In Denmark 🇩🇰 where i live, it's illegal to convert old cars to electric.. But i hope to build a classic vehicle into electric one day. You guys inspires alot. Please keep up the good work.
This model is not a Safari btw but an Adventurewagen conversion. There are two types of Adventurewagen roofs, one with the luggage space at the back of the roof and this type with the small window behind on the roof.
** Note to our viewers - This video is focused on the functional part of the EV conversion. The installation of the false-floor over the battery pack, and all other interior finishing will happen off-campus. We will hopefully cover that in a future video.
And I say thank you for that! Fitting a battery just the way you have, has been in my thoughts for my bay 74. Very nice of you to show the unfinished build. Please keep us posted on the range.
I bought a Westfalia for conversion (same year 1979) and I fell in love with all the usable space and I am unwilling to sacrifice the space for batteries. However my next project is a 1968 double cab, which has a ton of space for batteries and I think is better suited for the conversion. I can't wait to get started on it.
I have a 76 Westy and would LOVE to do this conversion! What did you end up getting for range with the 50kWh pack? Do you have a price tag for the parts involved? Would you make this a kit?? Good to hear Netgain finally offers an AC motor. I've been out of the scene for a few years, and only remember the Warp series of DC motors.
Very nice work done on the VW, you guys are the best! I hope I can covert my VW T4 California to EV in the future! Keep up the good work! Greetings from Germany
I love the ding-ding button. Just a suggestion: I'd have little engraved plates with the function labels on the various knobs (especially the reverse one!) as I can see those printed ones fading in time :D
@@glennbeattie6172 Been into buses for 30+ years and everyone has always called them frame rails. The fact that the body is welded to it doesn't make it any less a frame. it sure ain't a "pan"... that's what Type 1's, 3's, 4's sit on. regardless. it's 2 parallel beams perfect for cradling a battery pack into and along side.. No reason to sacrifice interior space in the way shown here.
So many space underneath the car and where the fuel tank used to be. I can't understand why you would put the battery inside the interior. Now you have a high-roof but won't be able to stand straight up.
My last :-( VW bus was a 79 (also orange!) - top speed 85 on straight and level with no tail wind (on CA 101). Screaming, but it would hold the speed. I love the "UNLEADED FUEL ONLY" sticker on the steering wheel support....
5:10 Shouldn't that thin double-strand orange wire be in a guard or something? It will rub against metal while driving, the insulation will rub through and you'll get a short.
I love this I would definitely go camping -touring -exploring in something like this, the 120 mile range no problem I'll go exploring and get photos while its charging. Might even be temped to becoming one of those Van life people. 😁
I’m surprised that you can’t get more batteries in a VW van. It would seem to me to be the ideal platform. How would mounting the batteries underneath the floor? Wouldn’t that give more battery space? If you are using Tesla batteries, can’t you put the Tesla charging mount in so you could go to Superchargers?
I'd love to do this kind of work but I'm on the other side of the country. I applied at Proterra but I'm wondering is there an EV East shop or something?
Wow. I love it. I have a 2000 Chrysler town and country that I would like to convert it to ev. By removing the engine and replacing it with a Nissan Leaf motor or Tesla motor and use Tesla battery underneath or Nissan Leaf battery.
Not much happens. The controller will start to slowly ramp up regain, unless your foot is lifted off throttle in which case the vehicle just coasts. We demonstrate this during test rides at the shop since it's a concern, and it's nice to show it's safe.
I would still add speakers to it and give it the proper VW sound. part of the charm of the VW is the fact it sounds like a sewing machine , at higher speeds you can have it turn off.
Anyone with an automatic T3 should do this conversion. They suck petrol at a rate of 18miles per gallon for not much power so this would be a hell of an upgrade.
It didn't come with it to begin with, but there is plenty of room for electric air con if the client had wanted it. There are some great pack voltage operable compressors now.
We like setting the neutral regen stiff enough that motor-braking does most of the slow-downy work, without wearing down your pads and rotors, while using the motor to send juice back into the battery pack. We also program a modest amount of brake pedal regen into the system. In a sense, the regen is an augment to the stock brakes.
is this fun for louis bus? How much to convert to electric just like this one i have a bus and I'm trying to decide which route to take subaru vw or electric
Can those batteries be mounted under the floor instead? Not a great solution as it sits if you have your original interior, and not great in tintop or poptop buses as you loose quite a bit of headroom. Also when you add things like internal electrics, etc, will that all be able to run off the EV batteries, or will a second leisure battery still be needed, if so how is that charged, and if you do run the leisure electrics off the EV system, can the bus then be charged at say a campsite using standard hookups?
