VW-based electric conversion

[edward ericson]

Hello, all. I just picked up a BCW-52, VW-based, in pretty nice shape, and am thinking of converting it to electric. I’ve not seen one done & wonder if I’m missing something important about the feasibility of this. Anyone have any opinions and/or wisdom to impart?

[Larry Murphy]

 I saw a mgtd replica that had been converted to electric for sale on ebay a while back and the trunk and area behind the seat were all filled with batteries.While an electric conversion would be quite a novelty, I think it would be better suited in a car used for short commutes than in a replica which would probably be driven for pleasure.I don’t think the cost of the conversion could be justified . You said you had a nice BCW. These are rather hard to come by so I would personally like to see it kept and preserved as it came.That is my opinion but if you decide to convert it I wish you well and keep us advised of your progress.

[Rob Baker]

Ed,

I agree with larry it would be fun but could be an expensive option.  It will be interesting to see if electric works out in the next couple of years. 

Factory Five is working on it today.  See link below

http://www.factoryfive.com/whatsnew/showevent/SEMA/2009/ampd .html

[edward ericson]

Thanks, guys. It DOES seem to be an expensive project–maybe $8k to complete. I was planning on keeping the original VW stuff just in case, and doing no cutting on the kit components. Figured I’d switch out the old H-beam to an adjustable (or stock) unit, maybe a couple coil-overs for the extra weight, and disc brakes in front. The brakes and H-beam probably need doing anyway.

Looking around the forum (and elsewhere), it does seem like the car is more of a rarity than I realized. It does have the fold-down windscreen, for instance. It’s got all the right hardware. It’s fully-documented & was even appraised after the original build. So I might just enjoy it as is for a season at least before deciding on any major surgery. It sure is pretty. I’ll try posting a few snaps of it again.

[edward ericson]

BTW, sorry about the triple post. I get an error message every time I post & so I didn’t realize it was actually working.

[edward ericson]

[James Cochran]

Very nice replica . I had investigated an electric conversion, but then figured that I would have to add a recording of the sports car engine sounds that I love to hear. I have driven an electric and was extremely impressed with the instant performance, but I was bothered by the total silence when stopped and the whine upon giving it the gas (volts in this case). The performance was amazing, it’s not a golf cart for sure. If I do a conversion, it would be on a daily driver for me, at least for the payback. For now I am planning on keeping my replica on the dinosaur juice, but that may change someday. VROOM VROOM sometime, PUTT PUTT most of the time , it’s all fun.

[Paul Mossberg]

Man, that is a sweet looking car Ed.
The BCW is a great kit.

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[Paul Mossberg]

Hey Ed,

Click on the registry link in my signature and post a note with the info we request. Thanks!

Paul Mossberg
Former Owner of a 1981 Classic Roadsters Ltd. Duchess (VW)
2005 Intermeccanica Roadster

If you own a TDr and are not in the Registry, please go to https://tdreplica.com/forums/topic/mg-td-replica-registry/ and register (you need to copy and paste the link)

[Larry Murphy]

 Hi Ed, Thanks for the pictures. That is a GREAT LOOKING car and it looks to have been taken care of. I like the color combination. It’s also good that you have the top and sidecurtains since that means you can extend your driving season. I’ve got a feeling that the more you drive it the more the desire to convert will fade away.Looks to me that you’ve got a keeper.

[edward ericson]

Thanks, James, Paul & Larry. I’ll keep everyone apprised of whatever I do. First will be the brakes and, if the front suspension is as usual, the swap-out for an adjustable unit. She rides a tad rough and stops pretty slow, so I figure these are advisable no matter what (if anything) comes after.

And speaking of stopping, here’s a noob question for y’all: Does anyone know of a manageable, shade-tree-mechanic way of relocating the parking brake lever to a more, shall we say, “stock TD” location? Seems to me that spot two feet up under the dash is more than inconvenient–or would be, anyway, if the brakes ever failed.

Thanks again, all.

[Larry Murphy]

 Ed, Check out these previous posts on the e- brake question.

 VW based seat adjustment

 General Discussion   E-brake & shifter swap

 these posts show some options

 The ”cut and bend the handle ” method is the easiest and it worked for me.

[Author]

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