What bothers me is that SOMEONE paid good money and worked pretty hard to make that bettle pristine and they are now hacking it up to make it electric. 😭
@@denrizza Nah, I am sure someone will purchase the engine. I have had my bug since '97 and gave it a lot of thought, I don't think I would miss the 1600 much anymore, it is pretty slow already and it stinks, for a short distance driving vehicle converting sounds like a pretty good deal.
I could understand if the Bug was a beat up… convert to electric and do some body work. But to take this immaculate looking showroom clean car and start tearing it down seems too much.
Yeh, I'm queasy just watching them f up a beauty like that, why couldn't they have electrified a Golf or a Rabbit? No, honestly, that's a GREAT build! Good job.
@@69mag not a VW fan. but that car was clean and perfect. they wasted a good car, when I bet there were plenty of worn out cars that really could have used a new lease on life. neat, but it would have been better with a less perfect project car
I was working at a VW dealership in Sacramento back in the early 70's. A man brought in his 1964 beetle that had been converted. Had the lead acid automotive batteries just behind the rear seat in the open space. The electric motor was actually an aircraft generator. He had a charging setup in the engine compartment. You switched the ignition key to the run position and the generator/motor would start. Push in the clutch and stuff it in gear and away you go. Pretty slick. Wherever he went people would be curious so they let him charge it there. Fairly simple compared to this one if the video.
Think on this hey come and charge at my place ....oh yeh anotherlot of free electrickery woooooo hoooooo cost me nothin to run every other bastardpays me ...cheap electric cars have no soul 😈😈😈
New VWs have much better safety features dual air bags head restraints also improved seat belts I love the 65 66 67 year bugs but I wouldn't want to be in a crash still nice automobile
One of my grandad's friends converted a Fiat 500 around the same time. It was slow and did not have a very good range, but it worked good for short trips.
It killed me. It took three guys to remove the engine. I used to do it by myself in the front lawn, then jack up the car and push it off the jack to get it over the engine so I could work on it. Necessity is "mother." LOL
Right on. I once changed the engine in my 58 in 45 minutes. Just myself and a floor jack. There are only about 4 wires, one throttle cable, One fuel line, and four bolts involved.
I love how they got right to it... many channels have to fluff the content by doing intros and other shit and then repeat the same content DURING the video... this guy got right to it. Winning.
Spending two minutes telling us what we already knew from the title. Then another three explaining why they want to unclog a drain, or something obvious.
@@brianhaygood183 Exactly... so it is great to se guys like these that got right to it. Some intros are way too long. And specially this videos don't have the annoying sound effects most videos with GOOD content add to the narration; THAT ruins the good content.
@@brianhaygood183 the difference between European and American presenters. From what I've experienced, most Americans love hearing themselves talk and will give a thesis on why they want to do even the most trivial job.
@@juliadplume3097 You "would like to" work on your own vehicles".... who or what's stopping you?? I used to dismantle all sorts of home appliances to get to the electric motors, I would put all the pieces and screws etc on a table and just watch how incredible it was that you can put them together again and work... with cars is something similar, just get an old car and get to it with tools, it WILL NOT WORK the first few times, what of torques and what not, but eventually it will work, if you don't mind getting your hands dirty, nothing stops anyone from doing it, learning.
I always thought my 1973 SuperBeetle would have been a good candidate for an electric conversion. Ditto the two VW buses I owned. That was before there was an industry and support so it would have been a project for me as an electrical engineering student. Even with the relatively heavy and low power motors of the day, I'd have done it if the battery energy storage density was twice what it was back then, but those lead acid batteries were heavy and not good for many discharge cycles. Lithium batteries have enabled us to have electric cars.
Wait till those solid states become available. Thats what i am waiting for on my 1997 Citroën Xantia. Want a 200 hp motor in it, with those batteries where the tank now is,and some in the front
I got $1,000 for my broken down 1972 Flintstones Volkswagen in 1990. I called it that because it had a rusted out floorboard and you could see the road beneath you. I saw it a year later and it had been completely restored. It was so shiny and beautiful.
My first car - 1962 VW ragtop beetle - has been hibernating in my garage awaiting this tech to become efficient and affordable. I think it's time is coming soon.
@@gsilva220 teslas new battery style will change the market a lot. The Chinese are currently on the graphene batteries, which will also be very interesting as they allow extreme charging speeds. Finally the solid state battery will make everything cheap fast and a lot less dangerous but that's probably 2035+... We'll see, but I can't wait to have a converted classic.
@@firebladeflow I don't really care about Tesla, because their cheapest car right now costs 38k, and their idea of an "affordable" car will have things like a body-sealed battery pack. They say their batteries cost them close to $100, but Tesla only sells complete cars, not batteries/conversion kits. What I care about is that college student that had their '05 Honda blow up on them. Electric should be the best option here, but anything beyond a used DC forklift motor will cost them well into 5 figures
I watched a friend in Germany in 1970, change out a VDub donk in 40 min! Included a big time cleanup of the bay, I couldn't believe he got it out in 4.5 min! using just a Jack --- no hoist! But then the engine you are pulling looks brand new! wouldn't want to scratch the sump!
My Dad converted a bug around 40 years ago with a large airplane generator that I think he rewound (He did mining motors for Joy Manufacturing.) and lead batteries. Still had the tranny. It is number 66 for electric vehicles in Illinois. Worked good except the batteries were way too heavy. Now we have brushless motors, ESCs and lithium batteries to make it better.
Indeed, there is no free ride in physics, supply, and demand. ICE engines make the most sense since all the components are readily available and the exotic components are only necessary for the exhaust catalyst. Electric "R/C-style" cars are built on a foundation of exotic components within the limitations of their battery size and long charge times. A 5-minute or less charge is required to get the median 400-mile range of ICE engines, and their stored energy tanks.
Two identical bugs, one converted, one stock, see what you get after 6 months using normally. Bitten by the bug at an early age, after 20+ finally got free but miss My 67. Great channel.
Six months later, my guess is you would have one bug that occasionally has to stop at a gas station and another bug that occasionally has to stop at an electrical outlet...
This is AMAZING. Our team have been restoring classic Land Rovers and Land Cruisers for about 3 years now and back then I was laughed at when I said, wait till we can start electrifying them. This video actually gave me goose bumps!
This lady is just amazing. All the positive attributes have already been mentioned in the comments. I can't think of anything new to say about it. I can only pay my incredible respect. All the best from Berlin, Germany👍
I had 5 of these when a teenager....my friends and I could swap out the motor in 30 minutes....3 bolts (if I remember correctly) and the wiring harness....that's it. Had 3 that I drove to the ground with the other 2 as parts cars. 1966-1969 models. Totally utilitarian vehicle.
I had a 67 Bug custom set up where a buddy and I could drop the motor, drag it back 20 feet from the car, push it back under and have it reinstalled, started up and reversed the car the same 20 feet in under 3 minutes. Quick disconnect plugs for the alternator wiring, a slip fit throttle cable, a finely tapered input shaft with equally chamfered splines on the clutch disc and greased bolts for engine to bell housing connection. This was set up strictly for the 2 man engine pull competitions at shows and races but I quit after my partner missed his shift and instead of backing up 20 feet, he hit first and launched 5 feet forward into the concrete barrier between the old return road and the near lane at the old OCIR drag strip in SoCal. Nothin quite like losin the challenge and your dignity all in under 5 minutes.
I actually really liked this series. They show alot of the technical portions of electrical conversions and dont shy away from details. Not to mention they have alot of respect for the original vehicles by themselves
Well done! It's effectively zero emissions in operation when using that sponsoring utility's electricity to charge the batteries. Impressive range, very highway capable 120hp motor, it's a daily driver in any world!
My great uncle Arthur Farrall drove an electric beetle he converted in the 1970s. There's a building named for him at Michigan State University. I am so glad that electric cars are finally a thing.