Way more labour intensive to do that, and very likely structural parts get in the way so that you could maybe only fit 6 packs or so. This is the most cost effective way to convert it, and since it has a high top the lost headroom is not that big of an issue.
I used to own a '74 camper, and it had issues, sure, but I want it to sound like an air-cooled engine, which is half the fun of owning/driving an old VW Bug/Kombi, not sound like like a golf cart! Get those ranges up to 500 miles, and universal availability of charging stations (I live in South America) and I "may" consider going electric - but not in an air-cooled VW!
I am impressed by the car, except for the charging piece; Why do you need a switch to enable a second charger? There is supposed to be communication between the charging point and the car about the available charging power so why a manuel process for this? Also, what about DC fast charging?
The switch adds flexibility in where you can charge by lowering the charge current. Many older houses and some locations can't charge at the higher rate without tripping a circuit breaker, so this allows a lower power setting that can safely charge at any 110V outlet in the US, but also has the flexibility of a much faster charge rate when the location allows for it. As an added benefit, if you have the extra time to charge (say, overnight) the lower charge rate will extend the life of the batteries.
First, let me tell you I am not an adrenaline fan, nor I do care on maintaining the original looking facade of car. I am mostly for comfort and practicality, not speed or performance. What I want to know where I could go to have either my standard 2007 Kia Sedona Minivan short Wheelbase, or my 2010 Chrysler T&C Touring minivan with 4.0L engine, converted to full EV. I am OK with a 0-60 mph acceleration of about 6-7 seconds, and cruising speeds of 65-70 MPH in the highway, and with a minimum range of 220+ miles on a single charge, and to be able to charge anywhere by any system- Tesla, CCs or CHAdeMO. So who could do that? I live in Houston Texas. Thanks for any advice. Jorge
Orange is my favorite color. My body was born in the same year as that van. My next car is gonna be an electric van. I wonder if I can find a german garage which does a conversion like that...
There are 2 large air scoops that originally brought air into the engine bay. Now with all the electrical components how do you keep Rain Out but allow outside Air IN? Folks could easily Save 66% on the huge cost for batteries buy buying their own small lithium batteries and connect them together with metal strips either in Series or Parallel. Not complicated…just busy work.
Unfortunately the range of 120miles isn’t a seller for me, where I go in the uk is over 370 miles away, it would take me days to get there with charging times. The Ev is good for local but as much use as tits on a fish for trips away
Please email sales@evwest.com with questions and/or set up a time to get on a phone call with our team. We are in the office Monday to Thursday 8am to 5pm PST
I think I'd be worried about the Tesla packs overheating. Why is there no heater/cooler for the battery packs?! I hope this guy lives in a warm climate where it never freezes or that battery pack will be toast (if it doesn't fail from overheating first) Seems it would have been a plan to ruggedize the battery case and hang it from the frame rails underneath so it's completely out of the passenger compartment.
Does that mean if I put it in mechanical reverse and the motor in reverse it'll go forward?! Guess that's a bit of built in reverse psychology ;-) Two steps backwards to go one step forward ;-) Regardless, a beautiful bus.
In Denmark 🇩🇰 where i live, it's illegal to convert old cars to electric.. But i hope to build a classic vehicle into electric one day. You guys inspires alot. Please keep up the good work.
Why?????????
Wow very strange. Converting an old vehicle to EV is probably the greenest method of transportation on the planet !
@@IMRROcom maybe safety reason
@@jonpetter8921 and what safety reason could that be...?
@@IMRROcom Too many 600hp Beetles probably.
This model is not a Safari btw but an Adventurewagen conversion. There are two types of Adventurewagen roofs, one with the luggage space at the back of the roof and this type with the small window behind on the roof.
** Note to our viewers - This video is focused on the functional part of the EV conversion. The installation of the false-floor over the battery pack, and all other interior finishing will happen off-campus. We will hopefully cover that in a future video.
