Classic VW Type 2 Bus Goes Electric

FiestaST

Honorary Master
Joined
Aug 9, 2009
Messages
221,085
Reaction score
103,749
Location
CPT~ /\\/¯¯¯\\/\\ ~ZA
Classic 1972 VW Type 2 Bus Goes Electric

With the heart of an e-Golf, this 1972 Volkswagen Type 2 now runs on electric power.

Electric vehicle conversion specialists, EV West, were commissioned by Volkswagen of America to convert this 1972 Type 2 bus into a fully-fledged electric vehicle.

"Their passion for classic-car culture and commitment to renewable energy made EV West the ideal choice for this project," said Mathew Renna, VP G4, Volkswagen North American Region. "We thought, who better to see if the e-Golf powertrain would be the perfect fit for our older vehicles. It's great to see that the spirit of hot rodding is going to live on into the electric age."

The e-Golf’s powertrain was harvested and installed into the classic bus, giving the e-Bus an electric range of around 200 km. The 100 kW/290 Nm electric motor resides in the rear compartment where the previous 45 kW 4-cylinder engine used to be and the 35.8 kWh battery system is contained in a reinforced, fireproof enclosure found under the front seats.

Much of the interior has remained the same as the original bus. However, the long-throw gear lever now commands actions such as park, reverse, neutral and drive, as well as regenerative braking modes. A classically-styled multi-function digital EV guage has been fitted in the dashboard allowing the driver to cycle through multiple views and monitor vehicle outputs.


Type 2 1.jpgType 2 2.jpgType 2 3.jpgType 2 4.jpgType 2 5.jpgType 2 6.jpgType 2 7.jpgType 2 8.jpgType 2 9.jpgType 2 10.jpg
 
Volkswagen electrifies classic Type 2 with e-Golf powertrain

Modified classic van offers 125 miles of range from electric hatchback's battery and 134bhp motor

Volkswagen of America has unveiled an electric version of the iconic Type 2 Microbus, fitted with the 134bhp powertrain from the e-Golf.

The conversion was undertaken in collaboration with EV West, a Californian electric car specialist, with the aim of "showcasing the possibilities of the e-Golf powertrain to motivate classic VW models".

The van is visually unmodified, sporting its original raised stance, two-tone paint and minimalist interior, with obvious changes limited to the addition of a charging port behind the fuel filler flap and removal of the 59bhp air-cooled four-cylinder petrol engine.

The e-Golf powertrain has been carried over largely unmodified, with Volkswagen claiming that the Type 2’s independent rear suspension setup “makes a perfect mate to the transverse driveline”.

While the e-Golf achieves a WLTP-certified range of 144 miles, the converted Type 2 is said to be capable of only 125 miles, due to its increased weight and lower drag coefficient.

The van’s four-speed manual gearbox has been removed to make way for the e-Golf’s single-speed unit, with the 35.8kWh battery housed in specially designed fireproof boxes under the front seats, where the fuel tank once sat.

 
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X