1981 Volkswagen Rabbit pickup electric conversion

1981 Volkswagen Rabbit

Volkswagen Rabbit Pickup electric conversion. 1st converted in 1998 using golf cart batteries under the bed and hood.This truck has been my daily driver since 2001 and I have gradually improved it over time.It still uses the clutch and 5 speed manual transmission, although I only use 2nd, 3rd and sometimes 4th on the freeway.The paint is around 15 yrs old and has some clearcoat peeling on the roof and hoodThe battery pack is about 290 lbs so the truck is about the same weight as before conversion.The range is around 20 miles more or less depending on how you drive.I have a 8 mile round trip commute and i charge every other day.It is a fairly small 11KWH pack so when new it would give you about a 35 to 40 mile range.The body is straight only some some surface rust where the bed liner is getting thin.Mk2 GTI Seats, Wheels and Steering wheel.Near new Bridgestione Potenza RE92 tires, less than 5000 milesSmall oil leak from the left side output shaft.Small water leak when it rains hard.The bed has a diamond plate alum cover over the batteries.The truck is about 1 to 1.5 inches lower than stock with lowering plates in the back and lower springs in the front.I've hauled 800LBs several times over the years and also towed a trailer filled with junk.I also have a few extra parts and cables that go with the truck also I have the front and rear bumpers.

Remember this is a 40 year old truck and it has a few rattles that seem worse because there is no engine noise.
Would like to sell to someone who comes and looks 1st.
Send me any questions.
Currently it is running with
- Soliton Jr controller liquid cooled with reservoir and radiator- EV West Pot box- Manzanita micro PFC 30 Charger with j1772 charging with the included EVI commercial charge station (like the Clipper Creek commercial charge station).- 37 older Winston 90ah Lithium Iron Phosphate cells with a MINI BMS. Some cells were new and some used when I put the pack together. I charge to a lower overall voltage at a slow rate at home so i don't have any cells overcharge and I can monitor each cell by the LEDs on each one after driving. I don't have the main BMS board hooked up right now.- new 12 volt battery- amp and voltage gauges
The starting bid is less than the Manzanita Charger cost new.

I also have the original wheels and tires.All new window rubber and tracks only installed on one side because I was going to paint it and didn't want the rubber on for painting.Also not installed are a new windshield seal, carpet, and new brake cables(one of the 2 in the truck is sticky), chrome inside door handles and black bezels and new black armrests.

No AC or Heat but I have a portable heater I that you can setup to work off the pack voltage and the 12 volt lighter for the fan.(I used it a long time ago but don't have the 120v DC connection that I used then anymore). No heat is not much of a problem in SoCal.
The diamond plate sheet over the batteries is not bolted down but has never been a problem but does make a small amount of noise.The original battery configuration was using 6v golf cart batteries 12 under the bed 5 in the bed near the cab and 7 in the front. So there are several places for some smaller battery boxes under the bed besides the existing one.The seatscould use new covers as the material is thin in a few spots but they still look good.I also have a long cord with L6-30 connectors on it to plug into the wall and the charger directly.
You should be someone who is comfortable working on cars and high voltage electronics.
Also for those who are asking about shipping make sure your carrier will take the extras that go with the truck, some won't.Shipping is over $1000 from California to Tennessee where I am moving.
I have a lot more photos, so ask me if you want more.
Sold as is and subject to prior sale.











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• Condition: Used
• Make: Volkswagen
• Model: Rabbit
• Year: 1981
• Mileage: 276753
• VIN: 1V1KG0171BV204864
• Fuel: Electric
• Transmission: Manual
• Vehicle Title: Clean
Want to buy? Contact seller!