John McMillian is #MadeForKnoxville

John’s childhood was filled with electrifying experiences. Those moments sparked a passion within him and eventually led him to create Shockwave Motors, Inc.

His love for electric cars is fueled by far more than just his childhood passions–he and his team are on a quest to build safe, affordable, fun and pollution free electric vehicles. With Knoxville as homebase and engines fully charged, John and Shockwave Motors are on the path to disrupt the personal transportation industry–for the better.

“I have completed many conversions, including a 1914 Model T–we believe this to be the oldest gas to electric conversion ever accomplished.”

In Their Own Words..

I have had a lifelong passion for electric vehicles. My earliest memories of any kind of an electric vehicle date back to about 1958, I was only about 5 years old. At that time, I had a little red pedal tractor. My Dad’s idea was to get a car battery and a starter motor; then using the tractor’s chain drive to create an “electric tractor” for me to drive. I can clearly remember us sitting on the linoleum floor in the kitchen working on that starter motor. I was very impressed! Electric riding toys are everywhere today and that was over 60 years ago. Dad was way ahead of his time on that idea and it sure made an impression on me!

My next electrifying experience came in 1965 when I was about 12 years old. I had worn out the engine on my go-cart and I decided to replace the old engine with an electric motor. I was a Junior in high school when I started my first full sized conversion project. It started with a junked golf cart, an NSU Prinz, and lots of determination! By the time I graduated from college, I was driving a completely street legal electric car, built on a full size VW chassis – with a custom styled wooden body.

Over the years I have completed many conversions, including a 1914 Model T, which we believe to be the oldest gas to electric conversion ever accomplished. The goal became to design a high performance, three-wheeled, three-passenger electric vehicle. Soon others joined the quest to design, build, and manufacture an electric vehicle that is safe, affordable, pollution free, and fun to drive! We are relentless in our efforts to accomplish this goal.

 

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