VW creates electric Kombi
Following the electrification of a classic Beetle cabriolet last year, Volkswagen have given another classic model an electric conversion in the form of a 1966 Type 2 Microbus.
Dubbed the ‘e-BULLI’ (‘Bulli’ is the German nickname for the Type 2), the electric concept is the product of a collaboration between Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and eClassics, who developed the ‘e-Kafer’ electrified Beetle and are currently offering both electric conversion kits for Beetles and complete cars converted to electric power.
Unveiled in March, the e-Bulli uses an electric drivetrain from VW’s current range, with the motor placed in the conventional engine’s compartment at the rear, while the lithium ion battery pack is placed centrally for even weight distribution.
Beyond the drivetrain conversion, eClassics also upgraded the suspension, brakes, lighting, instrumentation and entertainment system as part of a comprehensive restoration.
The e-Bulli was due to debut at Techno Classica Essen, but with that event rescheduled to June due to the coronavirus pandemic, VW launched it virtually.
Group Effort
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV) says the e-Bulli was born from an “audacious” idea of switching an historic Type 2 (aka Transporter, aka Kombi, aka Samba, aka Bulli) to a drive system producing zero emissions to suit the challenges of a new era of motoring.
VWCV engineers and designers called on drive system experts within VW and eClassics for their specialist knowledge in electric conversions, already proven on the e-Kafer Beetle.
The team sourced a Hannover-built 1966 Samba Bus that had spent most of its life in California, so they had a solid, mostly rust-free body to work from.
Electric Drive
The Samba’s standard flat four engine was removed, replaced with a compact electric motor from VW’s current e-Up model. Compared to the petrol-powered four-cylinder’s 32kW maximum, the electric motor produces 61kW - an increase of 90 per cent.
The increase in torque is even greater, at 212Nm compared to 102Nm from the original engine. Of course, being an electric motor, 100 per cent of that torque is immediately available.
While it remains a concept, VWCV are calling the e-Bulli the most powerful first-generation Kombi ‘officially’ produced. Top speed is electronically limited to 130km/h – also an increase on the conventional Kombi’s maximum of 105km/h.
The concept’s single-speed automatic transmission is controlled by a new gear shifter that’s been repositioned from the floor to a console between the front seats. Standard selectables of P, R, N and D are familiar, but the e-Bulli adds a ‘B’ option that, when selected, allows the driver to vary the level of energy that’s recovered under braking and fed into the battery.
Central Charge
The e-Bulli battery is a lithium ion unit of 45kWh capacity, which uses a power electronics system developed by eClassics to control the high-voltage energy flow to the electric motor driving the rear wheels. The battery is positioned centrally beneath the floor to lower the centre of gravity and centralise mass distribution. What improvements, if any, this has on typically tail-happy VW handling characteristics is unknown.
While eClassics guided the conversion, all of the parts used in the electric drive system were off-the-shelf parts already in use with other VW electric vehicles.
With a claimed range of more than 200km, a feature of the battery is its Combined Charging Socket (CCS), that allows charging with both alternating and direct current. On the latter, and using a DC fast-charger, the battery can be charged up to 80 per cent of its total capacity in 40 minutes
High-Spec Handling
To suit the greatly expanded power of the electric drivetrain, other components have been beefed up to suit. Four-link suspension with adjustable shocks is now at all four corners and a new rack-and-pinion steering system has been fitted.
The brakes have been upgraded, too, from the drums this vehicle wore originally to ventilated discs all round.
Electric Style
Beyond the drivetrain conversion and chassis upgrade, VWCV also worked on the exterior and interior styling.
The most obvious change is the bespoke paint, which is made up of Golden Sand Metallic Matte over Energetic Orange Metallic.
LED lights with DRLs have been added to the existing housings, with the indicators also upgraded to LED. A clever function with the front LED indicators is that they flash to indicate the level of charge in the battery when the driver approaches the vehicle.
Aside from the aforementioned centre console gear shifter, there are some other deviations from stock inside, including a large tablet incorporated into a console above the windscreen for sat nav and vehicle function displays.
A modernised single-gauge instrument pod combines analogue and digital elements, while the radio fascia is equipped with a USB port, DAB+ and Bluetooth, but the in-dash clock remains pleasingly old tech.
The standard Microbus’s 8-seat configuration remains, but the seats have been trimmed in ‘Saint Tropez’ and ‘Saffrano Orange’ leather, while the floor has been lined in timber.
Kombi Conversion
At the e-Bulli launch, eClassics announced they are doing electric conversions to suit Type 2 VWs that include the front and rear suspension upgrades. The conversions will be available on first- through third-generation (T1, T2, T3) Type 2s. Pricing starts at 64,900 Euro (around AU$120,000) with future plans including the release of a conversion kit for dealers to fit.
