Electrifying the Classics: Terry Breheny’s EV-Powered Corvair

Terry Breheny Mixes Old-School Cool with New-School Zoom

Just west of Denver, Terry Breheny’s latest project, a relatively rare 1961 Chevrolet Corvair Lakewood, is getting a thorough makeover. He’s turning it into the “Ohm Wagon!” Terry’s always been a car guy. He started young, fixing up a 1965 Mustang with his father as a 15-year-old. Since then, he’s had all kinds of cars, a rock-crawling Jeeps, a late-model SRT Hemis, but he’s got a soft spot for the classics from the ’50s and ’60s. Now he’s doing something a bit different. He’s taking his cool old car and making it run on electro-juice. Why? Because it’s awesome, and because he can. 

So how does an old-school car guy whose daily driver is a ’52 Ford truck with a rumbly V-8 end up in the EV-conversion scene? Terry spent a few years behind the wheel as a professional test driver, piloting pre-production test mules around the Colorado mountains. The first time in the driver’s seat of the RS eTron GT, Terry was immediately hooked by the performance of Audi’s electric halo car. The hot rodder in him wondered about combining EV powertrains with classic vehicles… So, Terry has undergone rigorous training programs to ensure he’s at the top of his game. Notably, he completed the Certified Technician Program offered by Legacy EV. This program is renowned for its comprehensive coverage of EV technologies, from the basics all the way up to advanced conversion techniques. He also attended hands-on training from The Switch Lab, as well as EV-LC. Terry brings a level of expertise to the Ohm Wagon project, while calling upon assistance from local conversion friends, Jimmy Underhill (EV Swap), and Pat Dailey (Inspire EV).

Powaa!

The Ohm Wagon is going to be something special. It’s getting fitted with a Maverick 25 motor, powered by Ampere EV’s Atom Drive System. This powerhouse promises to inject new life into the classic ‘61 Corvair. With a stunning peak output of 255kW/342hp from a 400v system, this motor is radically transforming the Chevy, far exceeding the original 60kW/80hp of the air-cooled flat-six engine.

The Atom Drive System is the first to support the Maverick motor while offering a powerful 42kWh setup that ensures the Ohm Wagon doesn’t just look good parked but thrives on the open road. This battery system is designed with efficiency in mind, employing a cell-to-pack strategy that bypasses the need for traditional modules. The system incorporates UL94 V-0 fire-resistant components, high voltage interlock monitoring on HV connections, and automated system-level diagnostics and shutdown. Ampere EV also prioritized software development so that Atom Drives are completely plug-and-play for installers but also have all the features found on modern cars: drive modes, cruise control, HVAC, charging settings, and much more.

The Maverick 25, powered by Ampere EV’s Atom Drive System will radically transform the Chevy, with a four-fold increase in horsepower!

Also, The Atom Drive Battery Module’s unique cooling plate ensures even cooling or heating throughout the battery pack, maintaining peak performance in diverse conditions and extending the battery life. Lastly, the inclusion of CCS’s fast charging capability means it is as practical for daily drives as it is exciting for weekend drives. This blend of high-powered motor, advanced battery technology, and convenience of fast charging, ensures that the Ohm Wagon will have both show and go.

State of Charge 2024

Terry is also the brains behind the now iconic “State of Charge” EV conversion conference in Golden, Colorado; it’s ‘the’ retrofit gathering, and the previous two editions have been huge successes, pushing Terry to jump the leap of faith and build his car on his own, and of course, Ohm Wagon will going to be a star of the show – no pressure on completing it on time Terry!

As Terry gets the Ohm Wagon ready for its big debut in mid-July, everyone’s getting excited. This project shows you can take something old and classic and give it a modern twist. Terry’s turning his love for old cars into a new adventure, showing us all that the future of many classic cars is electric—and it’s going to be a lot of fun.