Volkswagen declares 2 vintage EVs for the Techno Classica

The 2020 Techno Classica show in Essen, Germany, which had been scheduled for March 25-29, was postponed to June 24-28. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles says it has two EV conversions of unusual classic cars ready for the show.

One is a T2 Elektrotransporter, which came out from 1972 to 1979 in minibus, van and pickup truck modifications. The show car rolled off the assembly lines shortly after the production started and was enlisted in the Berlin communal services in 1978. It was VW’s first battery-powered vehicle on record, even though it came out in a small production batch. The captions on the side read, ‘We are going all-electric’ and ‘Nature-friendly’.

The car’s Bosch engine (which was later adopted by Siemens) delivered only 22 hp (16.4 kW) and 160 Nm (119 lb-ft) to the wheels, although the power could briefly surge to 44 hp (33 kW) when necessary. Later on, these numbers were improved to 23 and 45 hp, respectively, which had little effect overall. The top speed was capped at 75 km/h (46.6 mph), and the massive traction battery weighed 880 kilograms (1,940 lbs), yielded only 21.6 kilowatt-hours, and warranted only 85 km (53 miles) of range.

The other entry is called e-Bulli, and it is a restored/electrified version of the 1966 T1 Samba Bus. The e-Bulli sports LED lighting, cabin trimmed with leather and wood, a folding roof, and more. Its main feature comes in the form of a brand-new all-electric powertrain based on Volkswagen Group Components. The specs are not available.