Date:         Sun, 15 Mar 2009 20:04:51 -0700
Reply-To:     Poppie Jagersand <poppie.jagersand@YAHOO.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Poppie Jagersand <poppie.jagersand@YAHOO.CA>
Subject:      eBus project: A T2 Westfalia converted with electric motor and
              LiIon batteries.
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

With rather more modest goals (building an eBike) I was reading the electric vehicle forums and stumbled on a a guy that is converting his Westfalia camper to electric:

http://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=8012

eBus, or since it is a poptop camper, maybe ePop, turns out to a good idea. With light LiFePO4 batteries and motor, the ePop weighs less than with the gas engine, and according to the builders initial impressions is quicker.

Not sure how many other eBus projects are out there. An EV enthusiast Otmar used to post to the list about his plans to make a stretch Vanagon into a hybrid; electric front wheel and gas rear wheel drive. Never heard if the project finished. Years ago there were also some 79 loafs converted with conventional lead acid batteries. Took up much of the weight capacity, and didn't last many recharge cycles. However now new battery tech is changing the equation.

Martin (with non-E, '82 Poptop Westy, 1.9TD and soon to be eBike on the bike rack)


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