The electric Miata NB can travel 120 miles (nearly 200 kilometres)
Its power is similar to the original Miata
Conversions to electric are more and more common, especially when it comes to older cars. UK-based company Zero EV gives us the most recent example, an NB generation Mazda Miata with a fully electric powertrain.
The Miata, known today as the MX-5, has always been known for its easy driving pleasure and exceptional handling. Zero EV claims to have retained the properties of the Miata NB produced between 1998 and 2005, including making sure not to make the car too heavy.
This means that Zero EV’s car isn’t necessarily more powerful than the Miata NB it is based on. We are talking about 0-100 km/h (97 mph) in 8.5 seconds which is quite slow for an electric car. The 26-kWh battery offers a range of around 192 kilometres (120 miles) which is not much when compared to modern EVs.
In contrast, the Zero EV Miata weighs roughly the same as the Miata NB and retains the agility and lightness of the original car. The engine is positioned where the gearbox originally was in order to maintain a similar weight distribution.
The goal of Zero EV is to gauge public interest in a production version of its electric Miata. If there is a market, the company plans to produce the electric car on a larger scale.
