Specifications
Motor: NetGain HyPer9 with AC-X1 controller
Battery: 5x Tesla Model S battery modules.
Transmission: 4-speed
Range: ~150km
1968 Volkswagen Beetle
Traction EV’s electric beetle conversion has been going strong since its commissioning in 2019. We purchased this ’68 VW Beetle to convert to electric in March 2018. The original engine was very tired and only running on three cylinders.
The engine bay, under-body and guards were all cleaned and resprayed black to get everything nice and new again underneath. The front beam and trailing arms got a new lease on life. Bumpers, light lenses and a few trim pieces have been pulled and replaced with brand new parts.
We pulled the engine and sold it to a VW enthusiast who threw a rod on their 1500 engine. All suspension bushings and ball joints have been replaced and the brakes have had a complete overhaul as well. Tail lights, billet aluminium running boards, rear brake shoes, drums, slave cylinders, all flex lines, all hard lines, master cylinder, front brake rotors, ball joints and tie-rods, steering column bushings, trailing arm bushings and rear drums, all new!
The flywheel has been machined down and had the starter teeth removed as they are no longer needed. A Stage 2 pressure plate is used with a six puck clutch plate.
As with most of our builds, we went with a switch activated reverse, you can still have fun finding the original VW reverse gear or you can just leave the transmission in a forward gear, flick the switch and the car will reverse motor direction and give you reverse!
Our electric beetle conversion has seen lots of hard driving on road and at our local race track, Lakeside Raceway. We are about to take it to our first hill climb event at Noosa Hill Climb. People are always amazed by just how quick the Beetle is and it is so much fun to drive and see people’s reactions.
At the time of writing this it is 2022 and the Beetle has been going strong for over three years and clocking over 40,000km. The only parts that have been replaced are tyres! The battery pack has no measurable degradation and the motor is still very happy, as of course, are we!
