Classic Beetle goes electric
While the actual conversion was undertaken by eClassics, Volkswagen provided the parts and advised the company during the process.
The electric motor, single-speed gearbox and battery system were all taken from VW’s soon-to-be-released e-up! electric model. The other main change applied with the fitting of this electric drivetrain is that it’s now all at the front end of the car, driving the front wheels, with the existing VW engine compartment at the rear made empty.
Delivering a claimed 60kW, the electric motor is fuelled by 14 lithium ion battery modules that deliver energy of up to 36.8kWh at full charge.
Externally, the ‘e-Kafer’ (e-Beetle) looks much the same as a regular Beetle, with the deeper sills being one of the few pointers to something different going on under the skin.
Those deeper sills are there partly to cover the battery system, but more specifically the extra floorpan bracing required to accommodate that battery system. At 1,280kg, the eKafer is around 450kg heavier than a conventionally-powered classic Beetle cabriolet. In addition to the strengthened chassis, the brakes have also been upgraded to haul up the extra weight.
Despite the weight penalty, the e-Kafer can reach 50km/h from standstill in under four seconds, but 0-100km/h takes over 10 seconds. A top speed of 150km/h is claimed, with listed range of 200km.
Using a fast-charging system, the e-Kafer takes around an hour to store enough energy for a 150km journey.
“The electrified Beetle combines the charm of our classic car with the mobility of the future,” explains Thomas Schmall, Member of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Group Components. “Innovative e- components from Volkswagen Group Components are under the bonnet [and] we are already working together to prepare the platform for the Bus.”
An ‘e-Porsche 356’ could also be pursued in the future, according to Schmall, with a modular electric drive matrix a possible option to increase performance and range.