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Brazilian project transforms a Kombi Corujinha pickup into a handcrafted electric vehicle, with a reused forklift motor, 16 batteries hidden under the bed, a socket in the fuel cap, and classic visuals preserved in a curious adaptation aimed at urban use.
A Kombi Corujinha pickup underwent a rare transformation in Brazil by replacing the combustion engine with an electric set reused from a forklift, while maintaining the classic look on the outside and concentrating much of the new mechanics under the bed.
In this project, what stands out the most is the combination of one of the country’s most well-known utility vehicles and a handcrafted electrification solution, consisting of 16 automotive batteries, an industrial controller, and a socket installed in place of the old fuel cap.
According to a report by Quatro Rodas, the conversion was done on a 1975 Volkswagen Kombi Corujinha pickup belonging to collector Carlos Figueiredo, known as Carlão, who was responsible for transforming the classic into a functional electric vehicle.
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To move the pickup, the vehicle received a 92 V Jungheinrich three-phase motor, originally used in forklifts, along with a 96 V and 650 A Curtis controller, installed to manage the operation of the set.
Instead of transforming the Kombi into a modern factory electric, the adaptation sought to make a classic run without a combustion engine, using available components, customized solutions, and an assembly designed to preserve the visual identity of the pickup.
Electric Kombi Corujinha maintained classic look on the outside
Among the most curious details of the conversion, the battery set plays a central role, as the Kombi now carries 16 conventional 100 A automotive batteries, connected in series and positioned under the bed.
This solution preserves the cabin and maintains the external appearance of the utility vehicle, while concentrating weight and electrical components in the rear, without altering the classic image that makes the Kombi quickly recognized by the Brazilian public.
According to the same report, the configuration allows for autonomy of up to 90 km with a full charge, a range compatible with urban commutes, events, and controlled uses, without the proposal of competing with modern factory electrics.
Another point of contrast appears in the charging socket, installed exactly where the fuel nozzle used to be, replacing the original function of the compartment and reinforcing the difference between the old design and the new functionality.
Instead of receiving gasoline, that space now connects the electrical system, creating a subtle change on the outside, but essential to understand the project: the pickup still looks like an old Kombi, although it operates quite differently.
Forklift motor became the heart of the electric conversion
The choice of a forklift motor explains part of the unusual character of the adaptation, as this type of equipment is designed to deliver power at low speed and withstand intense use in industrial environments.
When there is technical knowledge to integrate motor, controller, batteries, and transmission, these characteristics can be utilized in handcrafted electric conversions, especially in old vehicles that receive new mechanics without losing the original bodywork.
In Carlão’s Kombi, the set was installed to move a vehicle for specific use, related to events and demonstrations, without the goal of offering sports performance, great autonomy, or embedded technology comparable to that of a current electric car.
The use of lead batteries also stands out, heavier and less sophisticated than the lithium batteries present in modern electrics, but chosen as a more accessible solution to enable handcrafted assembly.
As reported by Quatro Rodas, the person responsible for the vehicle himself compared the costs and pointed out a significant difference between the alternatives, which helps explain why the project was closer to a personalized conversion than a commercial electrification.
Batteries under the bed changed the logic of the pickup
Despite its simple appearance, such an adaptation requires a careful combination of parts, because the operation depends on the integration between the battery bank, electric motor, controller, cables, fixations, and the original structure of the vehicle.
Within this system, the controller plays a central role by managing the delivery of energy from the batteries to the motor, defining how the electric set responds during use and replacing part of the logic previously assumed by the combustion engine.
Cables, connections, insulation, weight distribution, and fixation points also become part of the pickup’s engineering, as the vehicle no longer depends on a tank, exhaust, and traditional mechanical set to function.
By itself, the Kombi Corujinha already has a strong visual appeal in Brazil, with an image linked to transport, work, commerce, travel, and collecting, factors that make the electric conversion even more striking.
When such a recognizable vehicle starts to move silently, without the typical noise of the rear air-cooled engine, the change becomes not just technical but involves emotional memory, mechanical curiosity, and visual strangeness.
Brazilian classic gained electric use in events
In the converted pickup, electrification is also associated with use in events, as the report shows the Kombi being used to transport a replica of a Porsche RSK 718.
This use reinforces the exhibition and demonstration nature of the project, rather than presenting the pickup as a direct alternative to a modern utility vehicle in range, performance, or onboard technology.
Even with the complete change of the traction system, the transformation preserved elements that make the Kombi recognizable at first glance, such as the cabin, the pickup body, the rounded front, and the appearance of an old vehicle.
Hidden under the original appearance, the biggest change is concentrated in the electric traction system and the battery pack, responsible for creating the contrast between a Brazilian classic and a totally different mechanical solution.
Artisanal conversion shows challenges of electrification in old cars
Projects of this type reveal the challenges of electrifying old vehicles outside of a production line, as each part needs to be adapted to the available space, the weight of the car, and the intended use.
In a factory electric car, engine, battery, electronic management, cooling, brakes, and structure are designed from the start to work together, while an artisanal conversion needs to reconcile components from different origins.
In the case of the Kombi, the use of 16 batteries under the bed creates a strong image because it shows the physical size of the solution needed to make the classic run without fuel.
At the same time, the reported range of up to 90 km highlights a profile of urban or short-distance use, compatible with controlled commutes and presentations, without the intention of replacing a modern utility vehicle on long trips.
The decision to keep the original body reinforces the character of an electric restomod, where the old appearance coexists with updated mechanics and creates interest among collectors, enthusiasts, and readers curious about workshop solutions.
In Brazil, this type of project attracts attention because it involves popular or well-known classic cars, reused parts, and functional adaptations, bringing electrification closer to the universe of garages, events, and preserved vehicles.
More than simply replacing the engine, the conversion brought together an industrial motor, a robust controller, 16 common batteries, and a nearly five-decade-old body into a vehicle that looks old but moves without combustion.
For those looking from the outside, the scene prompts an inevitable question: how far can classic Brazilian cars gain a new lease on life with handcrafted electric solutions?
