Aussie battery-powered Kombi powers up

In what sounds like a union made in heaven, a Byron Bay company has just built one of Australia’s first electric (EV) Volkswagen Kombis.

Byron and its alternative lifestyles Hinterland sister town of Nimbin are arguably home to more VW Kombis per capita than anywhere in the world, with their communities deeply concerned with sustainability and environmental issues.

Byron Bay based EV Classic, a sister company to Byron Bay Kombis and in partnership with Retro Campervans run by Alex Bosin, has begun converting Kombis to stand-alone EVs (electric vehicles) and is receiving  Australia-wide interest in what Alex believes to be one of Australia’s first VW Kombi Electric Vehicle (EV) Conversions.

The first one, based on a T2 Kombi, is being used as a demonstrator, while two more Kombis are currently being converted for local customers. The average cost of conversion is $30,000-$34,000 and takes about three months.

For Alex and his wife Brita, VW Kombis are a full-time passion. Living in the Byron Shire and running two successful businesses based on VW Kombis, he's regarded as one of the ‘Kombi Kings’ of the region.

An EV Conversion seems like a simple enough task – replacing the Kombi’s flat, four cylinder air-cooled combustion engine with an electric motor and batteries –  but there are numerous variables that can determine success.

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Luckily, Alex has an incredible passion for the Kombi, learning to drive in one in his native Germany, sparking a lifelong curiosity for ‘tinkering’ with classic cars.

After completed a University degree in Physics, which in part focused on harnessing solar energy, he became a Design and Verification Engineer at Lufthansa Technik where he was in charge of mechanical systems for modification of VIP and Government Aircraft for more than 10 years.

After arriving in Byron Bay with his wife Brita, he knew he had landed in ‘Kombi Central’, where many people shared his love of what the campervan represented – epic surf trips, exploring beaches and absolute freedom.

After the arrival of their first child, he swapped work as an engineering consultant and started a Kombi-based wedding transportation and sightseeing tours business; then shortly after, a classic VW rental operation was born.

His latest Kombi EV venture combines his passion for renewable energies with his professional skills.

Although Alex began his new business by converting a VW Kombi, he says he can convert most classic vehicles to electric operation and can help source a suitable vehicle to convert.

He reckons while a classic car costs about $1500-$3000 per year on average to repair and maintain, an EV has very minimal maintenance over its entire lifespan, so once the engine has been replaced, you don’t need to constantly be dishing out money for fuel.

“Over a 10-year period, you might need to replace a battery and your engine worries are pretty much non-existent”, he said.

Alex mainly uses German-made parts for his conversions, but he resists the opportunity to increase power, ensuring no additional strain is placed on remaining components.

He said that because of the instant torque delivered by the electric motor, he normally drives around town in third gear, only dropping back to second on very steep hills.

‘Range-anxiety’ is a minor issue for Classic EV drivers, with Kombi EV owners expecting a range of about 150km. Most re-charging takes place overnight via a normal household 240v supply, or can be faster for those with access to three-phase power.

Alex mounts the 50kW battery used in most EV Kombi conversions under the vehicle’s middle seat row, with a normal conversion adding about 80kg to the vehicle’s weight.

Later, when regulations allow, he says it might be possible to use your fully charged EV as a ‘power wall’, delivering energy back to your home. This could be a future attraction for many living ‘off the grid’ in the Byron/Nimbin  region, he says.

EV Kombi Camper rentals are also a future possibility, Alex says, but not yet, as there are  insurance and other issues to overcome first.

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