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66 electric conversion

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kiwiev Seriously Crusin Dubber

104 posts · joined Jun 2016 ·

#1027193
Hi everyone new here and a total newbie to bugs

a mate and I have just purchased a 66 deluxe Bug that seams rust free, the plan is to pull the 40Hp 1200 motor which is in good condition and replace with a AC electric 77Hp motor and batteries for a 150Km range and 126 ft lb of torque at 1 rpm.

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nbturbo Veteran Volks Folk

2,171 posts · joined Dec 2002 ·

#1027197
Will be interested in how you do the conversion. Please share the whole thing on here. I found a place in the U.S. that sells the motor,an ally engine adaptor,an electronic voltage unit and a sealed liquid cooling system with radiator and tank and pump to cool the unit. They want $7000 U.S. plus the batteries. Their system is good for about 350 miles before needing a recharge.

oldskoolguy Officially Full-On Dubber

329 posts · joined Sep 2011 ·

#1027200
Welcome kiwiev.
I'm pretty sure a few people will be interested in your project, me included.
I have done a little bit of research on this myself, and the Beetles that have been converted already look very interesting.
Good luck, Rob.
"The best trophies are stone chips"
1969 1500 Beetle "Otis"
2008 Golf GTI

kiwiev Seriously Crusin Dubber

104 posts · joined Jun 2016 ·

#1027204
Thanks Guys, Rob we have done a few conversions, and use some of the gear from the guy you refer too. I think the Bug will be a ripper 👍
,
We are hoping to convert them for around $22K plus labour unfortunately after that there will be no more noise, no more smell and no more fuel bills, but then there is more power $2 - $2.30 per 100Km to charge and start every time 😵

I will try to post everything on here.

Here is my Sonic 7 weights 840Kg 138Hp 1450 ft lb at the wheels and sub 0-100 Kph

Cheers Kiwi

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adlbeetle66 Under the car.........again!

1,476 posts · joined Aug 2014 ·

#1027206
Interesting.
Please post plenty of pictures and details 👍
Will be most certainly watching this project...

68AutoBug Beetle Restorer - Experience over 138\% - YIKES --

11,654 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#1027231
Very interesting...
I would think a very difficult job in a beetle....

How much heavier than a normal standard beetle??

with Drum Brakes all round???

but then again, virtually all beetles in the USA had drum brakes....

wouldn't it be easier in a Golf etc???

LEE
- Helping keep Air Cooled VWs on the road - location: SCONE in the Upper Hunter Valley - Northern NSW 320 kms NNW of SYDNEY---

kiwiev Seriously Crusin Dubber

104 posts · joined Jun 2016 ·

#1027249
Hey Lee
The cool about AC motors is you can have variable regeneration braking, this is fully programble either foot off accelerator of a pressure transducer in the brake circuit.
Motor and controller weight 60Kg and you can lighten the flywheel to 2.5Kg, batteries will weight 140 Kg.

What does a 1300 motor and full tank of gas weight?
Cheers Kiwi

kiwiev Seriously Crusin Dubber

104 posts · joined Jun 2016 ·

#1027529
Well I'm getting the bug for these Bugs lol, I went and picked up another Bug I think a Superbug for my own project

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kiwiev Seriously Crusin Dubber

104 posts · joined Jun 2016 ·

#1027530
So I need advise???

I will put it up on the Hoist Passenger pan has the flintstone look, where can I get pans in Oz?

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kiwiev Seriously Crusin Dubber

104 posts · joined Jun 2016 ·

#1027531
It has the Carrera rear look UGLY but I'm handy with fibreglass and I think the Guards are wide so was thinking of cutting the tail light areas and smoothing back to a round curved look.

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kiwiev Seriously Crusin Dubber

104 posts · joined Jun 2016 ·

#1027532
Oh yeah the plan is to insert 2 AC motors for nearly 250Hp and 250 Ft/Lb.
Can someone tell me if this interior is stock??

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kiwiev Seriously Crusin Dubber

104 posts · joined Jun 2016 ·

#1027534
Also, I know lots of questions but I know there are some great people on this forum.

I would really like to get the 66 look on the front I have googled and you can get wider 66 look fibreglass guards for the front from the USA just wondering if there are any in Oz?

Thanks Guys in advance

Kiwi

karmann141 Wolfsburg Wizard

485 posts · joined Aug 2009 ·

#1027547
In 2008 there was someone at Warwick with an Electric Beetle - someone here might know the car/builder. Would be a valuable contact in building your car.

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1961 K Ghia - Porsche 5 sp, EJ20T, Brembo's, Dble A arm susp
1974 L Bug - Porsche 944 brakes, Boxster 16's
1974 Bay Camper - EJ20, twin radiators, Boxster 16x7's
Half Beetle trailer with Boxster 16x7's
2011 Tiguan TDI 4Motion
2010 LR Discovery 4 TDV

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#1027548
kiwiev wrote:The cool about AC motors is you can have variable regeneration braking, this is fully programable either foot off accelerator of a pressure transducer in the brake circuit.
Why not on a DC motor?
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

kiwiev Seriously Crusin Dubber

104 posts · joined Jun 2016 ·

#1027550
Thanks Karmann

Nice looking Bug and ideas

Cheers Kiwi

kiwiev Seriously Crusin Dubber

104 posts · joined Jun 2016 ·

#1027551
AA003 wrote:
kiwiev wrote:The cool about AC motors is you can have variable regeneration braking, this is fully programable either foot off accelerator of a pressure transducer in the brake circuit.
Why not on a DC motor?
I destroyed a Warp 9" once DC motors are good for a couple of minutes flat out then they have issues.