And I say thank you for that! Fitting a battery just the way you have, has been in my thoughts for my bay 74. Very nice of you to show the unfinished build. Please keep us posted on the range.
Fantastic
Is that yours
i hope so
Is there any Cooling of the batteries. How do you vent the batteries??
I love the trolly bell button. Great idea! I kinda want to install one in my Model 3 to confuse people :)
I'm impressed that ding ding
If you're looking, you can get ahold of them here: @t
@@EVWest Where?
I bought a Westfalia for conversion (same year 1979) and I fell in love with all the usable space and I am unwilling to sacrifice the space for batteries. However my next project is a 1968 double cab, which has a ton of space for batteries and I think is better suited for the conversion. I can't wait to get started on it.
I REEEEAAAALLY love the trolley bell idea.
Me 2♡
I have a 76 Westy and would LOVE to do this conversion! What did you end up getting for range with the 50kWh pack? Do you have a price tag for the parts involved? Would you make this a kit?? Good to hear Netgain finally offers an AC motor. I've been out of the scene for a few years, and only remember the Warp series of DC motors.
I've got the same westy and the same questions! Following
I have "Motor" envy!! Great job you guys are pioneers, leading us into the future!!
I really like the duck tailed rear of the space extension
Did they know in the 60s the size of a Tesla battery? They fit perfectly
Very nice work done on the VW, you guys are the best! I hope I can covert my VW T4 California to EV in the future! Keep up the good work! Greetings from Germany
I'd love to know the final weight and the range
Also top speed!
I believe he said 120 miles range.
@@patrickduffin6418 that was speculative however.
Come on EV West, kilowatt?! Battery capacity is in kilowattHOUR. Great project.
Scrolled down to find this. Even the video description says 50kw Tesla battery pack. It's kWhr!!
@@vancouvercyclist Yeah it's hard to believe..
I've alway thought it would be cool to convert an old VW to electric. So cool to see how they did it!
I love the ding-ding button. Just a suggestion: I'd have little engraved plates with the function labels on the various knobs (especially the reverse one!) as I can see those printed ones fading in time :D
You guys got the audio down for the videos! This is awesome!
battery placement is quite puzzling to me. why wouldn't you just suspend boxes underneath between the frame rails and frame - rockers?
@@glennbeattie6172 you've never looked under a bus then? it has frame rails.
@@glennbeattie6172 Been into buses for 30+ years and everyone has always called them frame rails. The fact that the body is welded to it doesn't make it any less a frame. it sure ain't a "pan"... that's what Type 1's, 3's, 4's sit on.
regardless. it's 2 parallel beams perfect for cradling a battery pack into and along side.. No reason to sacrifice interior space in the way shown here.
Great job Mark!
Great video and a great education. Thanks for sharing, I learned so much.
This is about the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!
Subscribed after being recommended this channel 😎
I still want the dual Warp11 setup with 2 speed pg trans. That would be perfect for my old '60 Apache long, wide bed pickup:)
Nice work. Beautiful vehicle
So many space underneath the car and where the fuel tank used to be. I can't understand why you would put the battery inside the interior. Now you have a high-roof but won't be able to stand straight up.
i would like to know how the brakes work in combination with the regen, brakes only, regen only, performance wise
Thanks you for such a great show.
My last :-( VW bus was a 79 (also orange!) - top speed 85 on straight and level with no tail wind (on CA 101). Screaming, but it would hold the speed.
I love the "UNLEADED FUEL ONLY" sticker on the steering wheel support....
What a great project. I had no idea you could still set up a manual transmission to EV power and have a clutch to engage it.
Love your work!
Anytime you upgrade weight and top speed you need to upgrade brakes. Maybe I missed that but I hope they have up to date brakes on this sweet ride.
Hopefully, the regen takes much of the work away from the friction pads.
5:10 Shouldn't that thin double-strand orange wire be in a guard or something? It will rub against metal while driving, the insulation will rub through and you'll get a short.
I love this I would definitely go camping -touring -exploring in something like this, the 120 mile range no problem I'll go exploring and get photos while its charging.
Might even be temped to becoming one of those Van life people. 😁
Love the ding-ding button. Great work!
Love the builds.
