22 september 2019 - Fun
VW is providing electric powertrains to convert classic Beetles
It’s just the beginning of what Volkswagen may offer the EV aftermarket
When Volkswagen revealed the ID. Buggy, it also noted that the company was looking into producing electric powertrains for specialty companies that could build unique EVs similar to the Buggy. Now we get to see one of the fruits of VW’s efforts with the eBeetle, or eKäfer in German. It has been developed in part with a Stuttgart-based EV conversion company called eClassics. Classic VWs converted to electricity aren’t new, but the fact that this uses a complete VW electric powertrain is.
Replacing the air-cooled flat-four-cylinder engine is the electric motor and single-speed transmission from the VW e-Up! That motor produces 81 horsepower and 155 pound-feet of torque. That’s significantly more than any Beetle had new. The eBeetle is heavier than a gas-powered Beetle, though, with a curb weight of 2,822 pounds. A large portion of that is likely due to the 36.8-kWh battery pack, which is slightly less than twice as much capacity as the e-Up! that shares its powertrain. Interestingly, the new powertrain appears to have freed up some cargo space in the back, with the motor assembly hidden behind a metal panel.
Volkswagen says the eBeetle should be able to go from 0 to 50 mph in a bit over 8 seconds, which isn’t fast, but is pretty solid for a classic Bug. It has a top speed of 93 mph and an estimated range of 124 miles. It also features DC fast charging capability, so it can pick up a 75% charge in about an hour from a fast charger.
If you want one of these electric Beetles with VW hardware, you’ll have to get in touch with eClassics in Germany. But we expect availability of aftermarket VW electric powertrains will increase over time, as the company is committed to this sector. It’s apparently working on a package for the VW Bus, and it hasn’t ruled out developing a version for Porsche 356 sports cars. The company also said it would look into using MEB components in the future, which are the bits being used for the soon-to-be-revealed ID.3, Buzz, et al. There’s more potential performance in the MEB parts, too, as the base ID.3 is expected to have 168 horsepower, and variations are supposed to have even more grunt.
If going to Germany or waiting for more VW-supported conversion availability doesn’t work, there are other companies offering ways to convert air-cooled Volkswagens. Zelectric offers complete, turnkey conversions, though they’re a bit pricey. For DIY-ers, EV West has a selection of complete kits and EV components to create your own electric VW, as well as a number of other vehicles.
21 september 2019 - Friends of the house
Wesley came to pick up his newly acquired SO 23 Westfalia @ BBT Headquarters…
Congratulations Wesley, You really have a cool bus now!
20 september 2019 - NEW
I woke up in shock in the beginning of the week as Saudi Arabia Oil installations have been attacked by “drones”… gas price at the pump went immediately up as well as fuel oil for house heating… but every morning when we check the stock market we don’t see any rise of crude oil at all, it even went down a bit….. was the drone attack fake news? Or is the price rise fake news? It must be one of both!
We @ BBT don’t bring fake news, our NEWS every Friday is genuine and full of goodies,that we have available now and will be good for your car one way or another!
This week was no other and we have a mix of new products for many different Volkswagens, very interesting so let’s start…
We all love Karmann Ghia’s, therefore BBT stocks many Ghia parts. Today we introduce the support for the Ghia outside mirror for all Ghia’s built 1965 and later. It’s a 3 pc set up which holds your mirror to your door.
0471-115 Seal for side mirror – KG 08/65-
0471-116 Mirror support – KG 08/65- (metal)
0471-117 Chrome plate mirror – Kg 08/65-
For the early splittie bus lovers we add this week the lever that sits on the fuel tap (really down below your bus indeed).
Barndoor buses had the gastank in the rear engine compartment with the fuel tap right below. It means if you run out of gas you have to stop, go to the back switch fuel tap to reserve position and start-up again.
Testimonies from Barndoor drivers from back in the days say that mainly happened in a very narrow street or right in the middle of an intersection.
With the post barndoor bus from April 1955 VW solved the problem and mounted the gastank before the engine (above the transmission actually) and put on a fuel tap with a lever that is connected through a cable to the driver cabin. All you have to do is pulling the fuel tap knob out and the spare gas runs happily into your carburetor.
Although most buses came with an electric fuel gauge from 1961, the holy VW parts books say the lever (and the whole fuel tap set up with that) was for all split window buses built from 1955 all the way up to 1967.
Let’s keep it simple, if you don’t have a fuel tap you don’t need the lever…:)
0492-128 Fuel tap lever – Bus 03/55-07/67
Fuel taps for your bus can be found HERE
For all Type 1 13-1600cc engines we add the piston pin clips. They fit all 1300, 1500 and 1600cc engines with 22mm diameter piston pins.
Rather NOT for 25 & 30Hp or 1200c (34DIN Hp) engines.
1603-250 Piston pin clips 1300/1600cc – 22mm (8)
Let’s dive deep into speedos here. This plastic gear that drives your odometer, call it the gear that moves the numbers in your speedo. This gear used to be of brass but at a certain point they changed that into plastic.
The plastic from back in the day wasn’t that good and cracked. Makes the odo doesn’t work (count) anymore… pretty annoying.
New speedos being expensive BBT brings you the solution with this brand new gears to replace the cracked old gear.
BBT Odo gears have been made in modern high quality plastic UV resistant etc etc… a product we could improve a lot from the original!
We have two types, for the speedo in miles per hour we supply the gear with 11 teeth. For speedos in kilometers per hour we supply gears with 12 teeth.
Sold each.
2691-005 Gear in counter KM/H – Beetle 10/52-
2691-006 Gear in counter mph – Beetle 10/52-
We have searched and found….
The left side of the rubber between the body and the tailgate on your T25/T3 Vanagon was already longer time available under BBT 0799-300
These rubbers guide all of your electric wires for all-electric tailgate features such as third brake light, rear window heating or central locking.
From now on we also have the right side available.
Sold each
0799-305 Cable grommet boot – Bus 05/79-08/92 Right
BBT supplied since ever the steering box for the late bay window buses from the WAT brand.
Unfortunately WAT tooling is now beyond repair so WAT steering boxes are no longer available.
Going back on the market we searched long and deep and tested every single steering box available or manufactured. We came up with this alternative not Brazilian steering box which does the job pretty well for a reasonable price.
These steering boxes are not filled up yet and the manufacturer suggests a mix from 50% transmission oil with 50% of regular yellow grease for smooth operation.
1368-300 Steering box – Bus 08/72-07/79
If there’s one 34PICT3 carburetor on the market that works it’s ours… we sell many and don’t get too much complaints… We finally got them back in stock and have them readily availble for delivery.
A little product update here… BBT 1845-100 was always supplied with a plastic cap… unfortunately this cap was the weak point. Either broke or came loose and was lost easily… bummer…
We improved that now giving our oil filler extensions a high quality billet cap… So after our 1845 comes also our 1845-100 with this billet cap.
1845 Oil filler aluminium / billet cap
1845-100 Vertical oil filler aluminium / billet cap
Wow that was quiet a bit for just a September Friday…:)
Happy we can provide more and better parts every week.
BBT News team wishes you a very relaxed weekend… forecast is wonderful, so why you don’t make a tour in that beloved Volkswagen……