Apologies if it’s bindun, but this looks to be an interesting idea, if a bit of a boxy design…but their calculations of range per kWh seem way off, even a small car wouldn’t manage this?
Will definitely be keeping an eye though.
even a small car wouldn’t manage this?
Well it is about the size of a fiat 500
I couldn't see any mention of top speed. If it's maxed out about 40mph, that'll help. It doesn't look like it should be at all fast.
net weight under 600 kg, transport for up to 3 people, continuous power 15 kW, peak power 56 kW and a top speed of 100 km/h.
whether the efficiency claimed is at 100kph remains to be seen
van life, maybe. van+mtb life, doesnt look like it.
£30k for the camper version which has a rear pop out section to make it long enough to sleep in.
I had hoped that there was going to be a clever way the driver's compartment was utilised for living/sleeping space but it seems not
Yes it’s a nice idea but just not quite good enough. The new VW ID also looks too small to make anything decent out of, and will be a squilion quid anyway. Oh well…
Electric Renault kangoo would be my choice. With a camper kit added.
As an aside...
many years ago the engine in my T4 exploded (quite literally) and my friend who was mechanic replaced it - i think it was actually an engine from a golf.
Got me thinking though will it ever be possible to swap out a petrol/diesel engine for an electic one?. Possibly stupid question but i'm a dunce with mechanics. Would it even work?
I've a diesel camper which i'd be happy to keep for another 10 years but i imagine at some point i'll wish it was electric.
EDIT: basing this on a alternative reality where electric engine/battery technology is cheap/efficient enough to do this.
Got me thinking though will it ever be possible to swap out a petrol/diesel engine for an electic one?
Watch Vintage Voltage on Quest TV. They've converted all sorts including a split-screen VW Type 2 camper...but they never mention the price 😉
EV conversions are IRO £25-£35k and that's without the restoration sometimes necessary on the show. Most of the vehicles converted owners have an emotional investment in which is the only way the sums make sense!
Yeah, the vintage voltage ones also tend to have a short range because they have to cram the batteries in wherever they can, don't have a nice large, flat skateboard chassis to mount them in.
And thanks for pointing out the speed of the OP van, obviously skimmed past that.👍
Got me thinking though will it ever be possible to swap out a petrol/diesel engine for an electic one?
I saw this company the other day actually that are doing conversion kits for Vespas.
Pretty cool I thought.
Vespa kits here
That Vespa conversion site is good, but I want MOAR!
I dream of a near future where conversion kits are possible for motorbikes and cars that give commuter range and decent main road speed. With a bike it might be possible to fit yourself, but a car would need a garage or installer.
Curse the endless variety of fitting options!
I'm waiting for someone to come up with a good hybrid conversation using pancake motors for limited about town slow speed twiddling and the derv when out on the road. Most would probably only need 30 -40 miles range
Fully Charged recently featured a French company called Transition One who are developing retrofits for common small cars - Clio, Kangoo, 500, Mini, etc. Targeting 100km, 5000eur (although I think that will be after a fairly generous government grant). Drop the engine and fuel tank, bolt in a new motor stack to the existing gearbox, extra batteries where the fuel tank went. Slow AC charging but perfect for commuter / runabout use.
Most conversion right now is niche and expensive. If you want a proper sized van for camper use with decent range (150+ miles), fast DC charging, etc then £40k-odd for a brand new Stellantis (Citroen, Peugeot, Vauxhall, etc) 75kWh van is cheap compared to buying something else and converting it.
I'd really like to like that. I'm on my second Zoé and I'm fully sold on EVs.
The range: I'm always suspicious of round numbers and claiming that aerodynamic brick is 150% more efficient that a Zoé just doesn't stand up. 5kWh/100km as opposed to 12.9kWh/100km for the Zoé. With its battery it's going to weigh just short of a tonne which is 2/3 of the Zoé weight. Until the numbers have WLTP after them they're rubbish.
Six middle-aged guys in blue suits without ties in front of an oversized picture of the bus makes me run a mile. I know enough about German starts ups to not put a penny of my money near this venture as either a customer or investor.
On the other hand some of the classic conversions are bonkers in a good way, my favourite so far:
I think it’s along way off, we run hundred of sprinters at work and the current electric ones won’t even last 1 days work for 95% of the vans. They spend most of their time in suburban streets and we are lucky to get more than 60 miles out of the demo ones we were lent.
Mercedes EQV coming out next year. Usable range of maybe 150 miles, there is already a camper version in the pipeline but the basic model is £71,000!!!! So probably looking at 100 grand for a small impractical camper that will take you pretty much nowhere on a charge…