After this team has done this in ONE DAY, know the process,the parts they're going to need,how many laborers and experts They'll be able to bang these beetle conversions in even less time.Impressive BRAVO to the whole crew
I always wanted to convert my classic VW Bus, but couldn't find anyone locally who would do it. Not sorry I sold it, but this video did put a smile on my face. Cheers. :o)
🇺🇸 As great as the conversion is, I'm just as impressed with the restoration of the Beetle. My first VW was a 1958. Then, a 1964, 1969 and 1973 Super Beetle. Brings back memories.Thanks👍
@@Petterjunior wow my first vehicle was a Volkswagen square back but when I rebuilt that motor which was a 1600 CC pancake engine with dual Port heads two carbs and I just was amazed at how fast that car was but as far as your restoration goes that was a piece of art I'm hoping that that motor finds a nice new home
@Teamgeist if your under the illusion that modern advance electric AI is going to solve all your problems then carry on but your going to be in for a shock.
Nope. A swingaxle Beetle always looks like that when it comes down off a lift. Roll it a few car lengths and the rear suspension goes back to normal as can be seen in the on road shots the next morning. 👍
That front end looks pretty compressed, I wonder what the extra weight load is on the torsion bar front axle. Is like to see it put on a road course with a stock Bug. Electric cats are so heavy the only place I see them win is in drag racing or time attack & hill climbs where is only run for 10 minutes tops w a small battery. When environmental throw off costs are mentioned, no one talks about kids mining lithium in the Congo with shovels or strip mining for the large amount of materials needed. Sorry for sounding like a kill joy.
@@bigghouse101 EV's sound cool (have one). But the massive pollution to generate grid power, (plus consumption of non-renewable resources) disposal of car batteries, and processes to get the materials make this solution non-earth friendly.
Back in the 60's the "Mother Earth News" published an article on showing how to convert a Volkswagen into electric. Also, back then their was no gas-less lithium batteries and the standard 12 volt lead/acid batteries were put where the back seat used to be, and enclosed, and the gases had to be vented outside the bug.
@Abel Dan Duran the idea is awesome too, imagine that we don't need to scrap our old car or buy the "tesla" but is enough to convert/replace with this "engine" and we can still drive it.
It is said that Porsche was working on an electric car when he was called upon to create a people's car. He took the chassis from that and created the Beetle. So this conversion brings the thing full circle. Good going!
Wow, excitig and a great job guys. I had my first car in 1976, a VW Beetle from 1956, and I paid 300 Dutch guilders for it. I had a sand back in the front for a better handling.
Great job ! Great video ! I had a VW Beetle in the 1970s and it was the most fun to drive vehicle I've ever driven. I sure miss it. Congratulations ! What you did was impressive !
I can honestly say I miss every one of my Volkswagens and I had pretty much every model except for the thing of course then you've got your sciroccos and your rabbits which I didn't really consider those as real Volkswagens if you know what I mean
This is awesome. I'm generally the type to buy a used vehicle and running it into the ground. This gives me a fun idea of a project of instead of buying a new car when my current vehicle engine dies, to convert it into an electric vehicle... Hopefully by that time the cost of these electric motors and batteries keep going down.
I get the Idea of an electric Beatle. I've dreamed of having one myself. However, I see doing this conversion, on this particular vehicle, as more of an assault. It looked like a total peach ! I would rather find a less prime condition example....and bring it back to do this !
@@truthfilterforyoutube8218 museum grade and Volkswagen Beetle are not associated with one another. Lol. Actually, Volkswagen anything and museum grade make strange bedfellows.
In 1971 I met a man in San Diego who had converted a1962 Bug to electric with SLA batteries and a military surplus DC motor, about 40 horsepower, and the car ran quietly just fine. More than 50 years ago, and it was quite an experience.
@@tommurphy4307 The man was a customer at a VW dealer (San Diego Motor Imports) where I worked, and I and a fellow employee accepted a test ride in the 62 Bug.Very quiet and smooth, 4 speed clutch and transmission operating normally .
Actually that "40 horsepower DC motor" made/makes more power than the OG VW 1600 IC gasoline engine. A very good running example of the gas engine would have 45 HP on an engine dyno, but the electric motor has much more torque at lower RPM and wastes less energy as heat.......
@@victorspinetti5145 40 horsepower (max) DC electric motor (at 12volt or 24volt) was designed by a private citizen (with training in electrical engineering and mechanics and the point of this essay is that an average citizen (in 1971) could make an electric car that the industry could not.
This video keeps coming up in my feed almost daily even though I have no specific interest in VWs, electric cars, or cars in general. RUclips algorithm can be weird at times.
I would love to get this done when the ban to internal combustion engine comes into force. Great to see pioneers in a new industry. Hope your business grows and grows guys.
Yeah, I miss my '59 bug. First car I ever drove. Next was a '70 bug. Rebuilt both engines and repainted the latter after an accident. Learned a lot about cars in my young years from those two. Third was an '84 Rabbit. Bought plans to electrify it but my mother hated the grease stains on her floor and vetoed that idea. Then I got married and the whole world changed. Wife, career, foreign transfer, work, no more time for cars. Now retired and have no space for cars. Where does the time go?
Just get a riding lawnmower and you'll get the sound of an air cooled engine. I worked with a mechanic who did a conversion on his old VW Bug, but he took it in a different direction. He raised the VWB just a tiny bit to allow him to mount a double blade riding lawnmower deck beneath the VWB. Then he ran levers, pulleys and belts to power the blades. It was a cool project. His wife didn't care for his mower because he used to mow as fast as the vehicle would go across his fields.
Karl Partridge - Just get a riding lawnmower and you'll get the sound of an air cooled engine. I worked with a mechanic who did a conversion on his old VW Bug, but he took it in a different direction. He raised the VWB just a tiny bit to allow him to mount a double blade riding lawnmower deck beneath the VWB. Then he ran levers, pulleys and belts to power the blades. It was a cool project. His wife didn't care for his mower because he used to mow as fast as the vehicle would go across his fields.
Very cool! I converted my VW to 'Flintstone' power in a couple hours! That VW looks brand new. The damn thing is clean!! I remember back in the 1970s when Beetles just about ruled the highways here in America. You watch a 1970s episode of 'Adam-12' and VW Bugs are everywhere!
I look forward to seeing the package upgraded to use a Lucid motor. Much smaller and lighter while being more powerful. Long term upgrade would be solid state battery conversion to reclaim some storage space and weight savings.
Kudos Gents for the inspiring EV upgrade to this Classic Bug ! This has me, and perhaps many others thinking about going this route rather than spending too much for a brand new EV. Plus, like stated, the Carbon Footprint for the vehicle is zero, and if one repurposes Batteries/Motors, it's even more clean/sustainable !
@@ryangrady6894 yes,and the carbon fallout from the manufacture of the components and battery but still will be less emissions than it takes to build any of the new cars❤️✊
That Beetle and engine are mint. I would have one concern however,and that's being in a crash with a 90kg battery sat directly behind me on the parcel sheIf,even if it were bolted down.
The VW Beetle was never a car you wat to crash in any configuration. Roll overs were deadly as were side or front impacts. I love the Beetle and it was my first car (that worked) but a crash that would be minor in a modern car would be anything but minor in an old Beetle. Of course this was all irrelevant to a 17 year old and I drove mine like a maniac.
@@henryroman5997 Depends on the shop you choose to do the conversion, but this is the sort of project you end up having to do yourself, unless you're in California
If Volkswagen really want to bring back this iconic car in an electric way for future generations that is the solution ! No new designs, no mechanical problems, not just a Volkswagen, but THE Volkswagen. Because even with an electric motor, this should not cost a lot, like the original one.
