The EV revolution isn’t only taking place in the passenger car market, but the funeral business too. And it’s easy to see why. Hearses tend to only travel short distances so range is never an issue, and an EV’s smoothness, near-silence and lack of tailpipe emissions makes them perfectly suited to sombre occasions.
Storied British hearse manufacturer Coleman Milne’s new electric hearse is the Etive, and it’s based on the Ford Mustang Mach-E. The firm already offers an electric coffin carrier based on the Tesla Model S, but with its muscular wings and tapering window line the Mustang version is an altogether more eye-catching affair. Whether that’s an appealing trait for a hearse, we’re not sure; I mean, you don’t want it upstaging the star of the show.
The Mach-E’s coupe-like roofline ought to make it look awkward next to a conventional straight-roofed wagon donor, but it actually works well on the hearse, creating clear separation between the front passenger compartment where the driver and coffin bearers sit, and the deck in the back. Options include a power lift tailgate, a full-size sliding deck, illuminated signage and a slid-out under-draw deck.
Coleman Milne also offers a limousine based on the Mach-E featuring seven seats and an additional 4.5-in (114 mm) of height, which must make it look almost as wild as the lead car, but you’ll have to use your imagination because there are no pictures yet.
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Both creations draw from a 75 kWh battery that gives a range of up to 200 miles (322 km) before the battery snuffs it. That figure is down from 273 miles (440 km) on a standard Mach-E, but the battery can be charged at up to 115 kW, which means it can be born again (or at least 80 percent charged) in 38 minutes.
Should the driver want to blast some death metal on his way to the church (we know he shouldn’t, but really, who’s going to know?) he can use the same Ford SYNC infotainment system and 15.5-in tombstone-shaped display every other Mach-E owner gets, while other standard equipment includes keyless entry and a rear-view camera.
Now if Coleman Milne would only enlarge that rear compartment a bit more there’d be enough space to carry a gas-powered Mustang to its grave when Ford finally pulls the plug.
