Bubble electric car

electrogenic — The engine from NetGain Motors, HyPer 9HV.

Bertie is not like other folk wagons. It has been converted to an electric car. The 1200 motor has been replaced with an electric motor. The petrol tank has been removed and the front boot now contains batteries.

Batteries are also mounted under the rear seat. According to the manufacturer, no modifications have been made to the frame and bodywork. Only holes are drilled for the necessary cables and the like.

The solution had already been invented

I came across Bertie and his friends at the London Classic Car Show last week. ElectroGenic is a small company in Oxford that has started to convert older classics to electric drive, - so-called Retro EVs. Bertie is a rolling demo that shows the possibilities. That's it Secondly, the car they have built up. It Firstly, was a Volkswagen Pickup T1. With plenty of space under the plane, the T1 and T2 pickups are ideal for electric conversions. Another factor that has helped ElectroGenic to get started is that there actually exists a solution for converting air-cooled passenger cars to electricity. Bertie's engine is supplied by NetGear Motors, Inc. in the United States. On their website, anyone can order "Tesla" battery packs as well as a solution for fitting the electric motor into the flywheel housing on air-cooled passenger cars.

For ElectroGenic it must have been like arriving at a set table.

Fully electric car

Bertie looks like a completely original folk wagon. The only thing that reveals that it is an electric car are the rear tailpipes, which no longer exist er there. According to ElectroGenic, they can be mounted for visibility. The battery cells are the same as Tesla uses - 7 modules. In comparison, the Tesla Model S has 16 modules. This gives Bertie the same electrical capacity as the previous version of the Nissan Leaf – the one with a 30 Kwh battery. Practical range is stated at 140 miles (224 km) – and charging time one and a half hours. The engine produces 109 HP with a constant torque of 235 Nm. 0-100 should go away in 9 seconds and the top speed is stated at 160 km/h. Are both parts more of a theoretical interest?

London's zero emissions target

Interest in the retro electric cars at the motor show was enormous. Everyone had to look at the rebuilt cars. At the moment, there is growing interest in electric cars in London and other major cities due to the government's program to reduce emissions in the city centre. Motorists in London have to pay an expensive rush hour charge (£10,50-14,00 per day) - and an even more expensive charge for older cars. From 2021, the tax area will be increased, at the same time tax relief for zero-emission cars has been announced. Several London taxis already run on electricity.

Problem-free drivetrain

Driving a vintage car as an electric car can have many advantages over an original car. Even if everything is tip top, an original bubble from the 60s with carburettor and staples is not as reliable as today's cars during daily use. For some, old mechanics are part of the charm of driving an original bubble, but for others it means that the vintage car is only used on special occasions. Bertie is wonderfully clean and dry without having lost its "antique" value.

Weight

The image of Bertie in the open air is taken from a video where the car is driven on a country road. Without having driven it yourself, it is not possible to assess whether the center of gravity and weight distribution have changed significantly. I see that the car is quite heavy with two people on board - probably close to the original total weight. The front-mounted batteries do not seem to have made the car front-heavy. The stated payload of a 1963 Volkswagen 1200 is around 320 kg. The net weight of just under 800 kg includes the driver's weight and a full tank – 40 liters of petrol.

Is there room to install electric drive without strengthening the chassis and getting the car approved for a higher total weight?

We start at the back. A bubble motor weighs about 90 kg. The motor from NetGain weighs 54 kg - a saving of 36 kg. Without the front fuel tank, another 40 kg disappears. According to the manufacturer, the battery cells will comprise 7 packs of the same type as there are 16 in the Tesla Model S, - presumably with 85 KWH. Theoretically, bobble's batteries should then weigh 7/16 of Tesla's batteries - that is, 236 kg. This gives a net weight increase of 160 kg. The payload of the bubble is then reduced to 160 kg, which corresponds to 2 passengers plus 10 kg. The total weight will probably have to be increased, but the weight distribution still seems to be good, since the batteries are located both front and rear.

Price

ElectroGenic calculates GBP 35 (currently NOK 000) to convert your passenger car to electric operation. The price includes the necessary reinforcement of springs and brakes. Electromechanical power steering can be fitted at an additional cost. If you were to buy the Bertie today, you'd probably have to add £420 for the car itself. They have done a full restoration of it. For the same price (000 GBP) you can buy a new Tesla 20 Performance. The prices for the conversion are indicative. They depend on which engine and battery capacity the customer chooses, as well as what needs to be done on the vehicle itself.

Approval in Norway?

In Norway, it is difficult – but not impossible – to get electric car conversions approved. The problems include, among other things, documenting fire safety. It will probably be easier to get the conversion approved with a company like ElectroGenic behind it. Even easier when - or if - electric conversions become more widespread. We are currently in the pioneer phase. The engine that ElectroGenic has chosen for Bertie, for example, has serial number 42.