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The Classic VW Beetle 72 Powered by Gasoline Was Transformed by Aline Santos, An Engineer from Espírito Santo, into An Electric Car, With An Investment of About R$ 100 Thousand.
The classic VW Beetle 1972 had its engine replaced, changing from gasoline to battery-powered electric, but despite the change, the new electric car requires more autonomy. The reality of electric cars for many Brazilians is still somewhat distant, in a country where the cheapest vehicle on the market costs R$ 64 thousand, which is the Renault Kwid, for example, its price is equivalent to 115% more expensive than when it launched in 2016. The electric version of the KWID is even more expensive, costing around R$ 140 thousand, one of the main obstacles to acquiring an electric car in Brazil.
Engineer from Espírito Santo Explains How She Modified the VW Beetle 72
The telecommunications engineer, who works in Espírito Santo, Aline Santos, who owns a VW Beetle 72, replaced the four-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric motor, driving the electric car since 2018 around Espírito Santo, attracting a lot of attention since the vehicle makes no sound, which is a distinctive feature of a gasoline-powered Beetle.
The engineer mentions that she modified her VW Beetle because she wanted to better understand the reasons behind the high costs of electric cars in Brazil, and thus adapted her car with the help of friends who were also interested and believed in the VW electric beetle project.
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According to Aline, one of the challenges was finding specialized labor and information to convert the VW Beetle; the vehicle owner still highlights that the scenario remains the same even after 4 years since the conversion of the VW Beetle to electric. As far as she knows, more than R$ 100 thousand has already been invested in the new electric vehicle, and the engineer shares that at the time, the estimated cost she calculated was half that amount.
Despite Low Autonomy, VW Beetle Is An Independent Project
The VW Beetle features 100Ah batteries but is undergoing improvements to increase its autonomy, including a new 160Ah battery, enabling it to deliver about 10kW of energy to the motor; the Beetle previously traveled only 50 km with the 100Ah batteries.
Even with the Beetle’s low autonomy, considering that the project is entirely independent and the components are costly, Aline emphasizes that given the current fuel scenario, converting her car is worth the expense.
“The experience is exciting; better than an electric car is driving a car that you built yourself. It’s very nostalgic, it has a story, records, moments, sadness, and joy,” Aline emphasizes.
As the electric Beetle is the engineer’s first project, she shares that this makes it even more special, as it was designed by her.
The 1972 Electric Beetle Can Be Charged at Any Outlet
Aline states that one of the positive aspects of the electric Beetle is its versatility for charging, as the model can be charged at all types of outlets.
However, the downside according to the engineer would be the regulation; Aline reports having problems to legalize the electric car at the Detran, as the number of requirements and bureaucracy to regularize the vehicle makes the process discouraging.
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