Except for the ~20k$ in the EV conversion. (and that was before all the COVID BS ruining the global economy) [DIY can be done for 12-15k, but paying someone to do it for you... with "lego brick" battery modules... multiply by 2.]
@@xiaoka yes, unfortunately there's a reason new cars are so ugly... look like they're on steroids with all the extra bulges, tiny little windows, no interior space despite being twice the size of 70s or 80s cars, and massive screens everywhere. This is the main reason they had to stop making the original Beetle which was produced in Mexico up until 2019. Ironically all the extra safety stuff they have crammed I makes it more likely you'll get into a crash, but also more likely you'll walk away from it too. Swings and roundabouts, as they say.
Oh my...I am COVETOUS! My first car was a 1971 'Super Beetle' (curved front windscreen and McPherson Strut front suspension)...looking back, I have a fair amount of nostalgia for the old thing...Just thinking that, I would certainly consider electrifying it - if I had it in my little stable of cars today!. Wonderful job. Wish you guys were closer...I'm in Toronto...!! Cheers!
Just brilliant Gents. I have a beautiful bay kombi here in Tasmania Australia and can’t wait for the technology to be available here. I don’t want to go on massive long trips but to travel in a reliable electric car is a dream. Great vid.
Very cool job.... You can master that by replacing the battery under where the heat chambers are instead of the front luggage and having that free for storage space. I hope that the car feels nice with the current battery location even at harsh bracks. Thank you for the video.
On the one hand: Wow, what a cool project! On the other: OMG! What are you doing to this poor oldtimer?!? I hope the motor gets sold for spare parts and not scrapped
People continue to underestimate the regenerative braking with electric cars. The amount of money people save on not having to replace breaks as often is great. I literally never hit the break unless it’s an emergency.
@@ComradeStiv exactly! I’m over 60k miles and I’m more worried about the rust that is building up on the rotors than I am about the wear from breaking!
This is so great! 2.79 million views so far. Makes me believe there are a lot of people interested in quick bolt-in conversions for their old classic cars.
im delighted, with lots of older cool cars that are getting rarer and rarer making engine parts rarer, more expensive, less efficiant and less reliable at least the chasis of these cars can live on which is all i want
There's a lot of wealthy people who invest a lot of money into classic cars. And I'm sure there are a lot of middle class people who would invest 20k or less to electrify their old classic.
Cool video, I would’ve loved to see the transmission shifting process the gauge cluster and what information it provides. Also hear a little bit more about how long it takes to charge.
From what I've seen with electric motors hooked up to manual transmissions, you basically select the gear that you're going to run in and it stays there. So if you're going to be running around town you may just select 2nd and leave it there, and if you're going on the highway you start in 4th and just go with it. Either that or basically run it in 2nd or 3rd all the time (whatever gear ratio works best).
Amazing work. I always that older cars will experience a comeback through electric conversion - if fact it is better for the environment to convert an older car than to buy a brand new electric car. Great work guys!
Horse shit! I say that as an X -Nuclear Reactor operator, Electrical engineer and computer science as my background. Unless your electric car is running purely on solar it isn't helping shit! There are no green car batteries currently. The power grid has a loss from line voltage, every step up and step down transformer and most power plants are less efficient than modern gas vehicles. That's fact. Most current solar cells aren't green. There are some newer processes that are fairly green but they are also less efficient. I'm not saying we shouldn't move that direction and we sure as hell should invest in research in that direction but currently it is a pure load of horse crap about it being better for the environment.
@@twitte0king Perhaps I should have been clearer. Electric Car conversion isn't as efficient as newly produced Electric cars like the Tesla. Mechanically, Classic Cars have crankshafts and gears that have been rendered obsolete by Tesla, so there will be rotational energy used, so it isn't the most efficient in terms of performance, however factoring in industrial processes and material extraction, overall the amount of materials used is much less and also less energy and emissions for processes @Electric Classic Cars are basically a private garage and they managed to convert a car adequately. Not as much emissions during the conversion comparatively to producing a brand new Electric car. As raised by another comment, in the larger scope energy production will need to be converted to Nuclear Power if electric vehicles are to ultimately become environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, Wind and Solar don't have the capacity to handle the demand of Electric vehicles. Their Energy Density is too low and they require additional storage units to be produced. Also, the W/m squared for Solar won't be enough to power every vehicle on demand. Germany attempted to eliminate Nuclear and rely on Wind and Solar, and consequently they had to fire up their coal powered stations. France is perhaps the best example to follow as approximately 70% of energy is produced by Nuclear power.
I wouldn't really call this a "one day" process. Sure, it _was_ finished in a calendar day, but you couldn't do this day after day. Realistically, this is about a 3 day process. (longer if there aren't a dozen people working on it. _way_ long if it's the first time, or as happened here, some modifications are required and things didn't go perfectly with the computer.)
Have you thought about placing the batteries on car´s floor, just like the e-Käfer do? This configuration has some advantages: 1. More stability as the weight is distributed lower. 2. It would leave space in the trunk. 3. It would isolate the noise produced from the road
Haha, more weight in the back , good for oversteer and opposite lock, nice beetle . I prefer the boxer motor for the sound! Good job just the same. Thanks for the video.
A major part of the appeal of classic cars, whether it be a '64 Beetle, '56 Chevy or '36 Auburn, is the motor. Seeing a beautifully restored engine, hearing the sounds of it running, all of the various smells from oil, rubber, exhaust etc., is more than half the fun. While I appreciate what you've done to this poor little beetle, it's not for me. I've owned a few classic cars in the past, sadly I do not currently own one. My modern car is more than capable of going on a 400+ mile trip non stop and that suits me just fine. All that said, job well done!
@@Gidenkidenk Slowest? I would definitely agree to that. Boring though is subjective. What one person finds to be boring , another might find highly interesting. It comes down to perspective. One of my interests is ancient history. I've been told by some that this is a boring topic, while others are as fascinated by the topic as myself. Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate hearing what others have to say.
Great job guys! What an achievement! What a great team! Glad to see you had the same issue I did with the rear apron and hyper 9. I managed to get mine in without trimming but it took a lot of effort. Had to take the transaxle mounting bolts out then jack the rear wheels up so the swing axle action pushed the bell housing down. Trimming would have been easier 😂
Very nice with performance. Love the fact that the old classic bug can be kept on the road in this modern world. The only downside is that the Beetles heart is the air cooled engine with that sweet chug chug sound. A sound recording of the air cooled engine needs to be used, and synced with the accelerator and blasted out of a speaker as its driven. Same with classic Muscle cars and their V8 growlers if they were converted. They won’t be the same without the sound of the engine. Maybe a good sound system needs to be installed, just playing out engine noise.
How many times have you converted a Volkswagen to electric already? I can't imagine you can actually get it all done for the 1st time in one day. Or at least you guys are experts have converted cars like this many many times already.😊
That is the cleanest ICE engine bay I have ever seen. No wonder the conversion can be done in a day. Let’s try this with a nettle that is a daily driver and not so tidy in the bay.
Wooohoo. Nice one. :D Drive in with your fossil car, the next day you have it electric!! Thats awesome. I always thought under 1 week impossible. More like a few months. But a Beetle is a well known converter car i think, but anyway amazing job. I'd love to see more converted cars on the Road. :)
Wish I still had my 57 beetle. Would convert it. Surprised at how hard they found removing the engine. Did mine with just a single hydraulic jack by myself. Four bolts, clutch cable and ignition. After 200,000 miles changed the barrels and pistons. Electric is the way to go.
@@DameEdnaBrown Same here - Does the transmission drag account for the range limitation with such a light vehicle? And is it noisy not having been purpose - designed for an EM?
