The 2007 EV Conversion Workshop is converting a VW Vanagon to electric
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Volkswagen
As part of the 2007 EV Conversion Workshop, and sponsored by Bucks County Renewables with the help of the Energy Justice Network, Jenny Isaacs has gotten together a group made up mostly of teachers who will be converting a 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon from gasoline power to electric. We told you about this way back in March, and now we can follow up that story by directing you over to a site made by Jenny to update everybody on the progress.
The plan is to make this a completely zero-emissions vehicle by offsetting the carbon spent while charging the vehicle by purchasing wind energy. If you would like to check out the vehicle once it has been completed, they plan to show it off at RiverFest, in Frenchtown NJ on Sept 1 - 3 and at the Pennsylvania Alternative Energy Festival in Kempton PA, Sept 21 - 23. We certainly wish Jenny and the ten person team the best!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-27-2007 @ 4:13PM
Mike Z said...
Do you really think it's such a good idea to use a car associated so much with hippies?
Reply
7-27-2007 @ 5:47PM
ex-g35-owner said...
The title of this post is very misleading.
The title implies this van has been converted already.
Reply
7-08-2008 @ 5:40PM
LeslieAnn said...
ExG35 owner cannot read. It is clear this is a project in progress. Wish I could attend it. Good luck
7-27-2007 @ 9:24PM
Jeremy Korzeniewski said...
ex-G35-owner - you were right. I edited it to be more correct. Thanks!
Jeremy
Reply
7-31-2007 @ 6:44AM
jimmy quest said...
Mike Z...you're so right. Who wants to associate hippies with electric cars? They should have chosen something more Republican like a Lincoln Navigator.
Reply
8-01-2007 @ 4:26PM
MDarling said...
Too big.
Too non-aerodynamic.
Too cool.
Reply
8-07-2007 @ 3:37PM
Matthew said...
Oddly Enough Vanagons were not associated with Hippies, since they cost too much, and were made too late. However, the earlier Bay Windows VW Bus, and the Split Window VW bus were.
Vanagons are more likely associated with Yuppies who like to camp!
I am following this blog myself, as this is of Great Interest to me!
Reply
2-19-2008 @ 1:40PM
Jennifer said...
HELP ME! I want to convert a '60s model Vanagon to electic, but i need help. No one around where i live knows anything about converting (Fort Wayne, Indiana) instead of using batteries (that decrease power by 5% monthly wether you use them or not) i want to look into using a "Capacitor" anyone with any ideas or know where to go let me know! ~Jenn
Reply
7-05-2008 @ 9:55AM
JohnM said...
Jennifer - there is no such thing as a "'60s model Vanagon",
since the Vanagon production did not start until the 1980 model year.
MikeZ - As Matthew points out, the Vanagons were made more than a decade removed from the "Summer of Love".
A low-cost electric vehicle conversion to existing small commercial vehicles (like the VW T3 "Vanagon" and the VW T4 "EuroVan") make excellent economic sense for in-city usage in today's $4.00/gallon gasoline pricing. Use existant electric technology to maintain an economy until better technology can be developed.
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