Autonomous Vehicles
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RetroEV — from classic car to electric drive and modern driver assistance

RetroEV is an engineering-oriented initiative around retrofitting classic and youngtimer cars: the combustion powertrain is replaced with a fully electric one, and the vehicle is equipped with contemporary driver-assistance capabilities aligned with roughly Level 2 ADAS (advanced driver assistance systems)—perception, lateral and longitudinal support, and related safety-oriented functions. The emphasis is on smart integration, energy use, and innovation, not on maximum power or one-off acceleration figures.

Work is carried out as hands-on development: teams document progress publicly, including regular updates and video documentation where possible, so the engineering story stays visible to partners and the wider community.

Autolab showcase: Pontiac Fiero EV

At Autolab, the main RetroEV demonstrator is a Pontiac Fiero—a compact mid-engine layout that offers a practical base for packaging an electric drivetrain and integrating sensors and compute for driver-assistance experiments. The project combines high-voltage traction design, vehicle integration, and software- and sensor-based assistance features in line with the lab’s autonomous and intelligent-vehicle research.

Pontiac Fiero RetroEV

EV modification (technical)

  • Drive unit: Tesla Model S front small drive unit
  • Motor control: OpenInverter
  • Battery: Mercedes B250e modules — 12 modules, nominal pack voltage about 310 V. Each module contains 308 cylindrical 18650 cells (2700 mAh), arranged in a 7S44P configuration (seven series-connected groups; each group has 44 cells in parallel).
  • BMS: Ewert Energy Systems Orion 2
  • High-voltage contactors: Durakool DEVR40
  • Pre-charge circuit: Durakool DEVR05-series contactor plus 30 Ω pre-charge resistor (Arcol HS100 30R F)
  • High-voltage connectors: Amphenol UPCP012ALS2 (plug), mating receptacle UPCR012ALS1
  • On-board charger (OBC): Elcon HK-J-H440-20
  • DC–DC converter (12 V supply): DCDC206-454

Media and documentation

Engineering focus

  • Reduction of environmental footprint (before/after comparison where applicable)
  • Engineering and integration innovation
  • Advanced driver-assistance functions and their safe use
  • Design, build quality, and finishing
  • Documentation and communication (including video)