Aw what a shame, half of what make a beetle such a legendary icon is the engine and the lovely chirpy sound it makes and the feeling of how it delivers the power, with the unique quirky signature heater system and close gear changes. Had 7 of these superb vehicles in my teens and twenties, loved every single one, and the 2 campers, all with their individual personality engines that you get to love, which was part of the fun of ownership... Some classic vehicles need electric due to problematic designed drive trains or badly designed engines, while others perhaps not so much...
Absolutely loved this video. Beetle starts the day with a 40 bhp petrol burner and ends the day with a 120 BHP smooth silky electric power plant. What's not to like?
always would LOVE these vids to then have the fuckin price list for this cos its more than a new car ,the batteries ( not recyclable ) are a huge cost cos twats are cashing in on em . VW beetle replacement engine 400 - 1000 quid ,cost to fit maybe 400 quid or free if you wear a short skirt . This is a plaything for the rich when hydrogen cars would be better & even pump back their exhaust fumes as " clouds" = hydrogen cars used in non fertile countries can promote rainfall . Course cadmium 236 is the key & thats controlled by the USA & Russia for nuclear weapons Plutonium refinement :/ ...cunts
I'm doing this to a Karmann Ghia at the moment. Should I depart from this mortal coil, and someone is able to pry the keys from my cold fingers, converting it back to gas would be little more than unbolting the electric motor and reinstalling the air-cooled one. And the one that came with it was seized up anyway. * shrug *
Does anyone else find it crazy shocking how clean the engine and overall body of that car was?
I'm guessing they started with a clean older restoration, and pressure-washed the engine compartment and underside before it went into the workshop.
What bothers me is that SOMEONE paid good money and worked pretty hard to make that bettle pristine and they are now hacking it up to make it electric. 😭
@@denrizza Nah, I am sure someone will purchase the engine. I have had my bug since '97 and gave it a lot of thought, I don't think I would miss the 1600 much anymore, it is pretty slow already and it stinks, for a short distance driving vehicle converting sounds like a pretty good deal.
I could understand if the Bug was a beat up… convert to electric and do some body work.
But to take this immaculate looking showroom clean car and start tearing it down seems too much.
No longer a classic car
That has to be one of the cleanest old VW's I've ever seen 😳 no grease or dirt on anyone's hands at all!!!
Yeh, I'm queasy just watching them f up a beauty like that, why couldn't they have electrified a Golf or a Rabbit?
No, honestly, that's a GREAT build! Good job.
@@69mag 🥲
@@69mag not a VW fan. but that car was clean and perfect. they wasted a good car, when I bet there were plenty of worn out cars that really could have used a new lease on life. neat, but it would have been better with a less perfect project car
@@донБольшой Thanks!
And there won't be any grease and oil in the future either.
I was working at a VW dealership in Sacramento back in the early 70's. A man brought in his 1964 beetle that had been converted. Had the lead acid automotive batteries just behind the rear seat in the open space. The electric motor was actually an aircraft generator. He had a charging setup in the engine compartment. You switched the ignition key to the run position and the generator/motor would start. Push in the clutch and stuff it in gear and away you go. Pretty slick. Wherever he went people would be curious so they let him charge it there. Fairly simple compared to this one if the video.
That's the only way to go , a hydro turbine would be just as good.
Think on this hey come and charge at my place ....oh yeh anotherlot of free electrickery woooooo hoooooo cost me nothin to run every other bastardpays me ...cheap electric cars have no soul 😈😈😈
New VWs have much better safety features dual air bags head restraints also improved seat belts I love the 65 66 67 year bugs but I wouldn't want to be in a crash still nice automobile
One of my grandad's friends converted a Fiat 500 around the same time. It was slow and did not have a very good range, but it worked good for short trips.
I own a 1979 MGB Roadster. Be cool to convert my B to electric. Nice work on the Bug!
This is excellent work. Great project for putting a new twist on a classic car. Now it’s time for the flux capacitor mod for the Delorean.
That engine pulled out looks gorgeous too 😳
I just noticed that too. Absolutely mint.
Will not go to waste, plenty of Beetles need an engine.
That car is gorgeous! Period!!😁
As far as I know, they usually sell the engine to other people who want it.
A dirty ICE
I always found it easier to leave the muffler and tailpipes on,they make great handles to maneuver the engine in and out
I would always drop the engine on to a Radio-Flyer wagon and then get a friend to help lift the car over the engine.
@@JoeHamelin It's the same for the van as well.
It killed me. It took three guys to remove the engine. I used to do it by myself in the front lawn, then jack up the car and push it off the jack to get it over the engine so I could work on it. Necessity is "mother." LOL
@@spydieme too... takes about 20 mins .. by myself.. lol
Right on. I once changed the engine in my 58 in 45 minutes. Just myself and a floor jack. There are only about 4 wires, one throttle cable, One fuel line, and four bolts involved.
I love how they got right to it... many channels have to fluff the content by doing intros and other shit and then repeat the same content DURING the video... this guy got right to it. Winning.
Spending two minutes telling us what we already knew from the title. Then another three explaining why they want to unclog a drain, or something obvious.
@@brianhaygood183
Exactly... so it is great to se guys like these that got right to it. Some intros are way too long.
And specially this videos don't have the annoying sound effects most videos with GOOD content add to the narration; THAT ruins the good content.
@@brianhaygood183 the difference between European and American presenters. From what I've experienced, most Americans love hearing themselves talk and will give a thesis on why they want to do even the most trivial job.
I like to try working on my own vehicles to save money and learn how to fix them, huge confidence booster too. Your welcome 🌞🇺🇸
@@juliadplume3097
You "would like to" work on your own vehicles".... who or what's stopping you?? I used to dismantle all sorts of home appliances to get to the electric motors, I would put all the pieces and screws etc on a table and just watch how incredible it was that you can put them together again and work... with cars is something similar, just get an old car and get to it with tools, it WILL NOT WORK the first few times, what of torques and what not, but eventually it will work, if you don't mind getting your hands dirty, nothing stops anyone from doing it, learning.
I always thought my 1973 SuperBeetle would have been a good candidate for an electric conversion. Ditto the two VW buses I owned. That was before there was an industry and support so it would have been a project for me as an electrical engineering student. Even with the relatively heavy and low power motors of the day, I'd have done it if the battery energy storage density was twice what it was back then, but those lead acid batteries were heavy and not good for many discharge cycles. Lithium batteries have enabled us to have electric cars.
Are you being paid to support government propaganda?
Wait till those solid states become available. Thats what i am waiting for on my 1997 Citroën Xantia. Want a 200 hp motor in it, with those batteries where the tank now is,and some in the front
I got $1,000 for my broken down 1972 Flintstones Volkswagen in 1990. I called it that because it had a rusted out floorboard and you could see the road beneath you. I saw it a year later and it had been completely restored. It was so shiny and beautiful.
My first car - 1962 VW ragtop beetle - has been hibernating in my garage awaiting this tech to become efficient and affordable. I think it's time is coming soon.
yup, buying a beetle now before the tech gets cheap an d everyone does it .. .then beetles and porsches will become bloody rare
Yeah. Just a couple of decades and conversion kits will reach a more practical price level.
@@gsilva220 teslas new battery style will change the market a lot. The Chinese are currently on the graphene batteries, which will also be very interesting as they allow extreme charging speeds. Finally the solid state battery will make everything cheap fast and a lot less dangerous but that's probably 2035+... We'll see, but I can't wait to have a converted classic.
@@firebladeflow I don't really care about Tesla, because their cheapest car right now costs 38k, and their idea of an "affordable" car will have things like a body-sealed battery pack. They say their batteries cost them close to $100, but Tesla only sells complete cars, not batteries/conversion kits.
What I care about is that college student that had their '05 Honda blow up on them. Electric should be the best option here, but anything beyond a used DC forklift motor will cost them well into 5 figures
@@gsilva220 I'm hoping sooner. A professional kit for the cost of a motor would be a hot seller. I know I'd buy one.
Love the "Safety Squint" on the guy with the grinder. Top notch.
