16 March/April 2025 | E-Mobility Engineering Everrati’s head of engineering discusses novel ways of electrifying classic cars with Will Gray Tinker and tailor Electric vehicle (EV) technology is moving at a rapid pace and much of that is thanks to people like Tony Fong. As head of engineering at luxury electric car company Everrati, he is pioneering cutting-edge innovation in the most unlikely of places – by implanting the latest powertrain components into old classics to create the systems of the future. Fong is a self-declared “tinkerer” who loves nothing more than tweaking electrical systems in search for better performance. He has been doing exactly that ever since he was a child, when in his Malaysian birthplace he spent his youth flying radio-controlled helicopters and planes, and tuning the gyros and gaining control to optimise their flight. Fast-forward to 2025, and Fong now spends his days working on far more complicated electric systems, hidden under the beautiful bodywork of Everrati’s range of luxury classic conversions, which includes the Land Rover Series IIA, Porsche 911, the distinctive MercedesBenz Pagoda roadster and the legendary Ford GT40. The aim is not just to create a production line of magical electrified classics, but to use the system engineering processes involved in their development to push the boundaries of what is possible. Unleashed from the shackles of major brand OEMs, this is where Fong, who was originally trained in motorsport engineering, is in his element. “It is kind of bridging the gap between Formula One, motorsport and automotive,” he offers. “Formula One is a scientific programme, albeit now with a level of cost cap, but this is about engineering in a practical sense, balancing the cost element whilst accelerating the integration of all these really good new components that are constantly being developed. “We take a slight step back on the technology curve – so these components are validated and we know they work – and then we integrate them in a system and take it to market aggressively. It’s all about accelerating the process in a commercial sense, and demonstrating the vehicle and system can be registered, and it’s safe. That’s the magic formula.” Fong’s career has followed the electrification evolution, moving from early-stage mild hybrids right through to the modern, full EV systems he is currently working on, and it all started with a realisation back in his remotecontrolled flying days that electric power was not only key to eliminating emissions – it was actually the best powertrain system, full stop. “There were lots of different power options you could use in radio-controlled vehicles – glow engines, petrol engines, electric and turbines – but even then the advantage of electric in terms of power delivery and refinement was quite Tony Fong’s interest in engineering was inspired by flying remote-control aeroplanes as a child, but he now enjoys working on bigger versions (Image courtesy of Tony Fong)
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