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Jason Momoa’s 1920s Harleys become electric hybrids in wildest EV conversions yet

UK-based EV conversion specialist Electrogenic has converted five of Jason Momoa’s cherished vintage vehicles to electric power — including three 100-year-old Harley-Davidson motorcycles reimagined as plug-in hybrids. The builds are featured in Season 2 of Momoa’s HBO documentary series On The Roam, streaming now.

The project includes two extremely rare classic Land Rovers converted to all-electric drive with 150+ miles of range, a battery-equipped off-grid camping trailer, and the three Harleys that can switch between electric, petrol, and combined hybrid power on the fly. Electrogenic is now selling conversion kits for both the Land Rovers and the Harleys.

more…​UK-based EV conversion specialist Electrogenic has converted five of Jason Momoa’s cherished vintage vehicles to electric power — including three 100-year-old Harley-Davidson motorcycles reimagined as plug-in hybrids. The builds are featured in Season 2 of Momoa’s HBO documentary series On The Roam, streaming now.

The project includes two extremely rare classic Land Rovers converted to all-electric drive with 150+ miles of range, a battery-equipped off-grid camping trailer, and the three Harleys that can switch between electric, petrol, and combined hybrid power on the fly. Electrogenic is now selling conversion kits for both the Land Rovers and the Harleys.

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UK-based EV conversion specialist Electrogenic has converted five of Jason Momoa’s cherished vintage vehicles to electric power — including three 100-year-old Harley-Davidson motorcycles reimagined as plug-in hybrids. The builds are featured in Season 2 of Momoa’s HBO documentary series On The Roam, streaming now.

The project includes two extremely rare classic Land Rovers converted to all-electric drive with 150+ miles of range, a battery-equipped off-grid camping trailer, and the three Harleys that can switch between electric, petrol, and combined hybrid power on the fly. Electrogenic is now selling conversion kits for both the Land Rovers and the Harleys.

The most jaw-dropping part of the project is the motorcycle conversions. Electrogenic took a 1924 Harley-Davidson Model JD, a 1927 Model JD, and a 1921 Model FD — bikes that predate even the first commercially available radio — and fitted them with modern electric powertrains.

The two Model JDs retain their original twin-cylinder petrol engines but now feature Electrogenic’s EV system working alongside them in a plug-in hybrid setup. Riders can switch between pure EV, petrol-only, or combined hybrid power with a simple switch. The 1921 Model FD, whose engine was seized beyond repair, runs on pure electric power.

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Each bike received an 11 kW (15 hp) Maeving hub motor built into the rear wheel, producing 260 Nm (190 lb-ft) of torque. That’s a massive improvement over the original 20 hp and 50 lb-ft from the petrol engines. The bikes also gained modern disc brakes to replace the original band-style rear brakes — a significant safety upgrade for machines from an era with no front brakes at all.

Batteries and control units are tucked away in custom period-correct panniers that look authentic but house 2.7 kWh removable battery packs. Each one charges in about 2.5 hours from a standard wall outlet. EV-only range exceeds 50 miles. The electric motor also serves as an electric starter for the petrol engine, eliminating the notoriously difficult kick-start procedure.

Jason Momoa with Electrogenic CEO Steve Drummond and the converted 1920s Harley-Davidson motorcycles
Jason Momoa inspects the electrified 1920s Harley-Davidsons with the Electrogenic team. Image: Electrogenic

Momoa was clearly blown away. “This is the best thing we’ve ever made,” he said. “I’ve ridden on e-bikes before, I’ve ridden on e-motorcycles, but the idea of riding on an old electrified bike, it was just unlike anything I’ve experienced.”

He added: “I can have a full conversation with my friend, just going through the mountains… cruising on this old 1920s bike, and totally feeling it’s a 1920s bike. It’s just a really beautiful experience.”

Electrogenic hybrid conversion kit installed on a 1920s Harley-Davidson motorcycle
The Electrogenic hybrid setup with period-correct panniers housing removable battery packs. Image: Electrogenic

Electrogenic is now offering the Harley-Davidson hybrid conversion as a plug-and-play kit available for purchase worldwide.

