In this episode we take an in depth look at our dual motor VW double cab shop truck. This truck was the test bed for the development of our dual motor setup. It has seen over 40,000 miles since the swap, so lets see how it has held up.
Now make a package for everyone so all of us who want a conversion will be able to budget and save for our own conversion. Great job brought back a lot of memories from the 59 VW bus we had back in the 60s!
I absolutely *love* the old meets new of this vehicle. The patina makes the exterior, while horse hair covered Tesla packs and a dual-motor set-up breath new life into a 50-year old masterpiece. Thanks for the in-depth tour of the "shop truck."
Amazing! almost no engine noise and still with open windows and wind coming in it looks like you're flying! Very cool. Hopefully electric car conversions will become more popular in the future. Greetings from Brazil!
Great video! Loads of detail and loads of info on driving a converted EV. Who knew you could use reverse as a brake! Love the story about the chicken tax!
I was lucky enough to get to drive in this amazing machine, back when Michael had a car seat in the back for his kid. Proof it is a daily driver, it cemented my love for EV conversions and double cabs. I now own a 68 DC hopefully soon will be upgraded to an EV West electric setup!
if there was an affordable kit to retrofit old cars with electric drivetrain, there would be a load of models to convert. Maybe i would comvert my BMW z3
I sent ev west a message after graduation and was so stoked when Michael responded! They weren't looking for aerospace engineers, but he offered up a tour if I was in town. I hope to one day make an EV west powered Muira replica - post updates on the truck build!
Really awesome build. I'm thinking I need to get me a Volkswagen. I've owned and driven quite a few of those things and I would love to drive an electric one. Good job guys!
Such a beautiful bit of engineering. I reckon I'm not the only one to watch this thinking, "I WANT one". Seeing that lovely green paint in the hidden areas, if it were mine I'd restore the paintwork. But hey, that's only my view.
Thanks for a great update on the DC. Louie’s latest build video just came out this am, and I heard your voice on the phone when Jehu and Louie called you for some tech advice. I still have not began my build. Long story. Let’s just blame COVID. Sharing both vids to the San Diego Air Cooled Club page. Luv yer sho!
Long-term subscriber. But I am rediscovering your Channel. It seems I missed the notification Bell, when I subscribed. Many, many years ago, I owned a Porsche 914. It was horribly underpowered, but nothing, I've ever driven, could handle windy roads, better. When EV conversions became more common, I immediately thought that this would be the perfect vehicle. You have one, in one of your older videos. But you don't go into the vehicle. Please, I beg you, I would really, really love to see more of this vehicle, after a conversion. This is a bucket list car, for me. Loving your Channel. And I'm enjoying catching up.
A new fully loaded Suburban is somewhere around $80k, so if I can future-proof my 1999 Burb for less than $20k, it's a deal. Also going from 11mpg to the energy cost equivalent of several times that would make it pay for itself pretty quickly.
This is so sick i just went to you're websites it's awesome what you are doing , keep up the good work and i want to put a tesla motor in my little yaris imma pissed off some people 😂 , nice job !
That reverse switch next to the heater switch is scary, I think I would want a covered aircraft styles switch. That camera angle makes it look crazy fast!
My father owned a microbus - mind you, I'm now 69 years old myself. So the "free play" comment really meant something to me. In a gusty cross wind, I'd have to move my hands onto the spokes near the hub of the steering wheel so I could react quickly enough. If I remember right, a remarkable thing about these were that they could carry 2000 lbs.
Hey!!! THANK YOU Brother for making these videos!!! I've worked in RE's all my life and mastered geothermal systems (water is the new heating oil) which runs off of the latent heat principle of change of state, which is modern refrigeration, and us doing something regarding the predicament we find ourselves in has to be a collective venture. :) I'm going to see if I can hook up with Musk and energize his boring company and bring both water sourced heat pumps and underground transportation to fruition simultaneously. I've got miles of experience with boring holes into the Earth :) Live Long and Prosper!
Wow. That torque shocked me I am watching your videos since 2016 I love your conversation style I wish i will be your student to learn skills from you... Love from PK.