He's wearing safety glasses, you blind sheep...
I was worried for him at first but them he closed his eyes most of the way. Phew.
@@Tao_Tology - Yes, luckily, eyelids conform to standards for high impact projectiles.
I watched a friend in Germany in 1970, change out a VDub donk in 40 min! Included a big time cleanup of the bay, I couldn't believe he got it out in 4.5 min! using just a Jack --- no hoist! But then the engine you are pulling looks brand new! wouldn't want to scratch the sump!
My Dad converted a bug around 40 years ago with a large airplane generator that I think he rewound (He did mining motors for Joy Manufacturing.) and lead batteries. Still had the tranny. It is number 66 for electric vehicles in Illinois. Worked good except the batteries were way too heavy. Now we have brushless motors, ESCs and lithium batteries to make it better.
That's on clean little beetle! Hurts to see such a nice little engine removed.
It’s all the better for it.
That engine is not nice
Forget the gas engine
If the body is still good and can be converted for future use, isn't that good for the environment? Not a junker, just needs to be fixed up.
Indeed, there is no free ride in physics, supply, and demand. ICE engines make the most sense since all the components are readily available and the exotic components are only necessary for the exhaust catalyst. Electric "R/C-style" cars are built on a foundation of exotic components within the limitations of their battery size and long charge times. A 5-minute or less charge is required to get the median 400-mile range of ICE engines, and their stored energy tanks.
Two identical bugs, one converted, one stock, see what you get after 6 months using normally. Bitten by the bug at an early age, after 20+ finally got free but miss My 67. Great channel.
Six months later, my guess is you would have one bug that occasionally has to stop at a gas station and another bug that occasionally has to stop at an electrical outlet...
I'd like for you to revisit this project and see how quickly it can be done now knowing the knowledge you have attained from doing it before.
This is AMAZING. Our team have been restoring classic Land Rovers and Land Cruisers for about 3 years now and back then I was laughed at when I said, wait till we can start electrifying them. This video actually gave me goose bumps!
You weren't laughed at stop lying.
This lady is just amazing. All the positive attributes have already been mentioned in the comments. I can't think of anything new to say about it. I can only pay my incredible respect.
All the best from Berlin, Germany👍
I think it needs the tailpipes back on hooked up to blow bubbles on demand.
Hunter is awesome. Busy man, but he is always immensely helpful when he can be reached.
So true!
Gorgeous Beetle. Man... That's a lot of gear to remove the engine. I always just used a floor jack and took about 10 minutes.
Pretty sure they went a bit overboard because the engine they took out is absolutely pristine. So they probably didn't want to ding or scratch it :)
That’s because you are super amazing and awesome and they are not.
They had to show a little drama
3 BOLTS, and the engine is free. Easiest way to do a "complete tune-up"!
@@50buttfish
4 bolts
I had 5 of these when a teenager....my friends and I could swap out the motor in 30 minutes....3 bolts (if I remember correctly) and the wiring harness....that's it. Had 3 that I drove to the ground with the other 2 as parts cars. 1966-1969 models. Totally utilitarian vehicle.
I had a 67 Bug custom set up where a buddy and I could drop the motor, drag it back 20 feet from the car, push it back under and have it reinstalled, started up and reversed the car the same 20 feet in under 3 minutes. Quick disconnect plugs for the alternator wiring, a slip fit throttle cable, a finely tapered input shaft with equally chamfered splines on the clutch disc and greased bolts for engine to bell housing connection. This was set up strictly for the 2 man engine pull competitions at shows and races but I quit after my partner missed his shift and instead of backing up 20 feet, he hit first and launched 5 feet forward into the concrete barrier between the old return road and the near lane at the old OCIR drag strip in SoCal. Nothin quite like losin the challenge and your dignity all in under 5 minutes.
4 bolts
Still have my 73 Super Beetle. I had several….63, 65, 68, 73, and 74. The love of the sound of the engine, and the smell is why I love the.
@@beefsoda1 Always wondered why I had a bolt remaining.
Funny how we long term beetle owners became so good at removing the engines. Never seem to do that on my daily runners these days 😜
I actually really liked this series. They show alot of the technical portions of electrical conversions and dont shy away from details.
Not to mention they have alot of respect for the original vehicles by themselves
A lot. A lot. NOT "alot".
Well done! It's effectively zero emissions in operation when using that sponsoring utility's electricity to charge the batteries. Impressive range, very highway capable 120hp motor, it's a daily driver in any world!
My great uncle Arthur Farrall drove an electric beetle he converted in the 1970s. There's a building named for him at Michigan State University. I am so glad that electric cars are finally a thing.
Do you own an electric car?
@@SGobuck Not yet. My son does.
After this team has done this in ONE DAY, know the process,the parts they're going to need,how many laborers and experts They'll be able to bang these beetle conversions in even less time.Impressive BRAVO to the whole crew
That's one serious video production you have there. I had a 65 and 71 beetle, I'd love to have the electric beetle, one day
I always wanted to convert my classic VW Bus, but couldn't find anyone locally who would do it. Not sorry I sold it, but this video did put a smile on my face. Cheers. :o)
🇺🇸 As great as the conversion is, I'm just as impressed with the restoration of the Beetle. My first VW was a 1958. Then, a 1964, 1969 and 1973 Super Beetle. Brings back memories.Thanks👍
It was built by a friend of mine , he was only 18 when he started it , I built the engine
@@Petterjunior I hope the engine gets a good home.
58 was the first year of the big back glass
@@Petterjunior wow my first vehicle was a Volkswagen square back but when I rebuilt that motor which was a 1600 CC pancake engine with dual Port heads two carbs and I just was amazed at how fast that car was but as far as your restoration goes that was a piece of art I'm hoping that that motor finds a nice new home
@@johnbrentonlll I had a ‘63 with the little oval back window
That charging point with the retro pump & the digits changing is almost as cool at the beetle. 👍
They are as cool as the beetle!
Excellent, I didn't catch that part in the video.
I think that 120hp is just right on a beetle. I personally would happily have this conversation done to my bug!
You spend 50 grand do it then' the range will quickly dissolve.
@Teamgeist Freedoms generally a crime these days isn't it
@Teamgeist if your under the illusion that modern advance electric AI is going to solve all your problems then carry on but your going to be in for a shock.
@Teamgeist Hitler's Revenge.....
@Teamgeist
He's just a little troll who isn't in command of the English language.
You’ll later have to adjust the rear spring rates - it is high enough to change the wheel camber visually.
Nope. A swingaxle Beetle always looks like that when it comes down off a lift. Roll it a few car lengths and the rear suspension goes back to normal as can be seen in the on road shots the next morning. 👍
@@ElectricClassicCars ah, of course! I knew that - thinking hurts sometimes…. Awesome ride, now.
That front end looks pretty compressed, I wonder what the extra weight load is on the torsion bar front axle.
Is like to see it put on a road course with a stock Bug. Electric cats are so heavy the only place I see them win is in drag racing or time attack & hill climbs where is only run for 10 minutes tops w a small battery.
When environmental throw off costs are mentioned, no one talks about kids mining lithium in the Congo with shovels or strip mining for the large amount of materials needed.
Sorry for sounding like a kill joy.
@@bigghouse101 EV's sound cool (have one). But the massive pollution to generate grid power, (plus consumption of non-renewable resources) disposal of car batteries, and processes to get the materials make this solution non-earth friendly.
Back in the 60's the "Mother Earth News" published an article on showing how to convert a Volkswagen into electric. Also, back then their was no gas-less lithium batteries and the standard
12 volt lead/acid batteries were put where the back seat used to be, and enclosed, and the gases
had to be vented outside the bug.
yeah, it had about 12 miles of range.....
The world will need this thing, we still could drive our same car. Awesome.
