Electric VW Syncro build
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- In this episode we show you an electric conversion that's half way through the process so you can see what's involved in converting a vehicle to electric. The VW Syncro will retain it's awesome 4x4 off road ability by attaching an electric motor to the original gearbox. We've also added A/C, solar panels and electric induction hobs for cooking to make it the perfect overlander camper.
www.electriccl...
As an alternative 4x4 camper, I love the Mitsubishi Delica, it’s my dream to one day convert mine to electric, so if you need a test bed….. 😁
Seriously impressive to see the intermediate stages of a conversion - really shows the complexities and where all the work goes. One-off custom engineering can easily cost 100-1000x “mass produced”, which the layman doesn’t always appreciate. It’s fantastic that you’re able to create tools, jigs and kits for your more common conversions, and let us in on so much of it.
It's a VW Type 2 Syncro; T3, ie 3rd generation which is usual German nomenclature; only known as a T25 in the UK as the chassis code for vans/buses etc is 25X in VW terminology (pickups are 24X, the X changes according to body variant; so 1 for van, 3 for Kombi, 5 for Caravelle LHD, 2 van, 4 Kombi and 6 Caravelle RHD, pickups are 245 LHD 246 RHD and double cans 247 LHD and 248 RHD)
Thanks for making it more confusing
Thanks. That makes sense. 👍
Is this your Syncro Aidan?
You can get help you know it's never too late 🤣
Great to watch the video have you got a finish result video thanks mark in Guernsey 🤙
Toyota LandCruiser 70Series troop carrier has always been an incredible overland car.
I've got a 94 hiace 4wd camper and if the engine ever goes pop this would seriously get my interest! Top work guys.
As far as I know, T25 was the project title at Volkswagen while developing it. For some reason T25 is the most common name in the UK, on the US market this Van is known as Vanagon and in Germany, it is the T3.
You are close, but not exatly.
T3 basicly means Transporter third edition. T25 is messed up name for Type 25 - that means 25th type of car model WV made. Basicly T3 is third transporter = 25th car model. (also in USA it was selled by name Wanagon for some reason >>>>> Wanagon = T3 = Type 25)
Being said that: Type1 = WV Beatle, Type2 = T1 (original split window T1 was second car model WV made) ,... and so on... (I have no idea which type was T2, but logicaly somewhere around the middle between Type 3 and Type 24)
T1's and T2's had Type 1 engine (engine from beatle), later T2's and earlier T3's had Type 4 engine (engine from 4th car model I have no Idea how they named).
I hope it make sence how I described it.
Fossile fuel will be used to charge it. ... This is a magic build I love it ...
Very good to see the "In Progress" vehicles, as it shows the complexities of a complete change over, and the amount of wiring and Cooling gear to make it happen.
Outstanding project!
I was wondering while riding the chair lift yesterday if you had done a syncro conversion and gratefully surprised to find this video at the top of my RUclips feed when I opened the APP last night (should I be concerned? 🙄).
Can’t wait for the update and drive impressions (including pavement and off road trials) as soon as this masterful project is complete.
I am the proud & dedicated owner of an ‘87 T3 syncro w/490,000 miles and a storied history of overlanding & #vanlife as well as a Rivian R1T. The syncro, le elephant, has been my daily since January ‘19. It is the most capable and practical AWD vehicle I have owned and I have had many (mostly Jeeps). This past year I replaced it’s Tiico motor (a poor choice by the previous owner) with a stock 2.1 WTB and did a complete restoration including upgrades of the front differential and transaxle. I’m hopeful this is its last ICE power plant and it will receive an electric motor w/a battery pack sufficient to deliver 400miles of range at a reasonable price point in 5-7years. I know that hinges on improved battery technology and improved mining practices (fortunately the brightest minds are working diligently on this campaign).
THANK YOU again for sharing the inner workings of your shop!
And this is why buying a nice new EV is much more affordable. Still nothing better than seeing beautiful classic vehicles get a new life in the modern world
I've worked in several countries in Africa and the main problems I had was a reliable electric supply I would strongly recommend a large folding solar array on the roof for charging and if need be pull a small trailer
Wow. I have been driving Westfalias since 1986, and my 1990 Syncro will, no doubt, someday be converted to electric. Hope there is a completion/drive test video follow-up!!🙏
There definitely will be 👍
Nothing more satisfying than wiring all done in heat shrink tubing with a connector where the wire won't ever come out
Mercedes benz 1980s boxy 207D van with some Unimog portal axles and Tesla motor would probably make for a very fun overland camper :)
It was called T3 in Germany, T25 only in GB and Vanagon in the US. Same car. The CCS2 connector is angled..could interfere with plate or bumper.