@EVWest so, which is the autonomy and max speed? How long until you fully charge it again or it goes “autocharging”? Congratulations👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I’m surprised that you can’t get more batteries in a VW van. It would seem to me to be the ideal platform. How would mounting the batteries underneath the floor? Wouldn’t that give more battery space? If you are using Tesla batteries, can’t you put the Tesla charging mount in so you could go to Superchargers?
Great job guys!
I'd love to do this kind of work but I'm on the other side of the country. I applied at Proterra but I'm wondering is there an EV East shop or something?
Very cool! What's the conversion price?
$16-20k for 5 batteries, 1k for each additional battery. Labor may have been more.
Wow. I love it. I have a 2000 Chrysler town and country that I would like to convert it to ev. By removing the engine and replacing it with a Nissan Leaf motor or Tesla motor and use Tesla battery underneath or Nissan Leaf battery.
What happens when a dog (or so...) hits that reverse button in full speed forward? There must be some protection right?
Not much happens. The controller will start to slowly ramp up regain, unless your foot is lifted off throttle in which case the vehicle just coasts. We demonstrate this during test rides at the shop since it's a concern, and it's nice to show it's safe.
Pressing that button on the hiway could seriously damage the flux capacitor :)
Any need to cool those packs?
I would still add speakers to it and give it the proper VW sound. part of the charm of the VW is the fact it sounds like a sewing machine , at higher speeds you can have it turn off.
You would not say that if you were actually owning an EV. ICE sounds become unwanted 'noise' after a while.
@@moestrei you must have never driven a real car in your life...
@@IMRROcom Anything from 50cc 2 stroke to Australian 5L V8.
Anyone with an automatic T3 should do this conversion. They suck petrol at a rate of 18miles per gallon for not much power so this would be a hell of an upgrade.
Air Con?
It didn't come with it to begin with, but there is plenty of room for electric air con if the client had wanted it. There are some great pack voltage operable compressors now.
Didn't the safari vw have windows on the front as Well? I don't see many louvre windows
I like the way the owner seems to have got rid of all the squeaks and rattles usually associated with the VW dub.
Would this set up work with the VW 003 automatic transmission? looks awesome. Something I have considering for my 73 VW adveturewagen bus
Awesome ride!!! love the trolly bell, I need that on my car. ps- did you guys upgrade the brakes to handle all that giddy-up?
We like setting the neutral regen stiff enough that motor-braking does most of the slow-downy work, without wearing down your pads and rotors, while using the motor to send juice back into the battery pack. We also program a modest amount of brake pedal regen into the system. In a sense, the regen is an augment to the stock brakes.
What's the range? And how much would this cost, either for the conversion or the whole price for a full EV van?
Can you tell us the finished weight of the bus? Just wondering if the motor can handle it.
so this being a camper designed for long trips, is there any possibility for DC fast charging?
you guys keep the cooling system for the tesla battery modules?
Liked the video just for the first frame
With the warp 9 did you use the stock transaxle? Great video. Very nice build.
is this fun for louis bus? How much to convert to electric just like this one i have a bus and I'm trying to decide which route to take subaru vw or electric
Wondering the same thing
@@sunshinegypsea he uploaded its a different bus
@@lal5555f I was referring to the Subaru vs ev option but thank you for replying. I just discovered fun for Louis today! Take care
I’d love this in my T3/Vanagon
Hey guys, love what y’all do, could y’all do a vid on the Canadian electric Ford ranger conversion kit?
I wonder can you put any weight on the top of the battery
If you put the gearbox in reverse then pull the reverse switch does it go forwards? I can't think of a use for that but WILD!
i absolutely love it! what a gorgeous bus!!! well done
Can those batteries be mounted under the floor instead?
Not a great solution as it sits if you have your original interior, and not great in tintop or poptop buses as you loose quite a bit of headroom.
Also when you add things like internal electrics, etc, will that all be able to run off the EV batteries, or will a second leisure battery still be needed, if so how is that charged, and if you do run the leisure electrics off the EV system, can the bus then be charged at say a campsite using standard hookups?
Way more labour intensive to do that, and very likely structural parts get in the way so that you could maybe only fit 6 packs or so. This is the most cost effective way to convert it, and since it has a high top the lost headroom is not that big of an issue.
Hey does anyone know if having a second charger decrease battery life?? I’m new to VW and also electric stuff.