@Abel Dan Duran the idea is awesome too, imagine that we don't need to scrap our old car or buy the "tesla" but is enough to convert/replace with this "engine" and we can still drive it.
@Abel Dan Duran we hope that the technology in the future can solve the problem and making more efficient, the batteries and so on..
@Abel Dan Duran I think so, but soon we have to decide the option about the renewal energy.
It is said that Porsche was working on an electric car when he was called upon to create a people's car. He took the chassis from that and created the Beetle. So this conversion brings the thing full circle. Good going!
Porsche did not have too much work with creating beetle...cuz he stole it. TATRA 97
The best thing about a bug is the engine.
Wow, excitig and a great job guys. I had my first car in 1976, a VW Beetle from 1956, and I paid 300 Dutch guilders for it. I had a sand back in the front for a better handling.
Great job ! Great video ! I had a VW Beetle in the 1970s and it was the most fun to drive vehicle I've ever driven. I sure miss it. Congratulations ! What you did was impressive !
I can honestly say I miss every one of my Volkswagens and I had pretty much every model except for the thing of course then you've got your sciroccos and your rabbits which I didn't really consider those as real Volkswagens if you know what I mean
This is awesome. I'm generally the type to buy a used vehicle and running it into the ground. This gives me a fun idea of a project of instead of buying a new car when my current vehicle engine dies, to convert it into an electric vehicle... Hopefully by that time the cost of these electric motors and batteries keep going down.
Cost a minimum of 25k and that’s if you know how to do it yourself
Where is that guy's face mask while grinding? That's an accident waiting to happen. I love this conversion!
I get the Idea of an electric Beatle. I've dreamed of having one myself. However, I see doing this conversion, on this particular vehicle, as more of an assault. It looked like a total peach ! I would rather find a less prime condition example....and bring it back to do this !
Exactly. Why ruin a perfectly good working one for this. A restoration makes far more sense for this project.
Or an electric dune buggy comes to mind.
Well now they have parts for a different perfectly good, working one. It's not like they're going to chuck what they've taken out in a crusher.
@@Milamberinx It's not about the parts coming out....It's about ruining a museum grade example of an old bug
@@truthfilterforyoutube8218 museum grade and Volkswagen Beetle are not associated with one another. Lol. Actually, Volkswagen anything and museum grade make strange bedfellows.
Consider searching up "Voltimer"
In 1971 I met a man in San Diego who had converted a1962 Bug to electric with SLA batteries and a military surplus DC motor, about 40 horsepower, and the car ran quietly just fine. More than 50 years ago, and it was quite an experience.
did ya see the car or is this what he told you??
@@tommurphy4307 The man was a customer at a VW dealer (San Diego Motor Imports) where I worked, and I and a fellow employee accepted a test ride in the 62 Bug.Very quiet and smooth, 4 speed clutch and transmission operating normally .
Actually that "40 horsepower DC motor" made/makes more power than the OG VW 1600 IC gasoline engine. A very good running example of the gas engine would have 45 HP on an engine dyno, but the electric motor has much more torque at lower RPM and wastes less energy as heat.......
@@victorspinetti5145 40 horsepower (max) DC electric motor (at 12volt or 24volt) was designed by a private citizen (with training in electrical engineering and mechanics and the point of this essay is that an average citizen (in 1971) could make an electric car that the industry could not.
how do you get a smooth throttle control on a 40HP DC motor?!
and if it was running lead acid batteries, what was its range? about 15 miles?!
I love to see that there are car companies doing this! That beatle will be around to put smiles on people’s faces for a long time.
This video keeps coming up in my feed almost daily even though I have no specific interest in VWs, electric cars, or cars in general. RUclips algorithm can be weird at times.
I would love to get this done when the ban to internal combustion engine comes into force. Great to see pioneers in a new industry. Hope your business grows and grows guys.
I doubt they will ever ban classic cars with IC engines. They will just ban the sale of new ones.
Yeah, I miss my '59 bug. First car I ever drove. Next was a '70 bug. Rebuilt both engines and repainted the latter after an accident. Learned a lot about cars in my young years from those two. Third was an '84 Rabbit. Bought plans to electrify it but my mother hated the grease stains on her floor and vetoed that idea. Then I got married and the whole world changed. Wife, career, foreign transfer, work, no more time for cars. Now retired and have no space for cars. Where does the time go?
Great idea My first car was a 1961 VW beetle I loved the styling of the car but I REALLY LOVED THE SOUND OF THAT AIR COOLED ENGINE !!!
That's the who idea of a VW Beetle ... the sound of the engine. Music to ones ear. Making it electric has just got silly.
Just get a riding lawnmower and you'll get the sound of an air cooled engine. I worked with a mechanic who did a conversion on his old VW Bug, but he took it in a different direction. He raised the VWB just a tiny bit to allow him to mount a double blade riding lawnmower deck beneath the VWB. Then he ran levers, pulleys and belts to power the blades. It was a cool project. His wife didn't care for his mower because he used to mow as fast as the vehicle would go across his fields.
Karl Partridge -
Just get a riding lawnmower and you'll get the sound of an air cooled engine. I worked with a mechanic who did a conversion on his old VW Bug, but he took it in a different direction. He raised the VWB just a tiny bit to allow him to mount a double blade riding lawnmower deck beneath the VWB. Then he ran levers, pulleys and belts to power the blades. It was a cool project. His wife didn't care for his mower because he used to mow as fast as the vehicle would go across his fields.
Very cool! I converted my VW to 'Flintstone' power in a couple hours! That VW looks brand new. The damn thing is clean!! I remember back in the 1970s when Beetles just about ruled the highways here in America. You watch a 1970s episode of 'Adam-12' and VW Bugs are everywhere!
I look forward to seeing the package upgraded to use a Lucid motor. Much smaller and lighter while being more powerful.
Long term upgrade would be solid state battery conversion to reclaim some storage space and weight savings.
That's a downgrade, a bus motor is an upgrade
So...replace real parts with vapor ware
@@circusboy90210
The Lucid motor is far more advanced, compact, lighter, more powerful and more efficient than the Tesla motor.
@@googleuser4434
Imminent roll out soon so nowhere near 'vapor ware' (sic).
"it's coming soon I promise"
Kudos Gents for the inspiring EV upgrade to this Classic Bug ! This has me, and perhaps many others thinking about going this route rather than spending too much for a brand new EV. Plus, like stated, the Carbon Footprint for the vehicle is zero, and if one repurposes Batteries/Motors, it's even more clean/sustainable !
How much did it cost?
You have to include the coal or natural gas burned to make the electricity. Or at least the production
and delivery carbon for solar panels.
Yeah I was wondering I don't think it's got to be a zero carbon footprint but it's probably
@@ryangrady6894 yes,and the carbon fallout from the manufacture of the components and battery but still will be less emissions than it takes to build any of the new cars❤️✊
Carbon footprint is far from zero.
That Beetle and engine are mint. I would have one concern however,and that's being in a crash with a 90kg battery sat directly behind me on the parcel sheIf,even if it were bolted down.
Agree completely - fabulous little car but that battery’s gonna flatten everyone in the car. Still safer than a motorbike tho! 😎
Not to mention the front battery pack
The VW Beetle was never a car you wat to crash in any configuration. Roll overs were deadly as were side or front impacts. I love the Beetle and it was my first car (that worked) but a crash that would be minor in a modern car would be anything but minor in an old Beetle. Of course this was all irrelevant to a 17 year old and I drove mine like a maniac.
Very impressive chaps. ONE day conversion! I felt your happiness. Have a few Ale's on me and enjoy the new BUG.
The parts coming off look pristine!!
Brilliant! I'd love to see more on the cost breakdown of such a project.
About 20k, batteries included
20 k does that include labor?
@@henryroman5997 Depends on the shop you choose to do the conversion, but this is the sort of project you end up having to do yourself, unless you're in California
@@gsilva220 why California .? Is it not allowed ?
