1963 VW Bus / Transporter EV Conversion | EV Show

In this episode of the EV Show Trent Wonsley takes us through our shop Bus. This 1963 VW Transporter was pulled out of a field and brought back to life with an EV swap. Our rolling test bed has completed over 20,000 miles since and gets used daily at the shop. We love keeping classics like this on the road, check it out.

[@DougsMessyGarage]

I love what you guys are doing with the classic car conversions. These old VWs (and others) make great EVs

[@teslafudge1585]

That paint job is excellent. Super high production quality on these new eps. Wonderful ✌🏼

[@Pushyhog]

cant quit watching, when l get rich,, gonna do a build with this shop.

[@bikesqump]

the patina goes all the way thru to the other side on that baby! awesome van, so much want!!!

[@kll.switch]

Damn, this is the real cyberpunk! I hope EV conversions will become a lot more common than buying a new car in the future.

[@tomsummers1137]

Thanks Trent! I believe Tim recently passed away. R.I.P. Tim. A word about the Porsche family approval of the logo would have been nice, but of course, we are much more interested in what’s under that patina exterior. Keep these videos coming.

[@EVWest]

Thanks Tom. Yes, it's nice to note that Porsche family member Dr. Stefan Piech helped us with the logo design during his visit here. We just received 3 more large pieces of artwork the Tim did for us. I'll post them up soon. RIP Tim Leventry. You will be missed dearly.

[@henne2k]

The German tüv would say „seid ihr irre? So geht das nicht“ 😉

[@thesmokydig]

Sweet build one of my dream builds

[@julianlomeli]

I’m always excited to see a new video from y’all!

[@herme99]

Think I spotted some corrosion

[@Oivaras]

Unpossible!

[@balkanone9645]

Some of the absolute best car/conversion/lifestyle videos on KZbin are done by you guys at EVWest. Keep up the great work!

[@welkina23]

I so love you guys! I hope my 1968 bus is still running somewhere with an electric engine.

[@richardbrabbs8283]

She's a beauty well done for saving such a cool bus

[@MrLutian]

Please, keep videos coming, its wonderfull see what your guys been doing

[@GreenJimll]

I must remember the phrase "patina" when describing the rust and corrosion on some of the old bicycle restorations I do. :-)

[@g-r-a-e-m-e-]

Cool project.

[@aidenstriffler512]

A rare walk through model, very nice

[@bryandbaker]

“Some rust” = euphemism for rust bucket.

[@uliwehner]

in california this bus will never get any worse with rust. rockers and cargo door bottoms are not a big deal. If you owned it you could have this fixed in a couple of days. there is no reason to fix this other than looks. He said they fixed the cargo floor. much more important. If they wanted it to look restored, they probably would have restored it. in most of the rest of the world this would be a clean bus to restore. And now that Tim Leventry has passed, there is really no reason to restore it....

[@bryandbaker]

@@uliwehner sure, I respect their design/build decisions and those who prefer preservation over restoration. Not my preference, but I respect it. I was really just trying to get a laugh over the car community’s habit of understating rust with euphemistic language like “patina,” or the “some rust.” I realize this wasn’t a classified ad attempting to sell a used rust bucket, but it alludes to it strongly. Again, going for a laugh, if a cynical one.

[@bryandbaker]

@@uliwehner but they’re close enough to the ocean in San Diego that cars there do get rust. I lived there for a year and my sister attended university there. Closer to the ocean, the more the cars in the driveways look like they’re from Michigan.

[@SkaterStimm]

@@bryandbaker yep I am 0.8 miles from the ocean in San Diego (Encinitas) and it gets pretty wet and salty every night/morning. It is scary on classics. My 79 VW westy and my 68 double cab are covered or garaged and they need to be well protected.

[@jkl9094]

Glad you are back to upload videos after 5 years, hope there are gonna be more interesting projects

[@dennisbaker6814]

Love the simplicity of the conversation, but hate the rust-bucket holes.