Electrogenic also converted two of Momoa’s classic Land Rovers to full battery-electric power.

The first is a 1949 Series I 80″ — one of the earliest and most historically significant Land Rover models ever made. It received a 48 kWh battery pack housed in the original engine bay, feeding a 150 kW electric motor. The motor drives the original four-wheel-drive transmission through Electrogenic’s proprietary 2:1 fixed reduction gearbox, preserving all the original 4WD functionality — including the classic transfer case levers. With CCS fast charging and 150+ miles of real-world range, it’s a completely different machine from what it was with the original 50 hp 1.6-liter engine.

Jason Momoa driving his electrified 1949 Land Rover Series I converted by Electrogenic

The second is a 1961 Series IIA 109 Dormobile — one of just 150 examples of this ultra-rare camper conversion ever produced. It got a larger 62 kWh battery, a 120 kW motor, and similarly retains its selectable four-wheel-drive system. Electrogenic also electrified the camper interior with a modern induction hob replacing the original gas stove, turning it into a fully zero-emission off-grid camping setup.

“It’s a whole different experience, me and my daughter going through the forest quietly — it’s beautiful,” Momoa said.

Jason Momoa with his electrified Land Rovers and Harley-Davidsons off-grid in the countryside
Momoa’s electric Land Rovers and Harleys in the field — powered by Electrogenic’s technology for off-grid adventures. Image: Electrogenic

As with all Electrogenic conversions, nothing was cut, drilled, or welded on the original vehicles, and every conversion is entirely reversible. Land Rover conversion kits are available through Electrogenic’s worldwide partner network.

Rounding out the project, Electrogenic equipped Momoa’s Schutt Industries XVENTURE XV-2 trailer with 93 kWh of integrated battery storage. That’s enough to power a stove, fridge, sound system, and other camping equipment for a month-long off-grid excursion — and it can even charge a four-wheel-drive EV while you’re out in the wilderness.

These builds expand on the creative partnership between Momoa and Electrogenic that began with the conversion of his 1929 Rolls-Royce Phantom II, which was featured in Season 1 of On The Roam in 2024. That project — equipped with a 93 kWh battery pack, 150 kW motor, and 150 miles of range — remains the most ambitious classic car EV conversion completed globally to date.

Electrogenic CEO Steve Drummond said: “Jason likes to challenge us; for Season 1 we converted his Rolls-Royce Phantom II, which was immensely complex and still stands as the most ambitious electric conversion carried out worldwide. For Season 2, not only did he present us with new ideas and new challenges, but he entrusted us with vehicles that are very close to his heart.”

The company has built a growing portfolio of plug-and-play EV conversion kits for iconic models including the Land Rover Defender and Series, classic Porsche 911, Jaguar E-Type, DeLorean DMC-12, Mazda MX-5, and classic Mini, installed through a partner network spanning Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia Pacific.

The vehicles and Electrogenic’s team feature in Episode 4 of On The Roam Season 2, titled “Off The Grid,” now streaming on Max (via Amazon Prime) and Discovery+.

This is one of the coolest EV conversion projects we’ve ever covered. The concept of taking 100-year-old Harley-Davidson motorcycles and turning them into plug-in hybrids — where the rider can seamlessly switch between electric silence and the rumble of the original engine — is genuinely brilliant. It addresses the number one objection classic vehicle enthusiasts have about EV conversions: losing the character of the original machine. You’re not losing anything here. You’re gaining electric torque, an electric starter, modern brakes, and the ability to cruise silently when you want to.

The Land Rover conversions are impressive too, especially preserving the full four-wheel-drive system while adding 150+ miles of EV range and CCS fast charging.

We particularly love that Electrogenic is not just doing one-off bespoke work. They are learning from these projects and putting together conversion kits to make it easier on everyone else looking to do this. The Harley hybrid kit in particular could open up a whole new market for vintage motorcycle enthusiasts who want electric capability without sacrificing their bike’s original identity.

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