@@michaelclark7536 California has several of these conversion shops
If Volkswagen really want to bring back this iconic car in an electric way for future generations that is the solution !
No new designs, no mechanical problems, not just a Volkswagen, but THE Volkswagen. Because even with an electric motor, this should not cost a lot, like the original one.
Just don’t get in an accident or you are toast.
Except for the ~20k$ in the EV conversion. (and that was before all the COVID BS ruining the global economy) [DIY can be done for 12-15k, but paying someone to do it for you... with "lego brick" battery modules... multiply by 2.]
I would buy one immediately.
@@xiaoka yes, unfortunately there's a reason new cars are so ugly... look like they're on steroids with all the extra bulges, tiny little windows, no interior space despite being twice the size of 70s or 80s cars, and massive screens everywhere. This is the main reason they had to stop making the original Beetle which was produced in Mexico up until 2019. Ironically all the extra safety stuff they have crammed I makes it more likely you'll get into a crash, but also more likely you'll walk away from it too. Swings and roundabouts, as they say.
Oh my...I am COVETOUS! My first car was a 1971 'Super Beetle' (curved front windscreen and McPherson Strut front suspension)...looking back, I have a fair amount of nostalgia for the old thing...Just thinking that, I would certainly consider electrifying it - if I had it in my little stable of cars today!. Wonderful job. Wish you guys were closer...I'm in Toronto...!! Cheers!
Just brilliant Gents. I have a beautiful bay kombi here in Tasmania Australia and can’t wait for the technology to be available here. I don’t want to go on massive long trips but to travel in a reliable electric car is a dream. Great vid.
yes... especially in the Aussie perpetual sunlight and mostly flat terrain.. . and the power to outrun any dingo !!
Very cool job.... You can master that by replacing the battery under where the heat chambers are instead of the front luggage and having that free for storage space. I hope that the car feels nice with the current battery location even at harsh bracks. Thank you for the video.
Balance is key.
On the one hand: Wow, what a cool project!
On the other: OMG! What are you doing to this poor oldtimer?!?
I hope the motor gets sold for spare parts and not scrapped
It's getting a new, bionic heart.
That motor is pristine
Great job! That doner beetle is so clean, what a great example to futureproof.
People continue to underestimate the regenerative braking with electric cars. The amount of money people save on not having to replace breaks as often is great. I literally never hit the break unless it’s an emergency.
Exactly. 😁👍 Until people experience it I just don't think they get it. 👌
Yes! Brake pad makers are _not_ pleased with my (non-) braking habits one bit. 2014 Volt, 90k miles, all original pads. That's just nuts 😲
Catch the bus you'll never need to press the brake. How sad🙄
@@davidmaguire604 the school bus?
Ain’t no buses in 95% of America
@@ComradeStiv exactly! I’m over 60k miles and I’m more worried about the rust that is building up on the rotors than I am about the wear from breaking!
I did an electric beetle conversion with my friends when I was in highschool, but ours took 8 months haha
This is so great! 2.79 million views so far. Makes me believe there are a lot of people interested in quick bolt-in conversions for their old classic cars.
im delighted, with lots of older cool cars that are getting rarer and rarer making engine parts rarer, more expensive, less efficiant and less reliable at least the chasis of these cars can live on which is all i want
This is nothing more than wrecking your car.
Like hell i never will replace my v8 engine in my 59 Impala
Too expensive. It's just not feasible when you're looking at a guaranteed 10 to 40 grand. Unless you're rich it just doesn't make sense.
There's a lot of wealthy people who invest a lot of money into classic cars. And I'm sure there are a lot of middle class people who would invest 20k or less to electrify their old classic.
Yea, nothing like ruining a perfect classic.
So, after a year of planning and training a crew for six months, it's nice to see the Volks run! Great job!
Cool video, I would’ve loved to see the transmission shifting process the gauge cluster and what information it provides. Also hear a little bit more about how long it takes to charge.
From what I've seen with electric motors hooked up to manual transmissions, you basically select the gear that you're going to run in and it stays there. So if you're going to be running around town you may just select 2nd and leave it there, and if you're going on the highway you start in 4th and just go with it. Either that or basically run it in 2nd or 3rd all the time (whatever gear ratio works best).
with the supplied 6.6kW charger it would take approx. 3 hours to 80% and perhaps 4-5 hours to fully charge it.
Good point GML, hopefully they installed a new clutch in the conversion, if I owned that pristine VW beetle I would have left well enough alone.
@@wrxs1781 Idiots seldom do.
Amazing work. I always that older cars will experience a comeback through electric conversion - if fact it is better for the environment to convert an older car than to buy a brand new electric car. Great work guys!
Debatable, new electric cars may be better efficiency Tesla, aptera etc. You may travel less per j in a converted classic car
But mostly I agree with you, the electric pickup Chevy and ram are a joke comparing to electric conversion of classics
Horse shit! I say that as an X -Nuclear Reactor operator, Electrical engineer and computer science as my background. Unless your electric car is running purely on solar it isn't helping shit! There are no green car batteries currently. The power grid has a loss from line voltage, every step up and step down transformer and most power plants are less efficient than modern gas vehicles. That's fact. Most current solar cells aren't green. There are some newer processes that are fairly green but they are also less efficient.
I'm not saying we shouldn't move that direction and we sure as hell should invest in research in that direction but currently it is a pure load of horse crap about it being better for the environment.
@@twitte0king Perhaps I should have been clearer. Electric Car conversion isn't as efficient as newly produced Electric cars like the Tesla. Mechanically, Classic Cars have crankshafts and gears that have been rendered obsolete by Tesla, so there will be rotational energy used, so it isn't the most efficient in terms of performance, however factoring in industrial processes and material extraction, overall the amount of materials used is much less and also less energy and emissions for processes @Electric Classic Cars are basically a private garage and they managed to convert a car adequately. Not as much emissions during the conversion comparatively to producing a brand new Electric car.
As raised by another comment, in the larger scope energy production will need to be converted to Nuclear Power if electric vehicles are to ultimately become environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, Wind and Solar don't have the capacity to handle the demand of Electric vehicles. Their Energy Density is too low and they require additional storage units to be produced. Also, the W/m squared for Solar won't be enough to power every vehicle on demand. Germany attempted to eliminate Nuclear and rely on Wind and Solar, and consequently they had to fire up their coal powered stations. France is perhaps the best example to follow as approximately 70% of energy is produced by Nuclear power.
Its fucking badly serviced diesels that are polluting the environment not little classics 😱😱😱
How many customers will want that fast of a turnaround now though? 😂
Great job, seriously. 🤙🏻
If they have a good enough base car its doable
I wouldn't really call this a "one day" process. Sure, it _was_ finished in a calendar day, but you couldn't do this day after day. Realistically, this is about a 3 day process. (longer if there aren't a dozen people working on it. _way_ long if it's the first time, or as happened here, some modifications are required and things didn't go perfectly with the computer.)
Do note that with solar panels and any sort of sun (especially in USA) electricity would pretty much be free
Have you thought about placing the batteries on car´s floor, just like the e-Käfer do?
This configuration has some advantages: 1. More stability as the weight is distributed lower. 2. It would leave space in the trunk. 3. It would isolate the noise produced from the road
And be safer for the driver...
Haha, more weight in the back , good for oversteer and opposite lock, nice beetle .
I prefer the boxer motor for the sound! Good job just the same. Thanks for the video.
Might adjust the rear torsion a few degrees to bring the rear end up a bit. Great job, looks like fun.
Think they actually lowered it as it was riding pretty high when he reversed it out from the work area.
That has to be the cleanest beetle I have ever seen, including concourse.