I cannot wait to see the finished article. I has an 85 T25 2WD and that was awesome fun.
Good heavens! The mind- boggling complexity! These vehicles are excellent, and I really enjoy learning about them here.
Very interesting project. The only bit that was missing was the cost! Can you give us a ballpark figure please?
I suspect it's eye watering!
Glad you enjoy the channel 👍😀
I'd guess twice as much as the Brand New Model Y with Camping mode... That said, no development costs now and lessons learnt.@@davidpulvermacher1488
I've actually been dreaming about this exact mod for forever. I can't believe someone actually did it
Hi Richard, you have praised the superior quality of the syncro drive train.
I don’t know anything about 4wd, but I was kind of hoping that you started of with 2wd adding an electric motor to each axle reaching the same result.
So why the one is preferential over the other would be very interesting to know.
That’s because I have a special rare T3 2wd. It has 2sliding Doors 😊
Love to see/hear how she handles the Egypt journey!✌😎
Praying for you take it easy
I’ve a 1974 Pinzgauer 710, would love to make it electric. They are so much fun. I’m slowly converting it into an overland camper to drive the silk roads. There’s a couple of electric converted 710s on RUclips.
4x4 VW Crafter/MB Sprinter for an overland Ecamper base, the tallest model so you could fill the floor with batteries and still be able to stand straight 🙂
That's a great idea. I always thought these VW campers were a bit cramped.
Any monocoque tin van is not a sound basis for serious offroad use, Perfect for negotiating the kerbs at Sainsbury's car park though.
@@roygardiner4002 overlanding = 4x4 offroading? Asking for a friend..
This is a great conversion. hats off. But there is a big dilemma, electrics are the biggest nightmare in off grid and off roading. To see this complex wiring makes me nervous. Now I have to say that for serious off road trips with conventionel systems you need some mechanic skills, serious electrician skills are now involved. I would not travel without a thorough knowledge of the system. love your work 👌🏻
(1) I think you might land up with heated front seats as standard with having to cool off the electrics underneath them. (2) I am glad I do not have to foot the bill - most interesting stuff that one can do provided you can afford it. (3) Looks like a lot of fun - enjoy.
Probably the only way to have made this thing more awesome would be to have pulled out the underbody stuff and put it on a unimog chassis-then convert the unimog drivetrain.
Keep up the great work!
WOW, so so so COOL. Damn I got more excited than I should.
One place that is a common source of water leaking in is the windshield. Any electronics immediately under the corners in the dash area must be protected from internal dripping.
Love the details and little insights into the tech!
Amazing job! As i said earlier, one day would love to see the ins and outs of how you build and designs the battery boxes, and of course with grommets etc. Really great to see how much work the wiring for all the different parts are……Thnx
I lived in my kombi for ten years as I went round Australia 8 times as a folksinger. Not many places I could not get to, but 4wd would have been phenomenal!
...and did you have a head full of zombie?
Another brilliant informative video, I like the idea of getting 240v AC from the DC battery, this would be useful in any EV, so good luck getting that sorted.
Great video, really informative. I might be a bit biased though being a T3 owner as well. Can't wait to see more of this build
I reckon a Chevy Astro 4x4 would make an awesome overlander camper. Have one in my garden fort you!!!
That would be cool!
@@ElectricClassicCars its been sat in a garden for 3 years...my son bought it and never drove it! Mine is way cool. Has an induction stove as well!!
If you do a Pinz go straight for a 6x6 Richard, but you'll want an extending roof for standing room. There will be room under the platform for your battery boxes as the standard has under-slung fuel tank and battery box. The later diesel provides room for a good sized AC motor. Standard gear train and hub reduction gears are more than man enough for a big EV motor. Diff locks are hydraulically operated so no leccy complications, all drive shafts fully enclosed too.
Complicated engineering.... Respect 👍
Thanks 👍😀
Thanks for showing us some of what you have to sort out! Great job! Thanks Richard. 🙂👍
Nice overview of the scope of a conversion, which might be surprising to a lot of people.
Love the longer format in depth looks at ongoing projects 👍
The motors with integrated inverters look like they will be a game changer for packaging constraints , Looking forward to seeing more creative builds using these .
Also I find myself scanning the background of recent videos trying to get a glimpse of the Tesla powered race car .👀 the chassis off to the right, at the end ??
Race car update coming soon 👍😀
Thanks for An awesome walkthrough. My choice for a conversation candidate would be a Volvo Valp. I seems like the centre engine layout would lend itself to a well balanced weight distribution. Thanks for letting us into you garage, thoroughly appreciated.