I liked his demo of coming to a complete stop using the reverse switch and throttle use regen braking. Was expecting a different system that worked through the brake pedal. Ie: first x mm of travel would be regen braking before the hydraulic brakes.
LOVE IT!!! I'd want to upgrade the safety systems and put a LSD on that bad boy if I was going to daily it, but, wow, what a great ambassador for EVs! Nice job!
Shit l just loved your presentation on this vehicle. Simple and down to the bone with no Dr. Confucius explanations. Being technical but from old school l could agree with all your keep it simple ideas and it just makes sense. Would have loved if your expertise was available here in South Africa as l would be first in line for bloody sure. Thanks again l enjoyed very much.
I used to work with locomotive control systems in the 80s. Each axle would have its own traction motor. Typically 6 axles/motors on a mainline locomotive. To control the motors and speed, the motors would be put in a sequence of series/parallel beginning at start and until full speed. Series at start and parallel at full speed to control the impedance of the 74 Vdc motors. I've often thought that 4 small motors run in a series parallel sequence would be interesting in an EV vehicle.
Absolutely loved the video.....First time I have ever seen a DC VW truck.....It looks really sweet and really like that it is all electric....I want to go electric so bad in my car & bike that I can taste it but right now the asinine prices people are charging for EV vehicles isn't worth it to me ....Yet...So hopefully in a few more years the tech will advance and the prices will come down. You speaking about taking off in 2nd gear reminds me of my Porsche boxster 5 speed tiptronic auto that it is designed from the factory to take off in 2nd gear instead of first.....Must be that power to weight ratio or something. Keep the EV videos coming.
Nice easy fit for under rear seat batteries. What about the gas tank space. It’s less assessable but further back in the chassis of the heavier nose double cab. Had 3 single cab 65-67 pickups which had basement cargo bay doors where you could access the crossways gas tank space ahead of the firewall. I assume that access is behind the rear seat in a double cab. Don’t get me started on the list of 60’s vehicles I had in my 20’s and couldn’t keep. Hate to talk about the cool stuff I considered then but didn’t buy.
I would LOVE to have one of these! 180 mile range?! Dang! You give modern EV's a run for their money! Question: Has EV West ever looked into the in-hub electric motors like Elaphe, the motors used by Lordstown?
For a conversion like this, or really any conversion you do, what considerations do you take in on the flywheel weight? Or, do you mostly use the same weight?
One thing that always made me curious about those air coller VW conversions: What's is done in terms of frame rigidity? The old spine beetle chassis can't be strong enough for the added weight and power without trying to twist itself into a pretzel... ( I know buses are unibody, I'm referring to beetles and Karmann-Ghias) I ask because at some point I plan on getting one of those Karmann-Ghia TCs from South America...
Nice how would you as an owner of the vehicle renew the registration that for example California requieres , being an gas van now converted to electric ? What paper work needs to be obtain from a shop or smoke test only ?
thanks so much for this video! super informative. I have a 65' 11 window and dream of doing this conversion. However, there are so many different $$ numbers i have seen for a conversion. Starting from scratch to built running vehicle, how much should i be saving up for? Not just the kit (7,600), but with something like this double cab with dual motor and Tesla 54KW hr packs? Its so hard to go full electric without knowing the full extent of costs adders (install, battery, cables, fuses, etc) that could blow my budget. If I knew a full out number of a few different levels, I could better prepare finacially for converting my bus (which doesn't have a motor at the moment). Its either go Gas, or Go this way, which is my first chioce. Any help on this, would be greatly appriciated! Thank you!
Do the rear axles have any hydraulic brakes other than the regenerative braking? In a different vein, in the 70s, Japan would import pickup chassis with engines and cabs and attach an American made box to complete the pickup truck, supposedly to avoid the tax. Guess which part rusted out first.
This is amazing VW T1 lovely truck but with electric dual engine...congratulations! Pls inform me how can I order complete conversation kit for installation into my T2 doka and what about costs please? Cheers
As he is showing off the motors. I was thinking. Looks similiar to a remote control rc. Right down to the esc lol. Mind instantly went to. How big of servo would i need and what is the price of 1 can and 1 esc :).
