FIRST AMONG SEQUELS

Many companies restore and electrify classic cars, but at Lunaz the thinking goes deeper, discovers James Disdale

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Look at the headline numbers. There are currently two billion vehicles on the planet. We can't afford to have four billion in the future." 

This is the sober assessment of David Lorenz, founder and CEO of Lunaz, a company that's dedicated to converting existing ICE vehicles into greener BEVs. There's nothing new in that, you might point out, but the scope and ambition of the Lunaz business model suggests that it's more serious than most.

Those who know the name will be aware of its EV conversions, particularly of classic Bentley, Jaguar and RollsRoyce models, but these "upcycled EVs" are only one part of a business that also includes bin lorries see right) and developing cutting-edge tech, as well as having a bold mission to radically reduce our addiction to buying new and to tap into the circular economy, whose mantra is recycle and reuse’.

“The business plan I first wrote back in 2018 covered the conversion of classic cars, fire engines, airport vehicles, refuse trucks simply any vehicle class I thought was correct to re-engineer,” says Lorenz. But I was looking at fleets more than individual conversions. Essentially, I wanted to help break this cycle of new replacement and work on extending existing products’ lives.”

A classic car enthusiast but with a background in hospitality, the 36-year-old had the business idea, but it wasn’t until a chance encounter with former Formula 1 engineer Jon Hilton on a flight that the plans became a reality.