Electric conversions have been making serious waves in the automotive world recently, as startups emerge left and right with modern takes on established classics. Cars like the Porsche 914, which left the factory with a serious dearth of power, can benefit greatly from such jobs, earning gobs of low-end torque without even increasing weight all that much. And as any Porsche snob will happily tell you, what's the real difference between a Porsche 914, a Volkswagen Beetle, and a Volkswagen Bus? Well, it turns out not to be that much, as Volkswagen's own build reveals in an electric-powered e-Bulli Microbus.

Engine In The Rear

Volkswagen e Bulli Conversion Bus Motor
via Autoblog

The "Bulli" moniker comes from German slang for the good-old Volkswagen Bus, which is a common enough sight on the roads these days thanks to skyrocketing values. In this case, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles updated a 1966 T1 iteration with a little help from eClassics. The result is an all-electric conversion with modern touches including improved suspension that Inside EVs claims uses "multi-link front and rear axles with adjustable shock absorbers and coil struts as well as a new rack and pinion steering and four ventilated disc brakes.”

Power To The People

Volkswagen e Bulli Conversion Bus 2
via Autoblog

The job performed by eClassics essentially means swapping out the original chassis for a custom unit that, in base trim, uses a 35kWh battery and an electric motor producing 83 horsepower. A larger, 45kWh battery pack costs more but bumps output to 101 horses, as well. Even the base-spec e-Bulli has about double the power of the original hippie van, plus it can go 80 miles per hour. Estimated range comes in at 120 miles, while a charge from empty to 80% capacity takes a claimed 40 minutes.

RELATED: 1969 Chevy Camaro Gets Insane Electric Conversion For SEMA

Now For Sale

Volkswagen e Bulli Conversion Bus 3
via InsideEVs

This isn't just a one-off, either. Autoblog reports that Volkswagen originally planned to debut the e-Bulli at Techno Classica 2020 in Germany before the event was canceled. But the whole point is that they're for sale, starting at €99,900 ($107,000), which isn't bad compared to a fully restored, lifetime-Southern-California example that might cost just as much, if not more.

Sources: Inside EVs, Autoblog

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