Keeping the clutch is not a bad idea. In the event of a runaway motor (it happens) you have an out (just shove in the clutch and let the motor blow). High amperage electricity has a nasty habit of welding contacts together. I think the white zombie has experienced this a few times.
Keeping the transmission is kind of motor dependent. If you have enough torque to start the car moving and enough rpms to go as fast as you want, then you do not need the transmission. You can get by cheaper with a motor that has less torque and lower rpms (5000ish instead of 13,000). Usually if one keeps the ice transmission you will only need 2nd and 3rd (assuming 4 or 5 speed).