His presence was more than a gesture of support — it was a powerful acknowledgement of the challenges faced by women living with endometriosis and the urgent need for better education, understanding, and early diagnosis.

For too long, endometriosis has been a condition spoken about quietly, often misunderstood, and frequently dismissed. Our mission has always been clear: to empower women with knowledge, to ensure they feel heard, and to promote education that leads to earlier recognition and improved care. Andy Burnham’s attendance helped amplify that mission at a crucial moment.

During the session, he listened closely to the lived experiences of women who have battled years of pain, delayed diagnoses, and barriers within the healthcare system. His engagement demonstrated a genuine commitment to understanding the realities of endometriosis and the impact it has on women’s lives, careers, families, and wellbeing.

His support also helped shine a brighter light on the importance of community-led education. When leaders stand alongside us, they help break down stigma and encourage wider conversations — in homes, workplaces, schools, and healthcare settings. That is how change begins: with awareness, with understanding, and with the courage to speak openly about women’s health.

Andy Burnham’s attendance in 2022 remains a significant moment for our charity. It strengthened our resolve to continue empowering women with the knowledge they deserve and to keep pushing for a future where endometriosis is recognised early, treated effectively, and understood widely.

Andy Burnham’s engagement signalled a commitment to understanding these realities and to supporting efforts that promote earlier recognition and better outcomes.

For our organisation, his attendance remains a pivotal moment. It validated the need for sustained investment in community education, strengthened our relationships within the region, and underscored the importance of empowering women through knowledge. As we continue expanding our programmes, workshops, and outreach activities, this support forms part of the foundation on which we build future impact.

Eyes down for a full house to beat endometriosis

Shuffle yourself along to a game of Play Your Cards Right, a bout of Bingo, a raffle, and a quiz night as a local charity answers the call to help women in chronic pain.

Affecting one in ten females, endometriosis leads to severe bleeding, pelvic agony and a monthly woe of weariness so severe it leads sufferers to self-harm and dark thoughts.

All of which persuaded GP with Special Interest in Gynaecology Dr Anita Sharma to form charity Endometriosis Awareness North – whose main fundraiser will be held at the Rochdale Golf Club on September 18 (see close of release for details).

Monies raised will be used to support so-called “endo warriors” and their families, plus fund research into quicker diagnosis and even a cure.

“Despite being one of the most common health conditions in Britain, few people are aware of endo – and that includes doctors and nurses,” said Dr Sharma. “The lack of funding into early diagnosis and treatment means women have to wait up to ten years just to get a proper diagnosis, meaning a decade of missing out on an education and work, not being able to socialise with others, and crippling agony that nobody seems to understand.”

Dr Sharma got so exasperated of seeing patients who had had their symptoms dismissed, ignored and sent home with a dose of pain killers, she formed her charity and began spreading the message to junior doctors and now Prime Minister Andy Burnham – who promised action on the issue.

Andy Burnham attended and supported Endometriosis Awareness session on 1.7.2022 Free seminars on pain relief, hormonal treatment, self-harm, fertility and the launch of her book “Endometriosis in Primary Care” have all since taken place in Rochdale.  

Endometriosis Awareness North has also just run a social media campaign called #Unheard and produced a documentary featuring warriors. These include local nurse Lucy Bowker, who said: “Endometriosis meant that I couldn’t look after my newborn baby. I was solely reliant on pain relief and staying in bed with my hot water bottle. It wasn’t a life.” (See more by going to  https://endo-unheard-voices.lovable.app/#stories ).

Caused when cells that usually grow in the womb adhere to other organs in the body, endometriosis can lead to umpteen surgeries and costs the UK £8.2 billion per year in treatment and sick pay.

Continued Dr Sharma: “What our small band has managed to do is give women like Lucy a voice and link them with others sharing similar experiences. We have also increased awareness of the condition exponentially and this even led to a question in the House from one of our keenest supporters, Elsie Blundell MP.

All of this has involved the people of Rochdale, who can justifiably claim to be the UK’s most endo-friendly borough. But much more needs to be done, and that requires investment.”

The September fundraiser will offer quizzers and bingo goers some competitive fun. Attendees might also leave flushed after a game of cult favourite Bruce Forsyth challenge, “Play Your Cards Right!”

