I am repairing a '69 beetle shell and looking to use as the basis for an EV, has anyone here built one, am looking for all the info I can get, voltage, clutch/clutchless etc So far 144v with Kostov 9 motor is my start point. I don't need long range as it will be for shopping, 50K max. range, up to 80kph speed would be fine.Trying to keep the budget low as possible without compromising practicality.
I have two licensed petrol bugs for cruising but now am looking to the future, any ideas/help welcome!

It's an awful lot of money to spend just to save a bit of petrol. Your electric conversion is going to cost you at least 5 years worth of petrol money, plus you still have to charge it! That's just parts cost only. Really you would need to use your electric car every day for 10 years to get any economic value out of it. You're better off just keeping your money, put it in a high-interest savings account and use it to buy fuel for your petrol bugs so that you can enjoy them every day!

Well yes Waveman, you have a good argument there, I am more looking to build this car over five years or so and in 13 years fuel will be far too expensive for me for my other bugs. The cost of buying a factory EV is way above a homebuilt at present even as you say the cost is high for a conversion. I'm thinking a beetle is a better option than modern cars as it has no power steering or vacuum pumps etc, it is probably the easiest car to convert and I already have one to start with. I can see where you are coming from but this is a hobby for me too so it doesn't always make sense economically! ( I also need to get "she who needs to be obeyed" on board so have a few obstacles!)
I am hoping to do this with a budget of $10-12K, and looking to the future if I have to buy an EV I'd rather drive a classic beetle than a mitsty Miev ricer type EV!
BUT I do have all the bits to get this'69 on the road running as stock and that's very tempting too!
Sooo I need to toss this around a bit yet, thanks for your input

One more thing to think about. If you're looking to the future, wait. Electronics are always far more expensive for the early adopters. For example, in 1997 a 42" plasma TV cost US$14,999 and only had 852x480 pixels resolution. In about 2005 they were $4000 and had 1920x1080p. Now you can pick up a 42" plasma for about $500. The exact same thing will happen with EV components. Once EVs become more popular and the technology matures, I'm confident that we will see dramatic price drops and performance increases.

CBB at Penrith did an EV bug, which they've shown at the Nationals a few times.

If you give Mike a call I'm sure he'd be happy to discuss.

There's a guy who converted his bug to electric power about 2 years ago, but I dont think he is on aussieveedubbers. He was an old guy from forest hill (s.e.qld) and used the beetle for the same reasons - light weight /simplicity/less power accessories etc. I believe in doing what you want as a hobby and it is possible to do it on the cheap. I will one day build an electric kombi that will have a quick change battery pack that will be 100% solar charged so it will be a proper zero emission vehicle and I sure as shit wont be building it just to save money on fuel. Why question the economics of electric vehicles when people have race cars?
If everything was about saving money we would all be driving hyundai getz's and this forum wouldn't exist. So annosL go for it and keep us posted on your progress but make sure its done safely. I live near forest hill so I will keep an eye out for this guy who's done it allready and see if I can get some more info.

Thank you for the replies, thanks for the info on the CBB ev CraigS, and Grinderman you have reinforced my thinking, if you see that beetle ev in forest hill I would be interested.
I visited Tim at EV works in Perth, they build ev's using client's cars and supply all parts needed except adaptors which are one off, the day I was there they had just completed a Ford Mustang and I saw it run but no beetles. They also do late models too and had of all things a Getz from the University of WA there and a BMW nearly completed. He said the price of Lithium packs are coming down and controllers too so the longer it takes me the better as waveman said. I am repairing the last bit of rust on the body, the front apron, and then onto the pan/brakes etc so only planning the electrics at the moment.