The VolksWagen (“people’s car”) Type 1, known all over the world as the Beetle, is the longest produced car of all time, remaining in production from 1938 to 2003 (latterly in Brazil and then Mexico). Both Mercedes and Porsche claim the original design concept, but the basic pattern of this simple rear-engine, air-cooled, stylish vehicle was adopted throughout the VW range and appeared in the Porsche 911 until 1998.
“Bertie” the now all-electric Beetle, was built in 1963 and retains the flat windscreen and the high back of his post-war parents.
Electric conversion options
The transmission of the “classic” Beetle hardly changed, so our standard conversions are suitable for any classic Beetle from the ‘50s onwards.
Low Voltage with manual gearbox
Hyper9 motor bolted directly onto the original gearbox and driving the rear wheels using a clutch and all the gears – fabulous fun! This comes in two versions: 26kWh at 110V, or 36kWh at 144V. In a Beetle you can expect about 4 miles/kWh.
High voltage with fixed reduction drive
TorqX-300i 350V electric motor with 9:1 fixed final drive and CCS rapid charging. 21 or 42kWh battery options. No gear changes required to drive this beautiful, rapid, electric Beetle.
What this customer wanted
Bertie the Beetle was our first electric conversion, back in 2018 and the main aim was to make him fit for modern traffic. Bertie is driven by a Netgain Hyper9 air-cooled electric motor running at 144V. The transmission uses the original gearbox, but re-engineered with just two gears: “accelerate” and “cruise” (reverse is purely electric).
Bertie has 36kWh of batteries giving about 140 miles range and a 15kW multi-phase AC charge system which will recharge him in 2.4 hours on a 22kW charger.
| Petrol Engine | Electric Motor | |
| Power: | 27kW | 80kW |
| Torque: | 88Nm @ 2,400rpm | 235Nm @ 0rpm |
| 0-60: | 28 seconds | 7.5 seconds |
| Top Speed: | 65mph | 100mph |
| Fuel: | Petrol | Electricity |
| Cost Per Mile: | 23p | 3.6p |
| CO2 Per Mile: | 0.42kg | 0kg |
