Best Old Beetle for FE?

[wjohn]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Use case? Passengers and cargo?

I'd say capacity for 1 passenger. I would probably use it similarly to the MGB... drive it 100 miles round trip to work on days when it's not raining and I don't have to pick up a ton of tractor parts/groceries/fencing supplies on the way home. But I would definitely want to be able to fit a few things into it.

Electric would be interesting. I haven't even looked into it yet to see if I could pack in enough capacity to give myself a good 150-ish mile range.

[Isaac Zachary]

Originally Posted by wjohn

Electric would be interesting. I haven't even looked into it yet to see if I could pack in enough capacity to give myself a good 150-ish mile range.

Electric wouldn't work then. It would be a good conversion for someone who drives the average commute of 60 miles a day or so or less.

[freebeard]

Electric wouldn't work then.

Disagree. 100 mile range is 'easy', 300 mile range is possible -- it's done by commercial offerings and the wrecking yards are filling up with OEM components.

I have my own theory; the Arcimoto FUV has the complete drivetrain, suspension and steering between two bulkheads 18" apart with the same track and 100mm bolt circle as a Beetle. The inverter/controller stack would land about where the Beetle's fan was. The 68 HP is twice the original 36 HP (needed with a single speed).

The key is efficiency. Here's a beetle with suspension narrowed, body sectioned crosswise, and widened fiberglass fenders. Needs a boat tail. Narrowed front beams are commonly available. The rear axles are automatic lefts on both sides because they are 1 1/2" shorter but the torsion housing would need to be cut and shut. (this wouldn't work with the FUV conversion)



Here's where you reduce frontal area



Replace the heater channels with flat plate and chop the top by quartering the body.

[freebeard]

I would probably use it similarly to the MGB... drive it 100 miles round trip to work on days when it's not raining...

Then reduce frontal area by making a can-opener convertible. This sketch is supposed to show a rear deck in mahogany with cream pinstripes like a Gar Wood speedboat. Red/greennavigation light and a rumble seat.

[Isaac Zachary]

Easy? How many people have put together a 100-mile range VW Beetle? How much did it cost?

[freebeard]

They could do it hybrids in the 1970s with lead-acid batteries. Modern OEM pieces and parts are more available now.



My FUV (1100lb) is rated for 102 miles [urban] with a puny 18.5 kWh battery. Modern parts without government mandated weight constraints (airbags, etc.) would be my point.
________________

Saw this the other day.

ZombieVerter VCU Firmware 2.40 Release

I reported on this two years ago. IIRC it lets you mix and match components and control other car features (VCU). Haven't watched more than a few minutes.

[freebeard]

And I said 'easy', not easy.