Onwards to the e-Future

Whenever the topic of electric vehicles as the normal mode of transport is raised, there is always a fair amount of scepticism, even doubt as to whether this will ever be a reality.

- ADAM HOWARD

Sometimes this can be down to a distrust of technology, at least in the context of how this will affect our prized vehicles. The topic is sometimes voiced with incredulity and the whole notion taken with a pinch of salt. But, and there is a but here, with Volkswagen announcing that by 2029, they plan to have launched seventy-five new models, all of which will be electric. And to date, a thirty-three billion Euro investment, the signposts clearly point to an electric future; but what does that mean for the classic Beetles and Campers that we love and hold so dear?

This is where the company eClassics, based in Renningen near Stuttgart, Germany and it’s directors Dennis Murschel and Martin Acevedo, along with their director of sales and marketing Gianfranco Pizzuto come in. eClassics have produced what can only be described as an incredible electric vehicle, but not just that, for this vehicle is based around a classic 1970’s Karmann Cabriolet. The underpinnings of this vehicle, the chassis if you will, holds up to fourteen lithium-ion batteries, each with a capacity of 2.6 kwh which combined gives 36.8 kwh. What this creates is a VW Beetle capable of a cruising speed of eighty miles per hour with around 110bhp on tap; this is equivalent to a well-tuned 1776cc motor with a pair of big 48IDA’s sucking on fuel and air! In this instance of course, all that power is derived from electricity. Add the fact that the transmission is single speed, the torque curve is impressive to say the least. The delivery of that power is not only instantaneous, but is smooth and without any unwanted lag or harshness.