Volkswagen Beetle Could Be Reborn As An EV

Sure, why not? It's already a niche vehicle. If they can put enough batteries in it to give it a good range, it should do decent as an EV.   Plus, it's a car people already love even if not a lot are sold.   Also, making it RWD with the batteries up front would make for an interesting profile.. less overhang in front of the front wheels/

9 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Sure, why not? It's already a niche vehicle. If they can put enough batteries in it to give it a good range, it should do decent as an EV.   Plus, it's a car people already love even if not a lot are sold.   Also, making it RWD with the batteries up front would make for an interesting profile.. less overhang in front of the front wheels/

Plus bring back the original Frunk  

Beyond stupid.  It will sell even worse than now.  And LOL on the comment in the article about "volume" in relation to anything electric.   

2 hours ago, ocnblu said:

Beyond stupid.  It will sell even worse than now.  And LOL on the comment in the article about "volume" in relation to anything electric.   

Like it or not, platform volume is easier to get with EVs than it is with petroleum-burning ones. Remember GM's skateboard concept?  That was to an extreme, but the idea is right, and we're already heading in that direction.  Tesla only makes two power units and they can drop in and out of a car at the repair shop faster than any gas car.  I think it is under an hour. 

As EVs get closer to the GM Skateboard concept, the number of body variants available will only increase. Eventually, it will be as simple as plopping a different body on the right wheelbase chassis. That's where the volume will come from.

A VW EV Beetle sounds like a good idea.  Call me when the Atlas is an EV, then I will know they are serious.

3 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Like it or not, platform volume is easier to get with EVs than it is with petroleum-burning ones. Remember GM's skateboard concept?  That was to an extreme, but the idea is right, and we're already heading in that direction.  Tesla only makes two power units and they can drop in and out of a car at the repair shop faster than any gas car.  I think it is under an hour. 

As EVs get closer to the GM Skateboard concept, the number of body variants available will only increase. Eventually, it will be as simple as plopping a different body on the right wheelbase chassis. That's where the volume will come from.

Totally agree, a blog from a Tesla owner stated the following which I believe to be true: 

This may come to the dismay of “gearheads”, but electric drive trains spell the end of tinkering in the garage the same way that transistors mostly did away with the TV repairman.

https://www.quora.com/Does-a-Tesla-car-have-very-minimal-maintenance-costs

Zing... right over your heads... I was not talking about "platform volume", I was talking about sales volume.  Because the so-called electric car revolution still has no legs when it comes to public demand... you know... actual customers who are clamoring to step up and buy these toys.

2 hours ago, ocnblu said:

Zing... right over your heads... I was not talking about "platform volume", I was talking about sales volume.  Because the so-called electric car revolution still has no legs when it comes to public demand... you know... actual customers who are clamoring to step up and buy these toys.

Nope did not go over our heads, Beetle is not selling in huge volumes and is a perfect ev auto for inner city driving. Should do just fine as a sales volume ev.

Instead of a trendy niche model, this could be the opportunity to go back to the Beetle's roots as a cheap 'people's car'....

'das elektrisch volks wagen'