I would like an electric car, just not a new one

Contrary to belief, most car enthusiasts are not anti-EV. While EVs may not be the silver bullet to save the world that governments and manufacturers want us to believe they are, they do make a lot of sense in the right scenario.

If you do mega-miles or want all out driving dynamics, cars that burn dead dinosaurs are still the way to go.

If you just need something as an urban run-about however, an electric car makes more than sense. Unless you are a delivery driver or a taxi, the chances of doing more than 100kms in a day around town and suburbia is highly unlikely.

So no range anxiety, relatively no pollution and relatively no noise. It will cost you next to nothing to run and will be maintenance light. Everybody wins.

The only stumbling block (aside from access to charging if you live in an apartment or park kerbside, but we'll gloss over those issues for now) is that most EVs are as dull as ditch water.

The Honda e is funky, but it's range is pathetic, which I know I've just said is irrelevant, but when the car costs over thirty grand, I want the latest and greatest tech and the Honda just doesn't cut it in what is arguably the most important aspect of EV innovation currently.

Of course there is the Porsche Taycan. Probably the greatest EV of them all, but I will probably never be able to afford one of those, even in several years time when they hit the used market. Porsche may be new to the EV game, but their price is still very traditional.

The Peugeot e208 and Renault Zoe are nice cars and pushing the tech boundaries better than most of their rivals (with the exception of maybe the Nissan Leaf, but I can't think of a duller car) but they're just a bit too soul-less, which is the the conundrum I always come to when considering an EV.

I don't want to sound too negative about the current crop of EVs and to be honest, the dull, white-good effect afflicts most new combustion cars too. I hate to say it, but, "they just don't make 'em like they used to".

So here is where I get to the point. I don't want to buy a new EV, what I want to do is make a classic EV conversion.

There are purists out there who run for their pitchforks when the idea is even broached of bastardising a classic car, by removing it's oily heart and replacing it with batteries and electric motors.

Partly, I agree. There have been a few Ferrari 308s that have had this done to them and I see this as sacrilege. Sure the 308 is hardly the most coveted Ferrari of all time, but the essence of a Ferrari is it's engine.

However, there are classic cars out there that the engine is purely there as the means of propulsion. Period technology and cost meant cars of a less exotic ilk used fairly nondescript engines. This is the classic territory I am looking at for my (fantasy) EV conversion.

I can think of no better candidate for this, than the Citroën DS.

The DS is a style icon. The design is unique and unmistakable. It still looks incredible now and in 1955, it must have seemed like it came from outer-space. It screams Gallic-cool. I love the DS, always have and always will.

The DS was revolutionary under the skin too, with it's trick hydropneumatic suspension and headlights that moved with your steering. Incredible. One thing the DS is not infamous for, are it's engines.

The DS had several variations of 4-cylinder petrol engines through it's 20 year lifespan. While the engines were evolved and improved over time, they were never more than just a means to an end.

The DS was all about style and comfort. The aesthetic was cool, the suspension gave it magic carpet like ride. The only thing spoiling the party was the clattery old engine drowning out Serge Gainsbourg coming out of the stereo.

The solution? Get rid of the old piece of French pig-iron under the bonnet and replace it with batteries and an electric motor. What you will end up with, dare I say it, is the ultimate DS.

You will now have a smooth, silent powertrain to accompany the innovative suspension. The graceful propulsion complementing the gallery-worthy design to perfection. I'm getting excited just at the image in my head.

There are plenty of companies out there doing this type of work for people who want to run their classic cars but make them more relevant to the modern world.

As I say, I wouldn't do it to every classic car, but some cars lend themselves to the idea and those that do, should have the treatment, in my opinion.

Sure, it won't be cheap, but you could pick up a non-concourse condition DS for around ten grand, like this car, which is for sale here in Ireland. (Unfortunately there are no pictures).

If you budget even another €20k for the work needed, which should be far more than enough, you would still undercut a Honda e and have a much, much cooler car.

An iconic car at that. An iconic car that you would be giving a second life. So not only are you saving a piece of history, the more cars that move to more sustainable means, will allow the really special stuff with pistons to continue to live on.

If the small percentage of combustion-engined classics are with the enthusiasts they might fly under the radar and not be outlawed.

So for the greater good, convert the cars that don't need to burn hydrocarbons, so those that do, can live on.