The event takes place at: Rochdale Golf Club, Edenfield Road, Bagslate, Rochdale, OL11 5YR

Tickets are priced at £20 and can be obtained by emailing endometriosisawarenessnorth@gmail.com

To donate to the Endometriosis Awareness North charity, go to https://endometriosisawarenessnorth.com/donate

The post Andy Burnham’s Attendance at Our 2022 Endometriosis Awareness North Session first appeared on Asian Leader.

The post Wasted medicines cost the NHS at least £480 million a year first appeared on Asian Leader.

Only one in 10 (11%) adults in England and Wales understand how much water they use, new research reveals, as a major new initiative launches to transform how society thinks about and uses water.

The Let’s Save Water campaign comes as scientists, environmental experts and industry leaders warn of increasing pressures on water resources driven by climate change, population growth and rising demand. It aims to build awareness of the precious and finite nature of water while encouraging simple behaviour changes – from taking shorter showers to fixing dripping taps – to reduce water use today and help protect supplies for future generations.

Despite the UK’s reputation for rain, water availability is becoming less predictable. In England, there is a projected potential daily water shortfall of five billion litres by 2055, equivalent to 25 million people running the tap for 20 minutes. In Wales, changing weather patterns are also expected to affect how much water is available across the year, especially during hot weather and at peak times.

The new data, from a YouGov survey of 3,121 adults across England and Wales, highlights a gap between perception and reality when it comes to individual water use. On average, people believe they use around 30 litres a day, compared to actual usage of around 140 litres. In other words, people use almost five times as much water as they think.

Awareness of the potential water shortfall is also limited. More than half (53%) believe shortages are only short-term, such as during hot weather, and around a third (34%) feel their individual water use makes little difference at a national level.

Experts are stressing that this is a shared, system-wide challenge, rather than an individual one, and that clearer understanding can help people play a part alongside wider action already underway.

Water Minister Emma Hardy said:

“Water is one of our most precious resources and in many parts of England we are using it faster than it can naturally be replenished.

“Droughts are becoming longer and more common due to climate change, exacerbating water shortages that can have a devastating impact on our environment.

“Meeting this challenge will require action from all of us. The Government is taking decisive measures to secure supplies, including supporting the construction of nine new reservoirs, but other simple behaviour changes can make a real difference.”
Mary Lewis, Head of Natural Resource Management Policy from Natural Resources Wales, explains the specific challenge for Wales:

“While Wales may be known for its rainfall, climate change and shifting weather patterns means water may not always be reliable all year-round in the future.

“We’ve seen in recent years the strain this has placed on our natural environment with pressure on wildlife, habitats and waterways, as well as communities.

“Every drop we waste at home or work, is less water to keep our rivers and wildlife healthy. By using water wisely, we can all play a part in protecting these vital resources for the future.”

Professor Lizzie Kendon, Strategic Head of Climate Processes and Projections at the Met Office, explained:

“More rainfall doesn’t automatically mean more usable water. Climate change is driving increasingly extreme weather patterns, with wetter winters, drier summers, and more intense bursts of rainfall. When rain falls on dry, hardened ground, much of it cannot soak into the soil where it is most valuable, instead it runs off and is being lost. This growing imbalance is placing mounting pressure on our water resources, and there is an urgent need for action. By acting now and embracing small, everyday changes, we can help safeguard this precious resource for future generations.”

Water companies are investing billions to upgrade infrastructure, including fixing leaks and developing new sources such as reservoirs. However, these measures alone will not fully close the gap between the projected supply and demand, and experts agree that action across society will also be needed.

Chris Walters, Chief Executive at Ofwat, said:

“Investment in new infrastructure and reducing leaks is essential, but lasting resilience also depends on changing our relationship with water and becoming stewards of our natural environment. This campaign is about helping people understand that water is a finite resource and that valuing it more highly today will help secure reliable supplies and protect the environment for the long term.”

