Volkswagen e-BULLI concept
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For years there have been photos circulating the Internet about VW’s last concept electric bus, the ID Buzz. Those photos usually have a caption that promises a new VW electric bus is right around the corner. Well, taking all that marketing buzz in mind VW did show-off a new VW electric bus recently, the e-BULLI concept.
This new concept vehicle is really an old Volkswagen with a new heart, sort of like that uncle who got the pig’s heart and is now torturing all the ladies at the senior center. But this is a bit cooler ‘cause this old guy also got a slick makeover of sorts.
Essentially VW took a vintage bus, called the Bulli in many parts of the world, and replaced the wheezie 43-horsepower four-cylinder engine with a new VW 82 horsepower electric motor. This meant that all the stuff that supported that old four-banger could be eliminated including fuel tanks and fuel lines.
Furthermore, a lithium-ion battery is under the floor of the new vintage bus so handling is significantly improved. This is enhanced by replacing a lot of the old chassis components including adding multi-link front and rear axles with adjustable shock absorbers and coil-over struts, rack-and-pinion steering and four internally-ventilated disc brakes.
Power transmission is by means of a single-speed gearbox. The drive system is coupled with the gear lever, which is now positioned between driver and front passenger seat. The automatic transmission's selector settings (P, R, N, D, B) are shown next to the lever. In position B, the driver can vary the degree of recuperation, i.e. of energy recovery when braking. The e-BULLI reaches a top speed of 80 mph (electronically limited). With the original drive system the T1 managed a top speed of 65 mph.
The modification for the e-BULLI concept was done with eClassics and Volkswagen’s commercial vehicle division.
While the interior and chassis are significantly different than when this bus rolled off the assembly line in 1966, they are not so different that the casual observer would even notice. Well, except for the bright orange and cream paint job which really looks good on the bus.
The instrument cluster is all new but really looks like what you would expect to find in a vintage VW with an analog speedometer but with digital indicators to keep on top of the battery. I really like how the upgrades were done so it appears like a very mild customization to the original bus but there is an all-new audio system and touch screen display above the windshield.
The changes are there, but they aren’t in your face. So this would absolutely be considered a resto-mod and one that it very, very tastefully done.
All of the electric drive system's standard parts are being made by Volkswagen Group Components in Kassel. The lithium-ion modules are designed at the Braunschweig components site. They are transferred by eClassics into a battery system appropriate for the T1. As in the new ID.3 and future ID.BUZZ, the high-voltage battery is housed centrally in the vehicle floor. This layout lowers the e-BULLI’s center of gravity and thus improves its driving characteristics.
I have seen more and more interest in resto-modding cars using electric power trains and why not? Less maintenance, lower cost and instant power from electric motors having 100% of torque available right from the star. Speaking of which, this new electric motor in the e-BULLI sports 156 lb-ft of torque which is over twice what the original engine finally mustered with 75 lb-ft.
While range on this van is only about 124 miles most vintage cars aren’t driven very far so resto-modding a classic in this manner, again, makes a lot of sense. And, if you’re missing the rumble of a V8 in a classic car there’s always that well-hidden sound system. Of course if you’re missing the original sound of the engine in this particular bus, you could always bring a sewing machine.