Wow, had to Google that car, never heard of it before. Very cool. 😎👍
First for me too, but looks cool. 😎😎
fun fact.
in Danish, (h)valp, means poppy 😆
Volvo poppy 😂
Why not go with a heat-pump heating system since you're fitting A/C already? It gets cold in the desert at night and there'd be an efficiency gain that I'd imagine would be important in a vehicle that might go places where charging points are harder to come by.
I was just about to say the same. My son is just waiting delivery of his Tesla Y model and the heat pump on that is rated top class, it even has a "camping" mode.
still waiting for a video focusing on how you implement CCS charging in your conversions
Electric Pinzgauer! Do it! You guys do such amazing work!
Hrm, i just saw a document from NXP: Designing an induction cooker using the S08PT family
With their design, they drive the LC resonator for the magnetic coil with about 300V DC, which is what you get when you rectify 230V AC. They also need 18V for the fan, and 5V for the usual electronics.
So actually, a direct 400V connection for the LC resonator of an induction hob would an amazingly efficient solution. Someone should go and design induction hobs which can be directly connected to 300+V EV traction batteries, and get them certified.
Definitely. 👍
With my power electronics hat on I'd just plug the induction hob into 400V DC to see what happened. If it didn't work straight off, it would be easy to modify. Actually doing this for a paying customer opens up a whole world of safety and insurance pain that I couldn't be bothered with.
The double voltage conversion of up to 2.4 kW for the induction cooker alone is certainly undesirable - the direct HV DC to AC inverter will be a significant improvement. Since every production hybrid and EV with an AC outlet already does this (although usually at lower power), the direct conversion should certainly be feasible.
Wow!! My head is spinning, Rocket Man!!
Finally the T3 Syncro! I'm restoring mine at the moment, but unfortunately still with the ICE in it. Maybe in the future....
I bet either a VW LT35 or a 80s Transit van would be ideal. I know Transit vans for telecom could be delivered with 4x4. 4X4 was available from 82'.
HA! I love it. Something I've asked for...and here it is!!! Yes! Thank You.
Great explanation of systems build and integration. Looking forward to seen the next level of completion and ultimately the 1st road test of the completed project. I'd be interested in a converted Uni-mog,
We are sure to feature the test drive etc. 👍😀
The charging outlet spot is not so convenient when you want to install a bike rack or something similar on the rear reciever hitch and recharge your van.
Its an amazing conversion! I’m looking forward seeing it being finished!!
This is my abbsolute dream build. I currently have a bright orange 1982 T25 camper with a 220 hp EJ20 Subaru motor fitted but man i hate servicing it and having to deal with an aircooled to watercooled van. I also have had an Iveco Daily 4x4 camper and a LR 101 4x4 camper
What about a Tourist Coach ?
There is certainly enough room for Batteries and Motors, enough roof space for some solar panels, enough space inside for your designer kitchen, AND you could probably get a decent bed in there as well !
So sad i can't have this in France... It's Amazing, you're genius. Cheers
Fascinating video to see the complexity involved to get all of the systems right. The torque 4x4 system should make this ultra useable off-road. If the owner is going to deepest darkest Egypt he may need to find space for sand tracks, which begs the question is their software to accommodate different driving modes i.e. for driving in soft sand.
The owner looks like getting a special car back to go touring in.
It may be interesting to see an electric converstion of a Hummer H2 or H3, with a roof tent, not only because it is so rugged and could handle the power but because I think you could get a big battery-pack onboard in addition to the point that as a petrol engined car it makes zero sense and a donor vehicle would consequently be less expensive to source.
I would imagine that a hi-torque electric powered motor would transform its off-road abilities.
Yep, electric drivetrain is fantastic off road, as I've found out in my Tesla powered Land Rover. There are 3 modes we can program into the motor controller. 👍
@@ElectricClassicCars I'm assuming he won't be going very far off-road or will he be carrying a several solar panel system to set-up and charge while he camps for a couple of days?!
A Unimog is perfect for you as there will be a variant to suit your wildest dreams!
17:10 - Depends on the time of year. Historically, Cairo's average daily high is 12°C or lower roughly October to March, and the average daily low in midwinter is below freezing, so you might need heating off-roading in those conditions, if only to be able to defog the front windscreen.
Fantastic video and conversion.
Pinzgauer's are ideal for EV conversion. The drivers in the NZ Army Pinzgauers have to wear hearing protection because of the engine noise. A 6x6 vehicle with maybe a pop-top would give you some real room to spread out as well. Take care and keep up the good work. Peter W Canberra.
