EV Conversion Workshop 2007EV Conversion Workshop 2009
OwnerJenny Isaacs, Bucks County Renewables
Owner's Other EV1991 Dodge Colt
LocationOttsville, Pennsylvania United States map
Web/EmailWebPage email image
Vehicle1985 Volkswagen Vanagon
This 1985 Volkswagen Vanagon was originally converted during a hands-on EV Conversion Workshop -- the first of its kind on the East Coast -- in August, 2007. Bucks County Renewables sponsored a second workshop in June, 2009 during which the battery configuration was entirely redesigned and upgraded to a 144-volt.
MotorAdvanced DC FB1-4001A Series Wound DC
ControllerCurtis 1231C-8601
Batteries24 US Battery 2200, 6.00 Volt, Lead-Acid, Flooded
rated 232 amp/hours
System Voltage144 Volts
ChargerZivan NG3
144-15
Heaterwork in progress
DC/DC ConverterAstrodyne
72-132 VDC Input 13.5- 14VDC Output
Top Speed70 MPH (112 KPH)
target - it hit this easily in the 2007 120-volt configuration
Accelerationbetter than ICE original :-)
Range50 Miles (80 Kilometers)
target - we have yet to break in the batteries and establish benchmarks
Seating Capacity5 adults. down from original 7-passenger capacity (1 interior bench seat was removed to accommodate conversion)
Curb Weight3,500 Pounds (1,590 Kilograms)
pre-conversion weight. All Vanagons are engineered to take the Westfalia camper conversion, so they have a high GVWR of 5160 -- thus, adding 1000+ lbs of batteries still leaves the e-Van with plenty of cargo/passenger capacity.
Conversion Timevehicle was prepared (stripped of ICE components) by a high school automotive technology class, and converted in 2 weeks by a group of 8 participants in a hands-on workshop. The second conversion and upgrade in the June 2009 workshop took place in just 5 days.
Conversion CostKit order $6,191.00
Batteries $1,575.00
Charger $750.00
Misc supplies $877.16
Tires $322.03
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Total $9715.19 (2007)

New batteries $1950
Replace vac pump $291
New charger $1046
Misc supplies $598
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Total $3885 (2009)

code by jerry