[@wackyrc1394]

Cool shop ride 😎👍

[@jayemeljay2117]

Awesoooooome!! Congratulations!!

[@GreatGloves]

Greetings from Finland!

[@Hathasolar1]

kept the stock steering too! hilarious how much he moves the wheel to stay straight

[@7saxby]

A+ on the sound

[@stefankoelsch788]

Sehr gut, weitermachen.

[@regular_goof]

Is it a very late 63 ? What month ? Asking because of the large tail gate. I thought those were used only from 64 onwards... Nice work and I like that you kept it visually just how you found it.

[@eventeresting1142]

Please restore this car with this retro look

[@johnlysic6727]

Pretty schweeeet - well done for sure

[@DLeske]

*Bad to the bone son.* Thanks for sharing.

[@kdz666]

Do you have a conversion for the Ferrari 308 from the 70/80s? Cool transporter!

[@Aikaramba12]

Who would convert a Ferrari? This is cool, but the engine is half of what makes it a Ferrari

[@kdz666]

@@Aikaramba12 me!

[@Aikaramba12]

@@kdz666 well good luck with your project :-) but try to make it possible to convert it back, because i am sure your Ferrari (in original condition) will rise in value over the next 10 years

@@Aikaramba12 Me too!

[@rushja]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4qslIeklq6cmJY

[@leewilliams2094]

Do you have to use the clutch from a start or can you just step on the gas at 0 RPM?

[@Mike-cv7hv]

R.I.P. Tim

[@Temple-of-Procrastination]

I have an 83 Honda Civic that I would love to convert to electric. 125,000 original miles on the odometer

[@wanderingbox7971]

where is your beard then Trent? 😂👍🛵 Hey have you done any Vespa's to electric yet?

[@bugsbacon3025]

I have a vw transporter t5 from 2009. It has auto box. Leaky engine no one can seam to fix. Is this a easy convert to ev? Range about 250miles with 300-400bhp?

[@vicgarbutt3310]

In Canada (ontario) that would be stopped , plates removed, and towed due to the rust holes in the body. (just saying)

[@EVWest]

checkout the new and improved build of #RustBus on insta or FB now dubbed the #OGBUZZ

[@stefankaul8539]

I love VW T1

[@SuperFuzzmonkey]

Hi Ev west. I'm from the UK. We get varying different views in the UK on when EV's will be as cheap to buy as a ICE vehicle. What year, approx, do you think the tipping point will be in the USA?

[@jayemeljay2117]

Jajajajaja the petrodollars are gonna make it way too long... It's like storing diamonds so it seems there's too little of them and they can sell them for stupid high prices! So yeah... There are batteries the size of a trash can that can power up entire towns... But they are locked up... The fckn petrodollars, carbon...etc... Don't want the general public to have them.... They have been fcking with us for more than 100 years... So keep waiting! And hey! be greateful! At least you're in the northern hemisphere!!! Cheers from Argentina! (we superfckd down here mate)

[@MauricioBarragan]

2030 IMO. California already said no one will be able to register new ICE cars in 2040. Only older ICE models from 2039 and back. From 2030-2040, that will probably be enough time for them to change almost all their ICE cars completely because California is a big state and they will lose a lot but not only that, more states in the US will follow California's lead before then as well. (p.s. ford is $134 billion in debt and Chevy ks $90 billion, they might be done for.)

[@MauricioBarragan]

@@jayemeljay2117 jajaja move up north then man. The world is yours. Anything is possible.

[@bikecommuter24]

And my ICE motorcycle and car friends EV's are not cool, I beg to differ 😁 Me I get excited to see new stuff coming along even old rusty VWs that happen to go fast.

[@noah786]

Love it man! What price range are we talking about?

[@magnusonf1]

which headlights did you use for the conversion there? Thanks!