Would love a Pinzgauer. 😎👍
Spot on Peter.
Lovely quality van. I owned a petrol Syncro van which Devon modified to carry the four children, with two removable (if you were fit enough) bench seats with table and a rear fixed bench seat. Another vehicle I wish I’d not sold.
This is an incredible conversion! Would love to take this on an adventure so badly :D
But where would you take it?
The Mitsubishi delica and Toyota hi ace both have dependable gas motors, bot both could be a strong candidate for a camper conversion
Overlander 4x4 camper - Landrover Dormobile was the thing to have back in the day, been around since the early 1960's I used to have one its basic but does the job.
Mate has a 1950s Unimog ex- military radio van. It's in need of serious work but would be ideal for conversion.
My dream build!
Use the interior hammock loop hooks (see below/above) to hang a projector screen and have a camping cinema on the go.
If I had an electric quad bike with a trailer full of solar panels, a tarp and a hammock, I'd be happy enough with that!
Baby steps 😂
Can’t wait to see the finished product
A Land Rover 101 forward control would be a nice camper 😀
Brilliant....great job. Can I suggest an electric conversion of VW T5.....there are so many of them about...and they are great vehicles...I've owned a 4x4 version for 11 years and used it for everything....camping, building, sailing...living in the Alps deep snow...it's brilliant... a huge candidate for an electric version, so many people have used them as campers...gotta be a good market surely... I'd for for a dual motor 4we to reduce the use of existing drivetrain....clutches, flywheel, gearbox, diffs etc
Hat off to you and your team for the amount of design work and fabrication that is going into in this project, this seems akin to aviation or F1 design and development. Guess the KIS strategy is something of struggle with the complexities involved. I'm sure viewers will be interested to see a follow up when the vehicle has been exposed to its adventures, especially in third world environments, what works well what doesn't, and the influence on your future design of adventure off-roaders and maybe more sedentary camper vans. Very best of success with your business.
Thanks 👍😀
Great deep dive into the build and specks. Can't wait to see when it runs.
Keep an eye on the gearbox as they don’t like too much torque, also rebuild the viscous coupling sooner rather than later. Lovely vehicle.
When I used to visit the VW dealers in the 80’s before the internet and computers the Parts guys had a box of fiches for all the different models of VW, the T3 had 25 on the top which is the model number. So the parts guys used to call it a 25. Simples.
Does the conversion include getting UK type approval and reclassification with the DVLA as and electric vehicle and thus changing the excise tax category?
I really like this video 👍👏🏼shame he didnt fit 1kw solar pannel on the roof to help trickle charge the big battery. I would defo of kept the lpg hob last thing you wanna do is drain your drive battery cooking
Perfect combination of all electric.
Very interesting and enlightning video. Using ex-military vehicles seems the best bet for 'expanding' from this VW project. If you use a 4x4 Bedford (other makes are available, Mercedes Unimog for example) MK, 4 tonner, there would be lots of places to fit batteries and motors, and with a decent roof lots of solar panels... and so on. Electrifying one of those would make it a hundred percent better than the smelly diesel version. They are a bit wide, for those roads where you are, but I'm sure if you did one of those conversions, someone would snap it up. Imagine something like that with 3 to 400 miles range.
Trouble with the ex-military heavies (e.g. Bedford, Unimog etc) is weight - if you get one of those stuck you need an equivalent-sized companion vehicle to recover you. Not so with a Pinzgauer (especially a 6x6) as self-recovery with a winch (or even vapour jack) ropes and ground anchors is practical if you're solo in the outback somewhere.
@@roygardiner4002 Agreed, but in fairness, you could add a winch front and back, carry your own rescue gear, but I get what you're saying.
01 Audi allroad quarto would make an amazing overlander
that synchro is a dream machine
Great video Richard giving an indepth explanation of the shear amount of work required to adapt all the vehicle systems, but ending up with the same familiar interfaces on the dash and the controls. The synchro is a rare beast, and thankfully due to VW build quality, probably doesn’t need too much body restoration. This will be an amazing vehicle when it is completed. I am not too sure about charge point availability in Egypt and en route though🤔
It will be very interesting to see how the owner gets on with his journey. 👍😀
Where there's electricity he can charge up, if a little slowly though. 😁👍
T25 (or 'Type25') is a UK-only misnomer... the T actually stands for *Transporter* and the 3 is the 3rd generation. The Splitty being a T1 and Bay being T2... this is not to be confused with the Type number were all buses are Type 2 (Type 1 being a Beetle, and Type 3 being Fastback etc)...
