A UK firm that specializes in EV conversions of vintage cars invented an interesting challenge: Perform a complete conversion of a Volkswagen Beetle in just one day.
Electric Classic Cars of Newton, Wales, United Kingdom is, just as the name implies, a company with an interesting mission: Converting classic and vintage automobiles to battery electric power. Successful transplants to date include Land Rovers and Range Rovers, DeLorean, Gordon Keeble, and Ferrari 308 GTB. To draw more attention to their successful enterprise, the ECC crew came up with an intriguing challenge: Adapt a classic Volkswagen Beetle to full electric power, and perform the complete swap—a job that usually takes several weeks—in just a single day.
With its exceedingly simple and efficient design (thank you, Ferdinand Porsche) the original VW Beetle might be the perfect candidate for an EV conversion. The Hyper9 120 hp AC electric motor and adapter bolt right up to the original VW transaxle, residing in the same spot previously occupied by the venerable air-cooled flat four. Meanwhile, a Tesla 25 kWh battery pack provides 80 to 90 miles of range. Best of all, the final product “still feels like a Beetle,” says shop owner Richard “Moggy” Morgan—just more powerful and easier to drive. Video below.
So, where did they put the battery pack?
In the front and on the rear package shelf.
This one hits home. A man in my little town had a converted VW bug to electrical very similar to this. Naturally, with all electric cars, it needed a slew of batteries. I think there were 6 in the front trunk, and maybe 6 or 8 in the back seat.It was okay around town at slow speeds, but even he said, it wasn’t for the highway. At 55mph, the battery charge dropped dramatically, almost to the point of “range anxiety”, a new term for electric car owners. All electric cars are, far as I can tell, are just a bandage on a heart attack until all the oil runs out( electric cars delaying that some) and it will, then they will just bring out the “miracle chunk” of something, powers your vehicle for 5 months,,,hey, I can dream, can’t I?
My daily driver is a Tesla 3. It has over 230 miles of range and drives like a dream. It is probably the best car I ever owned and the energy cost is one-third that of a comparable gasoline car.
Well, yes and no and we can go ’round and ’round on this. In a city setting where a “home” charge and predictable routes, such as a daily commute, electric cars can work, but in a rural, mountain setting, like where I live, they won’t cut it. Charging stations are still few, and reports of cords missing, “gas” cars parked in the way, to a host of problems with the charging stations themselves, not to mention where that juice comes from, in an already overwhelmed electrical grid, can you imagine if everybody needed a “charge” at the same time, what a mess that would be. No, nothing in the short term, at least the way Americans live, will replace gasoline for overall universal travel.
I’ve read a fair amount of outrage directed at these electric conversions, posted by forums from from vintage and muscle car enthusiasts. Ironically, some of these same detractors wouldn’t bat an eyelash at putting a small block Chevy (SBC) engine or an LS into a vintage car.
We already have a number of options to improve the drivability, reliability, and sometimes safety of older vehicles, such as turnkey crate engines, fuel injection kits, electronic ignition, better lighting, and disc brake conversions. So it wouldn’t surprise me to see EV conversion kits appear at some point in the next 10 to 20 years, catering to a segment of (obviously not all) enthusiasts. And for those who are outraged, they can stick with their original engines, just like we have sticklers for originality in today’s population of enthusiasts. There’s room for everyone in this hobby!
Will there be a place in New York that would do a conversion like the one you did here. Taking a Bug and Converting it to Electric.