A short film, Water: A Shared Challenge with Jeff Brazier, accompanies the launch of what will be a four-year campaign across England and Wales. Travelling across the two countries, Jeff visits leading experts to explore the growing threat of water scarcity and what the projected daily shortfall means for people and nature. In Cardiff, he speaks with Professor Ian Walker, Head of Psychology at Swansea University, about public attitudes and behaviours around water use; in Exeter, Professor Lizzie Kendon from the Met Office explains how climate change is shaping England’s water future; and in Yorkshire, Clare Cashon, Project Officer at the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, highlights the impact of water shortages on habitats and wildlife.

Reflecting on his experience, presenter Jeff Brazier said:

“Making this film changed the way I think about water. Like many people, I’ve always assumed it would be there when I needed it, but after speaking to the experts, it’s clear we can’t afford to take it for granted. What struck me most is that water scarcity isn’t just about having less water coming out of our taps. It’s about the impact on rivers, wildlife, communities, and the future resilience of our country. The challenge is bigger and more immediate than I realised, but the good news is that the choices we make every day can make a real difference. If we all start paying a bit more attention to how we use water, together we can help to make sure there’s enough water for future generations.”

To find out more, search Let’s Save Water or visit letssavewater.com

provided an estimate, 65% underestimated usage by more than 100L. While a large proportion of respondents selected “don’t know,” meaning a strict majority claim cannot be made for the full sample, the overall pattern indicates that the public tends to significantly underestimate their daily water use.

About Let’s Save Water

In England and Wales today, climate change and growing demand are affecting how much water is reliably available for homes, businesses and the environment. We need to save water now, and for future generations. Let’s Save Water is a four-year campaign backed by regulators and water companies to help everyone across England and Wales use less water through small, everyday changes. 

The post England and Wales’ water blind spot: Public underestimate their daily water use by more than 100 litres first appeared on Asian Leader.

Around one in five adults in England, an estimated 9.4 million people are affected by a common mental health condition, millions are missing out on treatment that could help them.

An NHS campaign is encouraging people from South Asian communities to seek support for common anxiety‑related mental health conditions, as many continue to struggle in silence or delay seeking help due to stigma, cultural expectations or not recognising symptoms.

Mental health challenges can affect anyone yet in many South Asian families, people may minimise their symptoms, feel shame, or believe they should “just get on with it”. Conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Social Anxiety Disorder, Phobias, Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Panic Disorder are treatable, and support is available through NHS Talking Therapies, with the option to self‑refer online.

NHS Talking Therapies are free, confidential and effective, and can be delivered in person, over the phone or online. Support is available in multiple South Asian languages through multilingual therapists or confidential interpreters, ensuring people can speak comfortably in the language that feels most natural.

As part of the campaign, Dr Nighat Arif and Harmeet Kaur recently joined the hosts of Two Chickpeas in a Pod podcast, a South Asian‑led show known for opening up honest, culturally grounded conversations around identity, stigma and lived experience. In their episode, they explored the realities of anxiety conditions, the cultural pressures that often keep people silent, and the difference NHS Talking Therapies can make. They shared the following reflections:

Dr Nighat Arif, said “Most people with mental health conditions just want to be believed and rightly so. These struggles often build over years, hidden by fear, shame, or the feeling of being ‘broken’. That’s why it’s so important to seek help early, and why NHS Talking Therapies exist so people can self‑refer online and be supported by trained professionals without long delays, regardless of background or circumstance.”

Harmeet Kaur said “I still experience anxiety every day, but Talking Therapies, including CBT through the NHS, has helped me learn how to cope with it. It’s allowed me to recognise my thought patterns and understand where they come from, instead of feeling stuck in them. Talking Therapies helped me move from just surviving to actually thriving.”

Anyone who feels their mental health is affecting their daily life whether through anxiety in social situations, panic attacks, flashbacks, compulsions, phobias or distressing thoughts is encouraged to seek support.

Find out more or self‑refer at nhs.uk/talk

The post NHS encourages South Asian communities to seek support through NHS Talking Therapies first appeared on Asian Leader.

We all know how important it is to keep healthy – both in body and mind – but with so much going on in our daily lives it can feel like a challenge we just don’t have time for. It doesn’t need to feel like a mountain to climb, though. The NHS has launched a new online ‘Healthy Choices Quiz’ to help with that first little step on your way to feeling healthier and happier. The Quiz is free, it’s easy and it’s quick to do.