Thank you so much for this video, good to see the guts of the build and as you say, not just the finished product, brilliant, thank you.
For me a off road camper would be an ex-army 101 Land Rover Command vehicle with a EV conversion my dream vehicle.
Can't wait to see it out and about on the tracks now!
Me too 👍
It would be cool to modify the transaxle to a single forward speed, so you just go into one gear for forward, and one for reverse, and that's that.
Here's an idea that's maybe just retro enough for Moggy despite the actual age.
I think a Nissan Figaro would be perfect for a conversion.
I know Moggy prefers real classic cars, but the Figaro is just cute, retro, cool and a breath of fresh air compared to all the stuffy angles and muscular bravado of modern car design.
You know you could have fun at traffic lights in an electric Figaro!
Always liked the look of the Figaro, throw some Nissan Leaf innards in there, job done
An excellent video. I’d love to get my T25 converted one day :)
same- the prices are off putting though- to say the least...
If you're putting more power in rear engine VW and 924 you might want to look at the work done by IMOHR TECHNIC & DESIGN of Carazinho, Brazil. They make a number of bolt in complete suspension assemblies with tubular double A arms and coilovers. Fixes a whole host of VW sins in one bolt on package. These are especially necessary when great increases of power are being made.
Great. Thanks for the tip. I'll check them out. 👍
Nice work.
I think a landorver forward control 101 ambulance (Camper conversion) would be a great candidate
Agree with that one 👍👍
Definitely. 👍👍
What a nice project!!! 😎💪
Love your work I watch all your épisodes, Yes t3 are great and t25 also 👏, mine is a 2 wD and I love it,I am a big enthusiast of ev I drive a leaf and would love to have my t3 to be converted in a much simpler low tech, no ac no induction but surely the cost must still be prohibitive.
My Friday is made ❤️
Would love to see a conversion on the Toyota land cruiser troop carrier/camper
I own a Unimog 416 - fully camperized. My dream would be to have it electric (or hybridized). Unfortunately I do not have the money to do that...
Ok that was amazing!!!!! Wow ! I knew you guys had some skills as one of the original and best EV conversion garage in the world - but that was amazing. Congrats on building a team that can achieve that kind of complex execution. 10/10... where's the patreon ? I drove a T3 for ten years and have daily dreams of converting one - think I will leave out the electric hob thou!!
Thanks ECC that was the episode I've been waiting for!
Glad you liked the episode 👍😀
I keep having silly ideas about using the front hubs from a Syncro on a regular 2wd van, and use an electric motor to drive the front end. Keep the petrol engine in the back to drive the rear wheels, giving a real hybrid vehicle!
Well that's exactly what I'm thinking about for some time. Not that i have a syncro vw, but why should there not be a kit of some kind to make any car, for example my front wheel drive Ford C-Max a hybrid just by putting an electric rear axle with al necessary conponents in the boot just for short trips ? The fact being that most people, including myself onely use the car for short trips a electric range of 50 km would be suffisient. Gas for longer trips. Not silly at all ! We can start a revelolution!
@@fridonina in theory, you should never be without some form of fuel, especially if you can charge the battery while driving on petrol. I've got a 32mile round trip for work, so electric would be fine for that. Problem is I regularly do a 150 mile round trip to the middle of Wales where there isn't a charging facility, so really I need a hybrid of some description. A rear axle conversion for my little fwd daily would be great.
@@neildavies2276 making it a plug in could allso be a possibility, charging while driving will effect my mpg. With gas prices nowadays, aspecialy in the Netherlands I'm aiming at using as little gas as possible. Being Dutch I think for realy short trips the bycicle is preferd but not sutable for groceries. For me that is.
Fantasyland. Few if any have made a hybrid work because of the control and integration complexity of software. Bosch just burned a Corvette to the ground during development of the 2024 car.
@@vidznstuff1 we're talking about really basic stuff here though, not a smart hybrid like a Prius or one of the PHEV Mitsubishis. It would be more like having a petrol (or diesel) car at one end and an electric car at the other - literally throwing a switch on the dash to change to electric mode and turn off the i/c engine.
type 25 and T3. the van is a type 25 and the model is a T3 ( third generation van)
You do a really great work.
I would love to do projects like this in germany
This would be my dream set up. Love the work guys.
4:45 we don't even use "T25" in the US... just T3 [if we use any "T" at all. usually we says Type 2 or Bus or Transporter] . but I always thought T25 was the air-cooled Vanagon as well.
Well done, curious about the next episode!