And the AC motors are shorter more reliable

Cheers Kiwi

nbturbo Veteran Volks Folk

2,171 posts · joined Dec 2002 ·

#1027553
Good day Kiwi-your door trims and seats are not VW.The door trims were recovered when the donor seats were trimmed.The blank panels each side of the speedo are not standard VW either.The electic motor set up you are proposing is some serious horsepower.I wish to run a heater and air conditioner in my next project-both those would be difficult with only electric power.John Sherman in QLD does a wider standard look guard in glass for your model.

kiwiev Seriously Crusin Dubber

104 posts · joined Jun 2016 ·

#1027554
nbturbo wrote:Good day Kiwi-your door trims and seats are not VW.The door trims were recovered when the donor seats were trimmed.The blank panels each side of the speedo are not standard VW either.The electic motor set up you are proposing is some serious horsepower.I wish to run a heater and air conditioner in my next project-both those would be difficult with only electric power.John Sherman in QLD does a wider standard look guard in glass for your model.
Thanks mate do you have a contact for John Sherman?

Also is there anyone selling floor pans here local?

yes its some cool quiet horsepower but I have 220Kg of batteries to put in too.

Thanks heaps for your help

Cheers Kiwi

kiwiev Seriously Crusin Dubber

104 posts · joined Jun 2016 ·

#1027555
here is a couple of pics of motors

Cheers Kiwi

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AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#1027560
kiwiev wrote:I destroyed a Warp 9" once DC motors are good for a couple of minutes flat out then they have issues.
Don't tell the railways. They've been using DC motors for over a hundred years.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#1027562
kiwiev wrote:Also is there anyone selling floor pans here local?
Vintage VeeDub Supplies should have everything that you need.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

karmann141 Wolfsburg Wizard

485 posts · joined Aug 2009 ·

#1027564
John Sherman contact

http://volksconversions.com.au/contact.html
1961 K Ghia - Porsche 5 sp, EJ20T, Brembo's, Dble A arm susp
1974 L Bug - Porsche 944 brakes, Boxster 16's
1974 Bay Camper - EJ20, twin radiators, Boxster 16x7's
Half Beetle trailer with Boxster 16x7's
2011 Tiguan TDI 4Motion
2010 LR Discovery 4 TDV

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,785 posts · joined Aug 2002 ·

#1027565
karmann141 wrote:In 2008 there was someone at Warwick with an Electric Beetle - someone here might know the car/builder. Would be a valuable contact in building your car.
Didnt Mike Kirsten at CBB build that car?

He use to have a section in his web site for electric cars but doesnt seem to be there any more
Futue te ipsum!!!

nbturbo Veteran Volks Folk

2,171 posts · joined Dec 2002 ·

#1027574
AA003 wrote:
kiwiev wrote:I destroyed a Warp 9" once DC motors are good for a couple of minutes flat out then they have issues.
Don't tell the railways. They've been using DC motors for over a hundred years.
They are also used in diesel/ electric Haulers.I worked at a Coal Mine in a previous life on GM 150 ton Haulers.The motors were GM 16v 2 stroke diesels with 1600 HP generators and two 750 HP DC wheel motors. They would be driven at full power loaded from the pit up to the dumps which was a 20 minute trip. They used Dynamic Braking which turned the wheel motors into generators and ran the energy into massive resistor banks with massive fans to get rid of the heat. Dynamic Brakes could pull up a fully loaded Truck in a real short distance.The wheel motors were always subjected to flash overs which used to cause the Sparkies at lot of grief.

kiwiev Seriously Crusin Dubber

104 posts · joined Jun 2016 ·

#1027608
Quick update
Have placed order with EV west for a AC50 motor and controller chiller plate, water cooler motor adapter engine bay covers all for the 66 bug.

The super bug is going on the hoist tomorrow to see how terminal the rust is will update.

Whats everyone's thoughts on suspension?.

I would love to air bag the rear mainly because the two motors controllers and 23 batteries is over 250 kg. But what will it handle like?

The front will have 90kg of batteries.

I want a low look and handling , and I think I will order the aero guards all round if they aren't to pricy.

Thanks for all your input and help.

Kiwi

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#1027609
Bizarre wrote:
karmann141 wrote:In 2008 there was someone at Warwick with an Electric Beetle - someone here might know the car/builder. Would be a valuable contact in building your car.
Didnt Mike Kirsten at CBB build that car?

He use to have a section in his web site for electric cars but doesnt seem to be there any more
Barry the last time that I had some work done at Mike's shop he had a kombi there that he was converting to electric, but that was a few years ago too.

nbturbo Veteran Volks Folk

2,171 posts · joined Dec 2002 ·

#1027614
Kiwi- I have just ordered a pair of front guards through Brad at Westside- pm me and I will give you the fibreglass blokes phone number. Very well priced.

kiwiev Seriously Crusin Dubber

104 posts · joined Jun 2016 ·

#1027631
nbturbo wrote:Kiwi- I have just ordered a pair of front guards through Brad at Westside- pm me and I will give you the fibreglass blokes phone number. Very well priced.

PM sent mate