Nina Wadia is well-known for her TV comedy and soap roles, and features in a new short film about the Healthy Choices Quiz. In the film we see Nina in the spotlight, answering questions from the Quiz and getting her results. Nina says:

“I really enjoyed taking the Quiz; it was fun and interesting to do, and it gave me the chance to reflect on my health and lifestyle more than I normally do. I was pleased that my score told me I’m mostly making sensible choices, but there were also some really helpful tips on improvements that I can make so I’m intending to follow those.”

Health Minister Ashley Dalton said:

“Taking this quick and easy quiz could be the first step for people to live healthier and happier lives.

“We’re doing our part to cut smoking, obesity and provide better mental health support – this quiz gives people the chance to help themselves by taking advantage of expert NHS advice at the touch of a screen.

“This simple, free and easily available quiz will bring expert NHS advice to your fingertips as part of our 10 Year Health Plan to move from treating sickness to preventing it.”

Based on your answers, the Healthy Choices Quiz gives you a score out of 10 and advice about each area of your lifestyle, together with tools to help you. The suggestions include online information and free NHS resources that you can use to take the next step in the areas where you feel you could use some support. This could be apps like Drink Free Days and Couch to 5k, or the mental health ‘Mind Plan’ quiz and email programme. The Healthy Choices Quiz can help you take the important first step to get you started, so you feel more in control of your health.

GP Dr Abdul Hafeez MBE recommends that everyone give the Quiz a try:

“The Healthy Choices Quiz is quick and simple to do – it takes just 5 minutes of your time and it’s personalised, so the results are based on your answers to questions about things like food choices, exercise, sleep, drinking, smoking and vaping. At the end you’ll get a score with suggestions and tips for any areas you might want to improve on; all based on trusted NHS tools, like apps and websites. It’s about feeling confident to take the first small step, without it feeling too difficult. For example, aiming to get better quality sleep, which can have a big impact on your mental health.”

You can find the quiz online by searching ‘Healthy Choices Quiz’. If you’re not sure about doing it on your own you could always grab a friend and a cup of tea and do it together.

Nina tells us:

“I thoroughly recommend taking the Healthy Choices quiz. I do try to prioritise my health but life gets busy and there are always things we can improve on.  Just having the opportunity to think about my  lifestyle choices and what I could do differently was really refreshing. For me, sleep is an important one to focus on so I’ll be taking the tips on board, and I want to get more active so I’m going to try out the Couch to 5k App as well. Give it a go yourself and see what your results are. Take that first step, you won’t regret it!”

Search ‘Healthy Choices Quiz’ to get your score and a plan that‘s right for you.

Or click here to access the quiz now:

https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/healthy-choices-quiz/?WT.mc_ID=HCQ_PR&wt.tsrc=PR

The post Join Nina Wadia and take a step towards better health with the NHS Healthy Choices Quiz first appeared on Asian Leader.

Millions of tenants across the country will benefit from safer homes thanks to new rules coming into force on Monday 27 October. 

The first phase of Awaab’s Law will force social landlords to take urgent action to fix dangerous homes or face the full force of the law, improving lives for tenants and families living in all four million of England’s social rented homes. 

The new legal duties will finally put tenants’ safety first with landlords forced to fix emergency health and safety hazards within 24 hours of reporting. They must also investigate significant damp and mould within 10 working days of being notified and then make properties safe in five working days. For both types of hazards, they must also write the findings to tenants within three working days of inspection.   

As part of the reforms, landlords now must also consider the circumstances of tenants which could put them at risk – including young children and those with disabilities or health conditions. Alternative accommodation must also be offered if homes cannot be made safe within the required timeframes. 

These vital reforms will not only keep tenants safer in their homes,but hold landlords to account. Those who fail to comply with the rules face being taken to court, where they could be issued enforcement orders, forced to pay compensation and legal costs – as well as loss of rent if homes were uninhabitable.

Awaab’s Law is a lasting legacy to two-year-old Awaab Ishak, who tragically died after being exposed to mould at his Rochdale home in December 2020. In the wake of this tragedy, Awaab’s family has fought to secure justice, not only for their son but for all those who live in social housing. 

Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: 

“Everyone deserves a safe and decent home to live in and Awaab Ishak is a powerful reminder of how this can sadly be a matter of life or death. 

