engine out and install the battery pack, along with other components, depending on the type of car and its application. For instance, they have two battery pack options – 50 kWh and 70 kWh.
For trucks, the 50 kWh battery enables a range of around 120 km, while the larger battery takes this up to around 160 km on a single charge with full load. For cars like the Hindustan Ambassador, the team takes the engine out, installs mounts, and then positions the electric components so that the centre of gravity doesn’t shift much. Apart from that, they ensure that the parameters like braking, performance, suspension, weight, etc., don’t deviate too much from the existing model. ARAI approval requires cars to remain within a 10% deviation after retrofitting. In this manner, the life of the cars can be extended for a long time.
My View
In the last few years, retrofitting has come up as a great option for car owners to continue using their beloved vehicle for a long period of time. If the car’s registration hasn’t expired yet, the option to convert it into an electric car is valid. For a relatively nominal cost, the lifespan of the car can be easily increased. Needless to mention, the running costs will decrease significantly. I shall keep an eye out for more such cases in the times to come.
Editor’s Note
Yatharth Chauhan, Managing Editor
As someone who has tracked policy shifts and ground realities of the Indian car market for over a decade, I see retrofitting as a practical middle path between blanket bans and unchecked pollution. This Ambassador is a textbook example of how compliant EV conversions can preserve legacy vehicles while aligning with current regulations. With ARAI-approved retrofits staying within strict deviation limits, this approach deserves far more regulatory clarity and encouragement. In congested cities like Delhi, retrofitting could well emerge as a sensible, scalable solution rather than a niche experiment.
Also Read: Hindustan Ambassador Imagined in Electric Avatar – Yay or Nay?
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