With the heart of an e-Golf, this 1972 Volkswagen Type 2 now runs on electric power.

Electric vehicle conversion specialists, EV West, were commissioned by Volkswagen of America to convert this 1972 Type 2 bus into a fully-fledged electric vehicle.

"Their passion for classic-car culture and commitment to renewable energy made EV West the ideal choice for this project," said Mathew Renna, VP G4, Volkswagen North American Region. "We thought, who better to see if the e-Golf powertrain would be the perfect fit for our older vehicles. It's great to see that the spirit of hot rodding is going to live on into the electric age."

The e-Golf’s powertrain was harvested and installed into the classic bus, giving the e-Bus an electric range of around 200 km. The 100 kW/290 Nm electric motor resides in the rear compartment where the previous 45 kW 4-cylinder engine used to be and the 35.8 kWh battery system is contained in a reinforced, fireproof enclosure found under the front seats.

Much of the interior has remained the same as the original bus. However, the long-throw gear lever now commands actions such as park, reverse, neutral and drive, as well as regenerative braking modes. A classically-styled multi-function digital EV guage has been fitted in the dashboard allowing the driver to cycle through multiple views and monitor vehicle outputs.

"We are very excited to be a part of this project," said Michael Bream, Founder and CEO of EV West. "Merging a historic model from an iconic brand with the technology of today, is just one of many ways that we can step closer to a more sustainable future while continuing to enjoy our rich automotive heritage."

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