Life in the Fast Lane: A Smooth Ride for Bill Cardoso's New Business Converting Cobra Roadsters to Electric

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Bill Cardoso has established quite a list of accomplishments behind his name, from nuclear scientist, organic farmer, and IPC member to entrepreneur and owner of the largest U.S.-based manufacturer in the field of X-ray inspection. Three years ago, though, he brought home a Cobra roadster, and his son’s visceral reaction led to yet another new business venture.

It’s an entertaining story that actually begins in Brazil, where 13-year-old Bill had just graduated with an associate’s degree in electronics and started his first business which eventually led to his becoming one of today’s leading experts in X-ray technology. He has master’s and doctoral degrees in electrical and computer engineering, as well as an MBA focused on strategic management, economy, and entrepreneurship. In short, Bill loves engineering, technology, entrepreneurship—and really cool electric cars.

Bill, you founded Creative Electron in 2008, now a key supplier of X-ray inspection systems for the industry. But you also founded a unique EV car company in southern California that’s gaining traction—unless you have one of the 1,000-horsepower vehicles, that is. Tell me how Scorpion EV got started.

Barry, you are an entrepreneur, so you know there's quite a bit of passion that goes into starting a company. It keeps you going 20 hours a day. Scorpion EV is at the core of entrepreneurship.

Like many fast cars, Cobras are especially loud. In fact, it’s one of its traits to be obnoxiously loud. A few years ago, I brought one home on a trailer. My son, who is on the spectrum and can’t stand loud noises, just took off running because he knew it would be loud.

But as an EE, I've always been fascinated by electric cars. So, during the COVID lockdowns, when I was stuck at home, I decided to convert one of my Cobras to electric. I thought it would be fun to have a quiet, powerful roadster to drive with my son so we could enjoy this hobby together.

In the meantime, I got a call from a friend of a friend who said, “I hear you're converting a Cobra to a Tesla powertrain. Can you do one for me as well?” That’s when the entrepreneur spark ignited again: “Wait a minute. Somebody else wants one? Maybe there's a company here.” That’s when Scorpion EV was born.

Now, we partner with a company on the U.S. East Coast that supplies the chassis and bodies. From there, we modify the chassis to adapt a Tesla powertrain. We have a couple of models: a Tesla Cobra with 600 horsepower or a Cobra “Plaid” all-wheel drive with 1,000 horsepower. It’s way more horsepower than you’d ever want on a Cobra, and that’s what makes it a lot of fun.

One of the products we spun off is Venom. It’s an e-conversion kit in a box that you put inside your car to convert a gas engine to an electric motor.

Continue reading this article in the Spring 2025 issue of IPC Community.