Electric nostalgia

In the early 1960s, the Henney Motor Co., manufacturer of hearses, ambulances and custom limousines, built and marketed the Henney Kilowatt — a French-built Renault Dauphine converted to electric power.

Now a Canadian company, Feel Good Cars Inc. in Toronto, is offering an updated version of this 4-passenger electric car. The company's Dauphine Electric is fitted with a state-of-the-art electric motor and sealed, zero-maintenance Valve-Regulated Lead-Acid battery system.

The “new” Dauphine Electrics are registered under their original vehicle identification number so they do not have to comply with either Canadian or U.S. safety rules for new vehicles.

The electric car has a top speed of 60 mph (97 km/h) and can travel about 50 miles (80 km) between recharges. the original Henney had a top speed of 40 mph (64 km/h) and a range of 40 miles.

Price? C$20,000 to C$25,000.The original Henney Kilowatt was not cheap, either, costing $3,600 in 1960s dollars.