After watching this video I would love to find either a Greenbrier van or pickup truck I've always wanted one I love the way the rear moter in them does not intrude on the cargo area like the VW does my first vehicle was a 65 corvare after driving it around I had to relearn how to drive another vehicle the first time I took the GM pickup around a curve I'd taken my corvair around even at10 50 instead of 60 miles per hour I was so glad I was in the inside lane and had no one beside me as I ended up in the curb lane on a 45 degree turn and I haven't found a vehicle yet that that would hold the road or take bumps or rough terrain like that old corvair Nader did a number on it and with the speedometer not working I took it to maximum speed every where I went he said it would start to drift at 55 and since it never drifted I thought I wasn't going that fast but he was wrong and so was I I've since figured out I was going between 90 and 110 by the fact of the time it takes to get from one place to another in most cases at the proper speed it takes me twice as long
I have a question regarding charging the batteries for maximum life. Is it better to charge the battery pack every day or go for several days and let the charge level get down to a certain level and then charge it. For example, if I had a converted El Camino and a daily commute that used 25% of the battery's capacity, would I want to recharge the pack every night and bring it back to 100%, or would I prefer to drive it for 3 days, bringing the battery down to 25% capacity and then plug it in? Which setup would maximize the number of miles I got out of the pack before I needed to replace it?
Is ev west ever going to make diy swap platform for vw mk1’s? Vw mk1s are generally easily accessible and affordable plus a cult following. Something to consider. Or just stick to the rare and exotic cars.
I know a few people with VW's who say they will keep their gas engines don't want to bother with recharging and the only places they go to are car meets, cars and coffee and the occasional car show all within range. They also don't understand why Im pro EV, I grew up around cars and motorcycles, I took auto mechanics courses, went to Aircraft Mechanics School and years later Motorcycle Mechanics funny I ended up being a Photojournalist I'm retired now. I see EV's they are here and the tech is only going to improve, I was watching Autoline on TV a few weeks ago and one of the guest was talking about there make of cars all going EV she stated the the internal combustion engine is sunset technology it works and will be around for a few years. The new model EV's are nice but I would have something custom like the shop truck.
Amazing bus/truck! Someday I'll find a cool classic car that deserves an electric restomod. What happens if you floor the accelerator and switch it into reverse with the pedal still on the floor?
Very cool build and nice to see one that is not simply a drag and drop of a Tesla drive unit! Question: There are a couple of points when you smoke the tire(s). In each case, you are turning right and only the right rear tire is smoking. Do you have an open differential in your transaxle and the right wheel is the primary drive wheel? Is there a mechanical limited-slip option for an application like this?
Hi my name is Drew and I am the new media manager for Ev West. Please email sales@evwest.com with questions and/or set up a time to get on a phone call with our team. We are in the office Monday to Thursday 8am to 5pm PST. Sorry for the delay reply.
Hi Michael, i looked on the website, but couldn't find the dual motor kit. Is it hiding somewhere special? I assume this would also fit a bay-window Single Cab? I have the double doors for the tool chest, so I was thinking that would be the perfect place for the pack. Maybe put it on sliders for maintenance?
Is it possible to run a small gas generator like a honda 2200 or 3000 watt in the back of the bed while driving to get extra mileage and to recharge the batterys with out needing a charging station?
I had a "concept" of replacing the bed on a double cab with a single cab bed, place a 4wd frame on it and mid mount a diesel engine behind the dbl cab (there's other significant additions/modifications). Did you say that has a 184 mile range (92 mi to return)? I'm thinking (not counting the additional modifications, I'm guessing a 140 mile range (70 mi to return), at best? ;-) I've watched many conversions into smaller cars (Karmann Ghia) and am saddened by its loss of usefulness as a daily driver, ie: groceries. ;-)
A battery question: Did you use the space behind the firewall panels, where the gasoline tank used to live, for batteries? If not, why not? I am asking because I have a single cab that I want to convert to EV. The space behind the firewall panels looks like a great place for batteries, so that the space in the storage compartment is preserved for storage (though that could also be used for batteries, resulting in a phenomenal range.)