Vooltz had been planning to start up a new business venture to manufacture electric sports cars. But, now, Vooltz has
put that idea on indefinite hold.
Vooltz's plan was
to make electric classic-style sports cars inspired by the iconic 1957/58 Porsche Speedster.
Here is some background that helped initiate the now defunct plans. As collector cars, authentic Speedsters routinely sell for more than $300,000. They are still fun to drive but people are now afraid they may be damaged. Besides, most people who want one cannot afford one.
So the replica classic sports car business is booming. It is dominated by companies making gasoline-powered replicas. One company, JPS Motorsports of San Marcos, California, has started producing electrified versions of its replica Porsche Speedster. Another, Vintage Motorcars of Hawaiian Gardens, California. has partnered with Moment Motor Company to make complete electric cars.
The typical replica business model is to make custom "kit cars" one at a time. Backlogs are eight months to five years.
One-at-a-time production is not only time consuming but expensive. Good electrified replicas go from $70,000 to more than $100,000.
Apparently, the main motivation behind this business model is to avoid expensive NHTSA safety requirements and expensive manufacturing equipment. Additionally, states in the U.S. generally require a license to manufacture any kind of motor vehicle, which imposes additional requirements that may be expensive.
Generally, such kit cars are built on just enough of a 1960's or 1970's Volkswagen or other classic platform to qualify for titling as the car of the donner year. Others are built on special space frames and sold without a state title. The buyer must then go through a special state procedure to title and register the vehicle.
Vooltz believed it could do better by creating an all-new electric design and achieving a manufacturing reate of 5000 NHTSA-compliant cars per year. That belief is now history.
Here is some background that helped initiate the now defunct plans. As collector cars, authentic Speedsters routinely sell for more than $300,000. They are still fun to drive but people are now afraid they may be damaged. Besides, most people who want one cannot afford one.
So the replica classic sports car business is booming. It is dominated by companies making gasoline-powered replicas. One company, JPS Motorsports of San Marcos, California, has started producing electrified versions of its replica Porsche Speedster. Another, Vintage Motorcars of Hawaiian Gardens, California. has partnered with Moment Motor Company to make complete electric cars.
The typical replica business model is to make custom "kit cars" one at a time. Backlogs are eight months to five years.
One-at-a-time production is not only time consuming but expensive. Good electrified replicas go from $70,000 to more than $100,000.
Apparently, the main motivation behind this business model is to avoid expensive NHTSA safety requirements and expensive manufacturing equipment. Additionally, states in the U.S. generally require a license to manufacture any kind of motor vehicle, which imposes additional requirements that may be expensive.
Generally, such kit cars are built on just enough of a 1960's or 1970's Volkswagen or other classic platform to qualify for titling as the car of the donner year. Others are built on special space frames and sold without a state title. The buyer must then go through a special state procedure to title and register the vehicle.
Vooltz believed it could do better by creating an all-new electric design and achieving a manufacturing reate of 5000 NHTSA-compliant cars per year. That belief is now history.