“Awaab’s family has fought hard for change and their work to protect millions of tenants’ lives will live on as a legacy to their son.  

“Our changes will give tenants a stronger voice and force landlords to act urgently when lives are at risk, ensuring such tragedies are never repeated.” 

Sumita Singha OBE, Founding Director Ecologic Architects:

“Awaab’s Law is a landmark moment for housing safety and accountability. As a built environment professional, I believe every home should uphold the dignity and wellbeing of its residents. The tragic loss of Awaab Ishak must never be repeated. These reforms place tenant health at the heart of housing standards and send a clear message – unsafe homes are unacceptable, and action must be swift. We all have a role to play in ensuring that design, maintenance, and management of homes protect the most vulnerable.”  

More of Awaab’s Law will be phased in next year and in 2027 to make homes safer from more hazards, alongside work to build 1.5 million new homes, including the biggest boost of social and affordable housing in a generation. 

To bring further transformative and lasting change in the safety and quality of social housing and give tenants a stronger voice, a new £1 million fund has been launched by the government today to create new ways of helping tenants engage with their landlords and have more influence over decisions that affect them. 

Up to £100,000 will be granted to successful bidders who propose strong ideas for improving communication between landlords and tenants and help tenants have more of a say in how their homes are managed.

Examples of innovative ideas could include online platforms, marketing campaigns or recruiting specialist personnel who can support tenants to improve their experiences in social housing. 

This will help replace the outdated, inefficient ways of communicating that leave tenants feeling unheard and waiting too long to get issues resolved by their landlord. 

To find out more visit www.gov.uk/socialhousing-law

The post Millions of tenants safe from black mould through Awaab’s Law  first appeared on Asian Leader.

The Polestar 3 is intended to be a proper luxury SUV that can finally take on the establishment, competing directly with top-end EV rivals, particularly from German brands. Yes ultimately this is a Chinese-owned brand now, but under the ‘Polestar’ banner, it doesn’t want to compete against the likes of BYD and XPeng, it’s going after BMW, Mercedes and Audi.

On paper, the credentials are certainly there. The Long Range Dual Motor version produces 483bhp from a 111kWh battery, which is enough to launch this near two-and-a-half-tonne machine from rest to sixty in just 4.8 seconds. Tick the Performance Pack box, and the power goes up, bringing that sprint time down to 4.5 seconds.

Polestar claims a range of 390 miles on the WLTP cycle, which is more than healthy for something of this scale. Prices begin at £75,900, though the car I tested, finished in Magnesium paint and equipped with the Plus Pack, the Pilot Pack and HD Matrix LED headlights, came to an eye-watering £85,300.

From the kerb the Polestar 3 looks every inch the premium SUV it wants to be. It avoids the flashiness of Tesla or the bullish bravado of the BMW iX. Instead, it wears clean, sharp lines with the sort of understated Scandinavian confidence that makes a strong impression without ever needing to shout.

The signature Thor’s Hammer headlights sit low and narrow at the front, while carefully sculpted surfaces and a unique airblade mounted at the top of the front of the bonnet, help the aerodynamics.

The side profile has real presence, with strong haunches, flush detailing and a roofline that flows neatly into the rear, where a full-width light bar underscores the car’s broad stance. It is a big vehicle, stretching to almost 4.9 metres in length and more than 2.1 metres across, but the proportions keep it looking taut and athletic rather than bloated.

Practicality is often the deciding factor in this class and the Polestar 3 does not disappoint. Open the tailgate and you find 484 litres of luggage space, which can be expanded to nearly 600 litres if you load up to the roofline.

Plus, there is also a useful little 32-litre frunk up front which is perfect for storing charging cables. It is not the outright biggest in the segment, but it is perfectly usable for family life.

Step inside the rear cabin and the sense of luxury is immediate. The long wheelbase of nearly three metres means legroom is generous, though the feet might be a little tight and your knees a tad higher due to the raised floor housing the battery.

Headroom remains decent despite the coupe-like slope of the roof. Rear passengers are treated to heated seats and their own touchscreen to control climate and media, and that expansive panoramic glass roof which floods the cabin with light. It feels more like a rolling Scandinavian lounge than the back of a traditional SUV, and the quality of materials reinforces that impression.

