Electric Beetle Available

[CFECO]

Here is a 69 VW Beetle which has been converted to all electric for sale on Craigslist in Tucson. As of Sat, it is still up.
Posted: 5 days ago
Electric VW beetle - $2500 (east tucson)


1969 volkswagen beetle manual transmission

1969 VW beetle electric conversion. This bug was converted to electric about 18 months ago has around 6500 miles on the conversion. This bug does need some work/finishing. It is 72 volts using nine 8 volt golf cart batteries 6 behind the rear seat, 3 were the gas tank was. It has a D & D motor systems ES15-6 motor, it is direct coupled to the stock transmission (no clutch). It has an Alltrax AXE450 controller. I have driven this daily for the last year and half about 25 to 30 miles per day. The batteries are starting to age reducing the range some, and they perform better when pushed a bit and the range decreases if you let the car sit. It has an intermittent problem where the car won't move then after about five or 10 minutes its back on the road again. I have not been able to trace down the source of this problem yet. It could use some paint and some interior work. Very fun to drive, the electric motor is completely quite. I have about $7000 invested in this car, due to the electrical problem I am pricing this at $2500 which is about what I could get if I sold all the parts off and converted back to gasoline. It also comes with the gas motor, gas tank and misc pieces. Would consider trades of an economical car of equal value.

[CFECO]

Better photos here, sorry!

[Ryland]

The electrical problem from sitting is simple!! it's using a AXE 7245 controller, if you leave it plugged in for a few days the batteries equilize and the voltage goes up over 90V and the speed controller cuts out due to the over voltage protection, on my electric car I get around this by turning the head lights on or unplugging it 15 minutes before I want to drive it.

the AXE7245 is slightly undersized for that car but is a very common controller for Beetles because it's cheap and high quality, switching to lithium batteries would cost $3,500 or so but make it lighter and there for perform better with slightly better range.

[CFECO]

It seems like a pretty good deal I'd think over all. $2500 for a decent Beetle is about average.