[@user-wd4po4zm9v]

Привет из Санкт-Петербурга парни!Контент достойный!Хотелось бы русские субтитры.Держи подписку и лайк.

[@garystewart6093]

‘Footprint on the planet' where does lithium come from? There are brake emissions, tyre emissions. It isn’t good, but it is better than petro diesel emissions. It’s like vaping compared to smoking.

[@g00d-news]

n1! congrats bros

[@rcjbvermilion]

You say "patina" look. I say "three year old Mazda" look. :P

[@Chris-bg8mk]

What happened with the pinzgauer conversion?

[@fuckngreat8955]

I want to replicate the livery in The Crew 2

[@tomsdaddy]

Are there any Convertibles that would make a good EV ? I'd live to turn a gas-guzzling Bentley or Audi Soft-top, Electric !

[@nicoparra1990]

porsche boxster, the battery and motor fit on the same space as the engine and you get to keep both the trunk and the fronk

[@tomsdaddy]

@@nicoparra1990 Brilliant, thanks very much !

[@nicoparra1990]

@@tomsdaddy Zero ev has videos from a conversion kzbin.info/www/bejne/apC2gINua9Nghq8

[@MrC1N3]

Why not use a Lithium 12v battery for the aux system?

[@leewilliams2094]

What does an electric conversion for an early Volkswagen cost?

[@bayney08]

I'm keen to know too!

[@Volksoner619]

According to their website it’s $7600 minus batteries

[@Arckitekt]

Rescued

[@bobeden5027]

Put the moon hubcaps back on!

[@marci319]

Very nice car, but why don't ask a german before painting? "RENNDIENST" ist only one word.

[@MsKaustabh]

Can you help me build a electric hot rod??? With a considerable range of 500km.

[@johnmca5643]

That is killer! Found in woods.... Pound out the dents.... Upgrade brake..... Go electric! That transporter is perfect.

[@Themanoutdoors]

UK MOT wouldn’t let that on the road with that rust. Cool conversion however!!

[@ahlapski]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but as long as it is structurally sound, it should be OK. Those rusts on this vehicle looked, and probably are, cosmetic.

[@Themanoutdoors]

@@ahlapski yes structural there can’t be rust within 30cm of a structural mounting point, engine mount, suspension mount etc. But also the exterior body work can’t have sharp or jagged edges like you see in the doors on this bus. Just interesting to see what other countries allow. Cool conversion however!!

[@AcrimoniousMirth]

Make sure to have your tetanus shot up to date before charging!

[@EVWest]

OK, so this is actually a pretty hilarious, and good advice.

[@AcrimoniousMirth]

@@EVWest glad you liked it! Keep up the good work, guys! Just wish you were in my neck of the woods instead of a continent away :)

[@YachtReport]

I don’t know how you are allowed to drive that POS on the road? The rust would be a danger if involved in a road traffic accident.

[@EVWest]

In all honesty the frame is rust free. It looks way worse than it is because the doors rusted out from dirt that was inside of them, but the frame and chassis are rust free with original paint on most surfaces.

[@sabolton25]

It is not a type 1. All busses are type 2.

[@RichardRaueiser]

Reverse engineering! every thing seams suspended below the roof rack ;-)

[@marcelwojtas6369]

it is a crying shame making a EV out of one of these vans,taking the soul out of it and making it completely boring!!!

[@fieldlab4]

Kalifornia Kustum Cars

[@johnevans6399]

Borrowed a VW and ended up with a porsche. 🚲

[@seanschaefer5233]

I'll admit this is cool technology but don't think for a second that you're carbon footprint goes away. 10 hours to charge??? Really? How much coal or oil is used to generate the power to charge the batteries? Not to mention the heavy machinery needed to destroy the earth to mine what is needed to make the batteries. Like i said, cool technology but don't be fooled into thinking its better just yet.

[@Cell1000bc]

You guys need to do MGB. Simple car, inexpensive, fun, and lots of them!