Why does this only get 120 miles versus a Tesla that gets over 200? Is the battery smaller?
. . Thank you . . the sound is great , , ,
What do you do for brakes please
I used to own a '74 camper, and it had issues, sure, but I want it to sound like an air-cooled engine, which is half the fun of owning/driving an old VW Bug/Kombi, not sound like like a golf cart! Get those ranges up to 500 miles, and universal availability of charging stations (I live in South America) and I "may" consider going electric - but not in an air-cooled VW!
The big elephant how much did this transformation cost.
I am impressed by the car, except for the charging piece; Why do you need a switch to enable a second charger? There is supposed to be communication between the charging point and the car about the available charging power so why a manuel process for this? Also, what about DC fast charging?
The switch adds flexibility in where you can charge by lowering the charge current. Many older houses and some locations can't charge at the higher rate without tripping a circuit breaker, so this allows a lower power setting that can safely charge at any 110V outlet in the US, but also has the flexibility of a much faster charge rate when the location allows for it. As an added benefit, if you have the extra time to charge (say, overnight) the lower charge rate will extend the life of the batteries.
👍I just love it!❤
Damn that really is smooth
How much would this kind of conversion cost?? I have a 74 with a dome top...
Thanks!
“Awesome!” - Jack Black
Awesome video!
Any news on the VW T3/Vanagon conversion pack you were working on?
It's been pushed further out due to the pandemic, we are now targeting late 2021. Thanks for your patience.
Please more greets from Austria
First, let me tell you I am not an adrenaline fan, nor I do care on maintaining the original looking facade of car. I am mostly for comfort and practicality, not speed or performance. What I want to know where I could go to have either my standard 2007 Kia Sedona Minivan short Wheelbase, or my 2010 Chrysler T&C Touring minivan with 4.0L engine, converted to full EV. I am OK with a 0-60 mph acceleration of about 6-7 seconds, and cruising speeds of 65-70 MPH in the highway, and with a minimum range of 220+ miles on a single charge, and to be able to charge anywhere by any system- Tesla, CCs or CHAdeMO. So who could do that? I live in Houston Texas. Thanks for any advice. Jorge
What’s the final price on this conversion. I need a price to work for!!
Have a 1957 Chevy 150 in need. How do I inquire?
Given the shape of that thing, I would think that range would be very speed sensitive.
Orange is my favorite color. My body was born in the same year as that van. My next car is gonna be an electric van. I wonder if I can find a german garage which does a conversion like that...
Is this fun for Louis bus???
There are 2 large air scoops that originally brought air into the engine bay. Now with all the electrical components how do you keep Rain Out but allow outside Air IN?
Folks could easily Save 66% on the huge cost for batteries buy buying their own small lithium batteries and connect them together with metal strips either in Series or Parallel. Not complicated…just busy work.
Battery pack is in kWh not kW :-)
Nice mic mark!
Unfortunately the range of 120miles isn’t a seller for me, where I go in the uk is over 370 miles away, it would take me days to get there with charging times. The Ev is good for local but as much use as tits on a fish for trips away
Aoa brother where to buy van conversion kit plz guide me
Please email sales@evwest.com with questions and/or set up a time to get on a phone call with our team. We are in the office Monday to Thursday 8am to 5pm PST
Why can't the heater just go In the cab?
Best intro ever!
I want to be the first to do your EV conversion on my 89 vanagon
This is for sure Michel ‘s brother.
I would've asked for a 120kw pack. More range:)
Very cool but “maybe 120 miles” is absolutely horrendous. That is sad for having the entire thing stuffed full of batteries.
MARK!
I think I'd be worried about the Tesla packs overheating. Why is there no heater/cooler for the battery packs?! I hope this guy lives in a warm climate where it never freezes or that battery pack will be toast (if it doesn't fail from overheating first) Seems it would have been a plan to ruggedize the battery case and hang it from the frame rails underneath so it's completely out of the passenger compartment.
Labour of Love, ha...Great Saving..
Just add a burnt oil sented air freshener :)
Does that mean if I put it in mechanical reverse and the motor in reverse it'll go forward?! Guess that's a bit of built in reverse psychology ;-) Two steps backwards to go one step forward ;-) Regardless, a beautiful bus.
The manual is so cool