BEETLE BATTERIES

UNDER the Super Beetle’s bonnet are two battery modules taken from a smashed Tesla Model S, placed where the petrol tank used to be. There are a further three modules behind the rear seat for a total of five, and an electric range of around 150 kays. The Model S uses 16 modules, but it has a lot more weight to haul around, and Tesla customers demand longer range. Battery modules have to be mounted in a stout box that can withstand frontal, side, rear and rollover impacts to comply with ADR requirements. Being able to take a 20G hit from the front, for example, is needed.

Note the air conditioning compressor mounted to the front of the box – a necessity for this Queensland Beetle. This has its own 120V motor, powered directly from the main battery pack, and only consumes about three per cent of the car’s total range. The other side is a small radiator used to cool the Tesla battery modules in the box.