Up front, the minimalist Polestar ethos is laid bare. The cabin is stripped of clutter but not of luxury, with MicroTech upholstery, aluminium inlays and vegan-friendly trims giving it a modern, premium feel while still ticking the sustainability boxes.

The centre is dominated by a 14.5-inch portrait-style screen that runs Android Automotive, complete with Google Maps, Google Assistant and access to the Play Store. Ahead of the driver sits a smaller 9-inch display, and above that a sharp head-up display. Having said that, a few more buttons and more intuitive controls (like knobs to adjust the mirrors and steering position) would be welcome.

A highlight on this particular car (specced with the £5k Plus Pack) is the Bowers & Wilkins sound system. With 25 speakers and Dolby Atmos, it delivers an audio experience that is frankly astonishing. It really does feel like a concert hall on wheels. You can even select the ambience of the famous Abbey Road studios, and the little jet engine-like tweeter mounted on the centre top of the dash is an exquisite feature.

The driving position is commanding and the visibility forwards is good. The cameras are clear and comprehensive, which helps, but the beeps and bongs can become relentless in London traffic.

Out on the road, the Polestar 3 is more impressive than its heft would suggest. Acceleration is brisk and feels more than adequate for a car in this class. It is not as jaw-droppingly quick as the Polestar 4, but it does not need to be.

The real star of the show is the dual-chamber adaptive air suspension. It can soften itself for comfort, hunker down for aerodynamic efficiency, or firm up when you want to tackle a twistier road. Modes called Standard, Nimble and Firm give you plenty of choice, and Nimble, in my experience, offers the best balance for UK roads. You can also raise and lower the suspension.

Despite weighing over two and a half tonnes, the Polestar 3 remains composed through corners, cornering flatly and gripping with confidence. The steering is accurate, even if it lacks true feel, and the brakes are strong with adjustable regenerative settings. Oddly, while the one-pedal mode on the Polestar 4 was too grabby in the standard mode, in this 3 it was perfectly manageable.

On the motorway it settles into a serene rhythm, gliding along quietly and comfortably. Adaptive cruise and lane-keep assistance work well and reduce the strain of long journeys.

Another surprise – while the Polestar 4 appeared to give true range readings, the 3 tended to lose miles even around town, so I’d err on the side of around 20% less when it comes to the real-world range. But with 250 kilowatt DC charging capability, a 10 to 80 per cent top-up can be achieved in around half an hour if you find the right charger.

The Polestar 3 is a hugely impressive package. It is neatly designed, inside and out. It is comfortable, spacious and luxurious. It delivers strong performance, a useful range and a refined, comfortable ride.

It does have its downsides. At £85,000 as tested, it is serious money for a family SUV. And for that money, I’d want a few more buttons inside too.

But overall, the Polestar 3 feels like the most complete car the brand has built so far. It is stylish, practical, satisfying to drive and handsome.

If you want a family EV SUV that combines Scandinavian design, sustainability, genuine luxury and the kind of audio system that makes you linger in the driveway just to finish a song, then the Polestar 3 deserves a place in your shortlist.

The post Polestar 3 Review – £85k Family SUV with a Bowers & Wilkins Concert Hall Inside first appeared on Asian Leader.

There are many questions in life for which we have thus far failed to find a satisfactory answer. For example: why does toast always land butter-side down? Or what precisely is the purpose of a rubber chicken? And most pertinently on this occasion, what happens when you take a classic Fiat 500 – a car only marginally larger than a ripe melon – and stuff it full of EV batteries and magnets instead of a noisy two-pot and Italian expletives?

Well, dear reader, the answer is now apparent to us, and it constitutes a frisky mouse on steroids wearing a tin suit – alternatively known as the Silent Classics Fiat 500e.

Now, the original Fiat 500 was not so much a car as it was an exceptionally ambitious space-hopper. Two grown men climbing into one would seem like attempting to accommodate a dance troupe in a thimble.

In fact, the tiny tiddler must be a distant relative of the Tardis, as this lanky motoring journalist (over six foot with legs longer than a list of a Prime Minister’s broken promises) easily folded himself into the driver’s seat, without feeling entirely cramped. This car is a miracle of packaging only rivalled by IKEA’s flatpacks. Just don’t mention the rear seats!