A major part of the appeal of classic cars, whether it be a '64 Beetle, '56 Chevy or '36 Auburn, is the motor. Seeing a beautifully restored engine, hearing the sounds of it running, all of the various smells from oil, rubber, exhaust etc., is more than half the fun. While I appreciate what you've done to this poor little beetle, it's not for me. I've owned a few classic cars in the past, sadly I do not currently own one. My modern car is more than capable of going on a 400+ mile trip non stop and that suits me just fine. All that said, job well done!
The only appeal of classic cars is the looks : James May
@@travisyarbrough4033 something the slowest and most boring man alive would say
@@Gidenkidenk Slowest? I would definitely agree to that. Boring though is subjective. What one person finds to be boring , another might find highly interesting. It comes down to perspective. One of my interests is ancient history. I've been told by some that this is a boring topic, while others are as fascinated by the topic as myself. Thank you for your comment. I really appreciate hearing what others have to say.
@@travisyarbrough4033 Thank you for your reply, I appreciate it.
Great job guys! What an achievement! What a great team!
Glad to see you had the same issue I did with the rear apron and hyper 9. I managed to get mine in without trimming but it took a lot of effort. Had to take the transaxle mounting bolts out then jack the rear wheels up so the swing axle action pushed the bell housing down. Trimming would have been easier 😂
How much money for the conversion kit US? Pretty awesome.
Looks like a smaller electric motor should have been used.
@@josviersel That is a small motor. :-) There are plenty with less power, but they're all about the same size.
that v dub was way to nice to do this to
Absolutely. But at the same time if you are going to spend the money doing the conversion then you. Want one that will last.
No, it’s worth it because it is nice
Woot. Exemplary work, boys.
Subscribed. Cheers from very rainy Vienna, Scott
Welcome aboard!
Very nice with performance. Love the fact that the old classic bug can be kept on the road in this modern world. The only downside is that the Beetles heart is the air cooled engine with that sweet chug chug sound. A sound recording of the air cooled engine needs to be used, and synced with the accelerator and blasted out of a speaker as its driven. Same with classic Muscle cars and their V8 growlers if they were converted. They won’t be the same without the sound of the engine. Maybe a good sound system needs to be installed, just playing out engine noise.
would you settle for a puddle of oil on your driveway??
My old Uni mate Moggy! Great to see you doing well and loving the videos 👍🏻 makes my job designing electrical medical devices look boring!
it even SOUNDS boring
@@tommurphy4307 oh dear, another no mark keyboard warrior
this is really great. The car looks fantastic and the scenery in the driving scenes just is beautiful. Very cool stuff.
How many times have you converted a Volkswagen to electric already? I can't imagine you can actually get it all done for the 1st time in one day. Or at least you guys are experts have converted cars like this many many times already.😊
No doubt the electric power conversion improved the interior heating.
My recollection of growing up riding in a beetle was that the heat could melt your sneaker soles.
@@russzaccari7761
You must have lived on the equater.
Or you're very confused.
Yeah, now that blanket you wrap yourself in is electric, LOL.
Great heater if all working correctly
the heater was just like the rest of the car- crap
That bug was in beautiful condition to start with, been a lot different if it had showed its' age.
I had a Yellow Dune Buggy with a type 1 engine, and it was OK, not great - If I had the time, I would love to convert it to a setup like you did.
Good thing it only takes a day
@@psych3009 You mean 13 minutes and 46 seconds
@@tomatexelon oh right, apologies 👍
That is the cleanest ICE engine bay I have ever seen. No wonder the conversion can be done in a day.
Let’s try this with a nettle that is a daily driver and not so tidy in the bay.
Best part is that it wont smell like an old VW anymore!
I wonder if they make essence of old VW air fresheners. 😆😁👍
@@ElectricClassicCars isn't that what Zoolander and his chums were spraying around before the untimely death of said chums?
Wooohoo. Nice one. :D
Drive in with your fossil car, the next day you have it electric!!
Thats awesome. I always thought under 1 week impossible. More like a few months.
But a Beetle is a well known converter car i think, but anyway amazing job. I'd love to see more converted cars on the Road. :)
Great 👌 I worked at the factory in Wolfsburg
Nearly everyone had one in 1971 ( staff price)
I would love to drive yours
Wish I still had my 57 beetle. Would convert it. Surprised at how hard they found removing the engine. Did mine with just a single hydraulic jack by myself. Four bolts, clutch cable and ignition. After 200,000 miles changed the barrels and pistons. Electric is the way to go.
Absolutely beautifully restored VW beetle, who ever did that made a damn good job and it must have taken ages.
And to be absolutely ruined. .
. Such a painful video to watch.
Would have been interesting to see how the manual transmission shifts with the electric motor. etc. Great video.
not a problem at all.
I had an electric S10 pickup with the original 5 speed. Worked just like a gas engine, but you don't need all the gears really
no change transmision
Good point, I wonder what gear it was left in
@@DameEdnaBrown Same here - Does the transmission drag account for the range limitation with such a light vehicle? And is it noisy not having been purpose - designed for an EM?
What a nice beetle! Couldn’t this have been done on a sorrier looking one? 😞
Yeah I would’ve preferred if they had gotten a ruffer looking beetle instead of getting what looks to be a very nice mint condition 1963 be beetle.
Nope they want to ruin a perfect ones.
@@balajiiyengar4 ... we actually have no idea what's under that fresh looking paint. Could be a $100 special with a new set of tires.
Stop whining girls , why put expensive hi tech gear in a dodgy bug ...just enjoy the inspiring project
@@balajiiyengar4 exactly, them pervos
Aw what a shame, half of what make a beetle such a legendary icon is the engine and the lovely chirpy sound it makes and the feeling of how it delivers the power, with the unique quirky signature heater system and close gear changes. Had 7 of these superb vehicles in my teens and twenties, loved every single one, and the 2 campers, all with their individual personality engines that you get to love, which was part of the fun of ownership... Some classic vehicles need electric due to problematic designed drive trains or badly designed engines, while others perhaps not so much...
“Give it a bit of a tickle with the grinder” :-)
It is shocking how well it turned out
Ha!
Absolutely loved this video. Beetle starts the day with a 40 bhp petrol burner and ends the day with a 120 BHP smooth silky electric power plant. What's not to like?
90 mile range...
always would LOVE these vids to then have the fuckin price list for this cos its more than a new car ,the batteries ( not recyclable ) are a huge cost cos twats are cashing in on em .
VW beetle replacement engine 400 - 1000 quid ,cost to fit maybe 400 quid or free if you wear a short skirt .
This is a plaything for the rich when hydrogen cars would be better & even pump back their exhaust fumes as " clouds" = hydrogen cars used in non fertile countries can promote rainfall . Course cadmium 236 is the key & thats controlled by the USA & Russia for nuclear weapons Plutonium refinement :/ ...cunts
No cargo space whatsoever.
Incredibly short range !
Shite 90 mile range that's what's not to like.
Man, that is a _NICE_ motor they removed! I’d love to have it for my little ‘72 beetle!
Love the project, hate the artificial time constraint.
Bit silly definitely. Gets more views, basically.
Very good video, I have been interested in the conversion of classic cars from gas to electric motors. Thank you for the great videos.
I'm planning on fitting a Maserati V12 engine in my Tesla. Not an easy job!
Pretty sweet but it also makes me a bit sad to see such a super clean beetle get torn apart to be made over like this. Still I dig it 👍
I'm doing this to a Karmann Ghia at the moment. Should I depart from this mortal coil, and someone is able to pry the keys from my cold fingers, converting it back to gas would be little more than unbolting the electric motor and reinstalling the air-cooled one.
And the one that came with it was seized up anyway. * shrug *
@@nickwallette6201 such a great looking VW too. The electric conversion should make for one great driving car to match it's looks.
Well done! That tidy work and finegeling the massive motor in the back was perfectly done. Great teamwork
Thanks 👍