1970 Vw Convertible - Electric Conversion! on 2040-cars
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Engine:electric
For Sale By:owner
Drive Type: manual
Make: Volkswagen
Mileage: 126,000
Model: Beetle - Classic
Exterior Color: White
Trim: convertible
All electric powered VW convertible! Great summer car! This was originally a Georgia car when I purchased it. Very clean floors and frame. Body was painted pearl white, and is what I'd call a so-so job. The conversion kit was purchased from Wilderness EV. If you go to their website, please look at the Kit #3. The car operates on 120V power from 10 12 volt deep cycle batteries. It is SO quiet compared to the original motor/drivetrain! You can hear the 40 year old squeaks and rattles, but not the motor! Incredibly quiet for an air-cooled VW! The stock 4 speed transmission is present, although the electric conversion operates without the need for a clutch. Simply put it in 2nd or 3rd gear and pull away like an automatic. When you stop at a light, you can leave it in gear as electric motors don't "idle".
The kit and batteries all are about a year old, and have less than 1000 miles on them. When I bought the car, it needed brakes and many exterior parts like lenses and trim rings. These were all put on also about a year ago. There are many other parts not yet installed including the fender beading and rear license light. Although the top is nearly new and in excellent condition, there is little to no original rubber on either the top or windows. If you plan to drive in the rain these should be added! My plan was to drive in the summer and on nice days so these items were low priority. Brakes are new as I said, but aren't very powerful stopping the increased weight with 10 batteries. Another plan of mine was to convert the front brakes to disc to help stopping power.
Although this was a fun project, and is a successful driver, the hilly area where I live in Cincinnati limits my practical range to about 30 miles. On the flat, under 40-45 miles per hour, the range should be much greater. Top speed according to Wilderness EV is supposed to be 65+, but I've never driven faster than 55 because the range is greatly affected by speed. It is possible to use as a "commuter" car, not just a neighborhood electric vehicle depending on the distance and terrain for your drive. I've taken it to the golf course and back on very hilly roads, a distance of about 15 miles round trip, without any issues. If you live near work, school, etc. you can drive without using any gasoline! "Fill ups" require an overnight plug in, roughly eight hours, for a full charge. The car comes with the charger I've used in my garage to keep the batteries full.
Please ask any question you might have before bidding! This is a very cool, fun car, but is not for everyone! I'm happy to discuss any details about the car, and set up a time for you to test drive if you are local to Cincinnati. This is a no reserve sale! First bid could win the car!!
Please note, if you restore and resell vintage Beetles, that the motor and gas tank that were in the car are still available to interested parties. This conversion was done with minimal alteration of the stock vehicle, and would allow for a full restoration to a very high level if that was your desire. I would be happy to negotiate with an interested buyer who wanted to keep the motor with the car.
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Auto blog
VW going turbo-only in 3 to 4 years
Wed, 18 Sep 2013This really was a matter of when, rather than if. Volkswagen will apparently be the first manufacturer to phase out naturally aspirated engines in favor of turbocharging its full slate. VW is kind of responsible for ushering in this push towards small-displacement, turbocharged engines that's taken the industry by storm. When it dropped its direct-injection, 2.0-liter turbo in the 2005 GTI it demonstrated that strapping an iron long to an engine can enhance the powertrain as a whole. VW made fuel economy gains, while also giving a linear, non-laggy turbo experience that it has replicated, model-after-model, to this day.
Speaking with The Detroit News, Volkswagen's executive Vice President of Group Quality, Marc Trahan, told the paper that, "We only have one normally aspirated gas engine, and when we go to the next generation vehicle that it's in, it will be replaced. So three, four years maximum."
Really, it's hard to get teary-eyed about either of these engines going away. VW has access to smaller powerplants that could easily match the performance of the 2.5 five-cylinder and the 3.6 V6, while gobbling up less fuel and providing a better driving experience. What we are sad about is that a similar statement about the extinction of NA engines came from the Vice President of Powertrain Engineering at Ford, Joe Bakaj. We'd certainly get teary-eyed over a world without Ford's excellent 5.0-liter V8.
10 automakers sued over keyless ignitions
Thu, Aug 27 2015Keyless ignition has rapidly proliferated throughout the auto industry to become a fairly normal feature on new cars. It's supposed to offer the convenience of keeping the fob in your pocket and just pressing a button to drive away. However, ten major automakers are now being sued in US District Court over claims that the system is dangerous, Reuters reports. The suit alleges that people are forgetting to shut off the engine, and the lack of an idle timer is the cause for 13 deaths by carbon monoxide poisoning and multiple injuries. The suit currently includes 28 plaintiffs, according to Reuters, but the lawyers are asking for class-action status to potentially add many more. The case goes after a major swath of the industry, including BMW, Daimler, FCA, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Toyota, and Volkswagen, plus their related brands like Acura, Infiniti, Mini, and Lexus. In all, over five million vehicles are affected. The assertion here is that people walk away from their vehicle without shutting it off because they believe the engine shuts off automatically. If parked in a garage, carbon monoxide can build up, leading to poisoning. The lawyers claim automakers know this is a problem and also cite 27 complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration about the issue, according to Reuters. The plaintiffs are asking for an automatic shut-off and damages from the companies. These concerns have come up before, though. Toyota previously faced a lawsuit over a carbon monoxide death after a woman accidentally left her Lexus running. Also earlier this year, GM recalled 64,186 examples of the 2011-2013 Chevrolet Volt because owners weren't shutting them off. The problem resulted in two injuries, and the company released a software update to limit the idling time.
Volkswagen Cross Up! headed for production after Geneva reveal
Wed, 13 Feb 2013The last time we saw the Volkswagen Cross Up!, it was sitting out in the snow in prototype form, but the next time we'll see this slightly more rugged version of the diminutive Up! hatchback will be when it makes its production debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month. Looking like a micro-crossover with its raised ground clearance and black cladding, the Cross Up! will be the fourth "Cross" model for VW (after the CrossPolo, CrossGolf and CrossTouran) when it goes on sale this summer in mainland Europe (UK sales remain up in the air and US sales are highly unlikely).
Overall, the styling of the production Cross Up! has stayed fairly true to the 2011 concept car, including the front and rear fascias that offer a more rugged look, stocky 16-inch wheels and roof rack side rails. Inside, this model will get unique interior enhancements such as "Cross Up!" sill plates and an instrument panel available in red, black or silver. Like the regular Up!, the Cross Up! is powered by a 74-horsepower, 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine paired to a five-speed manual transmission, and it doesn't look like all-wheel drive will be part of the picture. For more details on the upcoming Cross Up!, check out VW's press release posted below.