Beside me sat Silent Classic’s CEO and Director, Jack Kerridge, a marvellously affable engineering wizard; and a man with the patience of a monk (despite my best [worst?] efforts at the wheel) and the optimism of a visionary who seems to be in on cosmic truth the rest of us aren’t yet privy to.

With the enthusiasm of a 10-year-old tanked up on toffee, I took to the tight and twisty city track like a tifosi after two shots of espresso. The original 500cc two-cylinder air-cooled engine in the back would only manage a raucous but wimpy 13bhp in its day, less than a coffee blender.

The 44kW AC motor in this reincarnation offers 59bhp and 160Nm of torque. Wowsers. That’s a significant boost in a package of insignificant weight. The 21kWh battery offers a range of 120 miles. With no performance figures to hand, I can report 0-62mph in “delightful astonishment” and a top speed of: “surely it was never meant to do this?”

“It wasn’t really engineered for performance,” Jack ruefully suggests and is duly ignored as I barely slow before wrenching it hard into the next corner and prodding the right pedal to set it charging off again like a scolded squirrel. Jack emits a noise somewhere between a nervous laugh and a short prayer in binary.

In a car like this, you can go fast enough to get the red cells coursing, but never quick enough to fear death – “speak for yourself!” Jack would surely interject, though. Watch the video and you’ll note his expression goes from surprise, to abject fear and finally resigned queasiness. I really should have slowed down, but I was frankly too busy enjoying myself to notice!

Unlike other classic conversions, there is no pretence of a manual box; it just has a lever offering forwards, backwards and a vague central position of neutral. You get a rackety handbrake, two pedals and a traditional key to start. But there’s a sympathetically styled digital display, displaying speed and battery percentage, along with regenerative braking and an uprated optional disk brake upgrade – thank God! Frankly the only thing you’ll miss is power steering, but then you can skip “biceps day” at the gym.

But you know what? It was brilliant! Agile, responsive, and grippy in the way that only limpets with a wheel at each corner could be.

You’re intrigued, right? Suddenly, you’re imagining the possibilities, working out the lifestyle choices and pondering the price. Well, the V2 kit conversion is expected to cost around just £15,000, well below the usual £30-50k most classic conversions tend to cost.

Fiat built nearly four million of these cars over nearly two decades from 1957. So there’s plenty about still and you can pick up a classic Fiat 500 in fair nick for anywhere between £6,000 to £10,000. So we’re talking about £25k in total for a chic urban electric tearaway in a world where many soulless EVs tend to tout a price tag of about £40k! It also just manages to undercut the price of a brand new Fiat 500e – hmm… watch the video and then tell me, which would you rather rock?

Of course, you have to give up on the space, comfort, safety, tech, connectivity… should I go on? But none of that matters because the new cars can’t compete with the 500e’s retro cool, unflappable charm, and colossal charisma. Here, you’re driving something that makes strangers smile, pensioners reminisce, and children point.

With EV battery technology evolving even faster than smartphones, you might argue that it’s too early to convert classics to electric. You might be right. But Jack is confident about his tech. He firmly believes that one of his classic 500 conversions is good for 150,000 miles – that’s about six times around the world!

While I’m not entirely convinced, the great thing about a plentiful and still relatively affordable classic like the original 500 is that you can take that chance. And while it wouldn’t be an easy process to swap out the battery tech, it surely would be possible to upgrade as and when, for example, when more efficient and safer solid-state batteries arrive.

In any case, this car laughs in the face of convention. For city-dwellers, it makes a lot of sense, and while it doesn’t shout “I’m saving the planet,” the fact is that there are few options more environmentally-friendly than repurposing an existing, already long-lived classic with recycled EV batteries and future-proofing it for generations to come!

The Fiat 500e by Silent Classics is what happens when nostalgia meets nerdiness, when sustainability gets a sense of humour, and when two grown men willingly jam themselves into a shoebox-shaped pod for a spin around the future and a few big laughs along the way.

The post REVIEW: Classic Fiat 500e – A Tiny Italian Bundle of Fun Rebooted by Silent Classics first appeared on Asian Leader.

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