Converting a petrol car to EV

[Buckman]

The link takes you to converting a vintage VW petrol driven Beetle to an EV in a day. There are also a number of other threads on Youtube showing other petrol vehicles converted to Electric Vehicle.

See

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbWxi_R2QZ4

 

[Bluetonic]

My '66 Beetle sits in my garage waiting for the day I can convert it to EV. Have owned the car 25 years

 

[otherclive]

My '66 Beetle sits in my garage waiting for the day I can convert it to EV. Have owned the car 25 years

The E type used at Harry’s wedding had been converted.

 

[JezzerB]

Not cheap though.

 

[JTQ]

To me there has to be more than a literal "screw loose" to go down this route.

 

[Buckman]

My '66 Beetle sits in my garage waiting for the day I can convert it to EV. Have owned the car 25 years

Do you remember the Beetle with the very oval rear window? They are very rare now. Correct me if I am wrong, but on the older Beetle did the window washers work off the spare tyre pressure?

 

[Raywood]

Unless you are preserving a classic model it seems pointless but if it could be done cheaply and with a decent range it may be an idea. Environmentally it should be better than scrapping and old car and building a new one, but given the weight of batteries, the technical problems of coping with them might be a problem.

 

[Buckman]

Unless you are preserving a classic model it seems pointless but if it could be done cheaply and with a decent range it may be an idea. Environmentally it should be better than scrapping and old car and building a new one, but given the weight of batteries, the technical problems of coping with them might be a problem.

Any one noticed that the rea rend of the VW conversion seem to lifted a lot higher than when it had the petrol engine. I would think that it may cause issues with steering with some cars when going round bends at a higher speed as rear may drift out? Conversely the same may apply to a pettrol engine vehicle where the engine in front has been replaced by a lighter electric motor.

 

[Dustydog]

You have to admire the engineering skill. Note they run the motor through the original gearbox.

 

[ProfJohnL]

To me there has to be more than a literal "screw loose" to go down this route.

Why?

 

[ProfJohnL]

Any one noticed that the rea rend of the VW conversion seem to lifted a lot higher than when it had the petrol engine. I would think that it may cause issues with steering with some cars when going round bends at a higher speed as rear may drift out? Conversely the same may apply to a pettrol engine vehicle where the engine in front has been replaced by a lighter electric motor.

In almost every case converted ICE to EV vehicles either weigh the same or a bit more than the original vehicle. Whilst the electric motors is lighter , its the weight of the batteries that usually make up the difference or more.

Professional converters often distribute the batteries around the vehicle and ins some notable cases the weight ration front to rear has actually been improved.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Unless you are preserving a classic model it seems pointless but if it could be done cheaply and with a decent range it may be an idea. Environmentally it should be better than scrapping and old car and building a new one, but given the weight of batteries, the technical problems of coping with them might be a problem.

I would love to convert my venerable phase 3 Renault Grande Espace, who is now rather smoky and on its last MOT took two attempts to get through the emissions test. I love its flexibilty for passengers and load carrying. and a 100 mile range would suit the use I put it too.

 

[Jcloughie]

I have watched a few programs on the conversion of different cars. Some American, but most from a person in Wales. Really interesting, and each car is an engineering challenge in their own right.

The tend to cost in the £60,000 area. And there are waiting lists to have it done.

John

 

[Buckman]

I have watched a few programs on the conversion of different cars. Some American, but most from a person in Wales. Really interesting, and each car is an engineering challenge in their own right.

The tend to cost in the £60,000 area. And there are waiting lists to have it done.

John

They are based in Newtown in Wales. Unit 37 Mochdre Industrial Estate Newtown Powys SY16 4LE https://www.vintagevoltage.tv/

 

[Jcloughie]

They are based in Newport in Wales. https://www.vintagevoltage.tv/

Yes, those are the guys I was talking about.

John

 

[Buckman]

Apologies here is the correct link to the Vintage Classic website and they are in Newtown not Newport. https://www.electricclassiccars.co.uk/

 

[otherclive]

They are based in Newtown in Wales. Unit 37 Mochdre Industrial Estate Newtown Powys SY16 4LE https://www.vintagevoltage.tv/

Right out in the sticks and with a full order book. I think they featured on a Top Gear.

 

[Jcloughie]

Apologies here is the correct link to the Vintage Classic website and they are in Newtown not Newport. https://www.electricclassiccars.co.uk/

The first link was correct insofar as it was the right people, but as an Octopus promo.

John

 

[Jcloughie]

Right out in the sticks and with a full order book. I think they featured on a Top Gear.

Buckmans first link was to the show. It might be that a discovery plus account is needed to watch it now. I think it was on Quest.

John

 

[otherclive]

Buckmans first link was to the show. It might be that a discovery plus account is needed to watch it now. I think it was on Quest.

John

Just remembered it was Guy Martin building the worlds fastest beetle and used Bridge Classics. C4

https://www.bridgeclassiccars.co.uk/guy-martin-builds-the-worlds-fastest-electric-car/#:~:text=Guy Martin Builds The World’s Fastest Electric Car!,to make the world’s fastest electric-powered VW Beetle.

 

[Jcloughie]

Just remembered it was Guy Martin building the worlds fastest beetle and used Bridge Classics. C4

https://www.bridgeclassiccars.co.uk/guy-martin-builds-the-worlds-fastest-electric-car/#:~:text=Guy Martin Builds The World’s Fastest Electric Car!,to make the world’s fastest electric-powered VW Beetle.

Thanks, I will look at that. I am a bit of a Guy Martin fan.

John

 

[Dustydog]

EV ing my mountain bike cost £900. The battery 52 v 22.5 ah cost a hefty £450. An off the shelf EV bike same costs £3500

 

[Bluetonic]

Do you remember the Beetle with the very oval rear window? They are very rare now. Correct me if I am wrong, but on the older Beetle did the window washers work off the spare tyre pressure?

Yes, I owned a couple (one was a convertible so didn't really have the oval window) my friend had the even earlier split window model with cable brakes, that was fun 😂
Over the years I've owned over 30 air-cooled VW's

 

[Bluetonic]

Volkswagen have teamed up with a German company that will ev your classic beetle or type 2.
They use the drive train from the e-up so get rid of the old gearbox.
Prices from about 40k euros for the floorpan with drivetrain. 100k euros for a complete car 🤣
I'm sure that prices will come down at some point when someone starts selling a kit. Well that's my hope anyway

 

[Hutch]

Volkswagen have teamed up with a German company that will ev your classic beetle or type 2.
They use the drive train from the e-up so get rid of the old gearbox.
Prices from about 40k euros for the floorpan with drivetrain. 100k euros for a complete car 🤣
I'm sure that prices will come down at some point when someone starts selling a kit. Well that's my hope anyway

I would almost put money on a bet , that VW will bring out a EV Beetle, another fantastic icon of a car, although changing in shape.