Classic EV’s 1968 VW Type 2 Pickup

Classic EV’s 1968 VW Type 2 Goes Electric

If you live in or around Centennial, near Denver, Colorado and catch a flash of white and yellow in your rearview mirror, chances are it’s not just a sunny classic VW Transporter. More likely, it’s ‘Leo’, the all-electric 1968 Type 2 pickup affectionately named by the team at Classic EV Conversions. Built in just 25 days by Nick Bradley and used as the company’s daily shop truck, Leo is part mascot, part testbed, and fully functional piece of coolness!

It’s not a show car, but it’s a build we trust  and the one people remember.

Leo’s story is rooted in necessity. “As we started building the cars, we used the Transporter to move parts and components. It just made sense to build it into the shop truck,” explains Nick. What started as a utility vehicle quickly turned into a high-voltage calling card for the father-and-nephew team behind Classic EV Conversions.

Nick and Tim Bradley have been steadily building a name for themselves in the EV conversion world, starting out with a Hyper 9-powered Beetle and scaling up to Tesla-swapped customs. The Transporter, affectionately dubbed “Bombi” in reference to its buzzy energy and unmistakable shape, is one of their most pragmatic and attention-grabbing projects yet.

Not Just a Hauler

The core of the build is a NetGain Hyper 9 motor, producing 125 hp and 175 lb-ft of torque—plenty to motivate the vintage VW even with a full bed of parts. It’s powered by a 53 kWh battery pack made from 10 Tesla Model S modules arranged in a 5s2p configuration. Two of those modules are tucked into the old fuel tank cavity, while the remaining eight reside under the cargo bed in the cleverly named “treasure chest.”

Paired with the original manual transmission, the Hyper 9 gives the Transporter a surprising level of drivability. “The easiest part of the build was the motor install,” Nick says. “We used a bellhousing adapter that allowed us to bolt straight up to the original gearbox.” That said, the aging transaxle didn’t exactly love the instant torque, and the team had to have it rebuilt and upgraded to cope.

“There are a lot of people trying to make a quick buck doing EV conversions,” Nick explains. “But for us, it’s about doing it right. It’s about the details – like thermal management, safe wiring, strong mounts. That’s what makes an EV reliable.

Charging is handled by an Elcon onboard charger, pushing up to 3 kW via a J1772 inlet mounted behind the rear passenger-side wheel. While it doesn’t support DC fast charging, the range is a respectable 130 miles—plenty for parts runs and local shows.

As with many EV conversions, one of the biggest challenges wasn’t the electronics but the legacy of the vehicle’s previous owners. “We had to fabricate new mounting brackets to reinforce areas that had been chopped up or weakened,” Nick recalls. But aside from structural shoring-up, the build went smoothly thanks to Classic EV’s now well-practiced workflow.

Instrumentation is handled by a TBS Expert Pro gauge, giving real-time battery info in an otherwise classic-looking cabin. The rest of the interior remains spartan and honest—this is a work truck, after all—but the light yellow and white paintjob, laid down by the prior owner, gives Leo plenty of curb appeal. The finishing touch? A Classic EV Conversions logo on the side, applied with pride by StickerMule.

Unlike some converted classics that spend more time on display than on the road, Leo pulls his weight. The Transporter sees daily use hauling parts, supplies, and sometimes just drawing a crowd at local events. And while Nick jokes that innovation in the air-cooled VW conversion space has plateaued, it’s the small touches—the tight wiring, thoughtful packaging, and reliable function—that make Leo a standout.

The suspension and brakes remain factory-spec for now, a testament to the Type 2’s robust original engineering. It rolls on stock wheels and tires, and everything is tuned for simplicity, serviceability, and utility. “It’s not a show car,” Nick adds. “But it gets the job done. And it puts a smile on people’s faces every time.”

Powering Forward

For now, Leo is staying in the Classic EV family, but Nick admits it could go up for sale someday. Until then, it will continue to be a rolling advertisement for what the shop can do. And considering the build only cost $33,000 (in parts only, excluding labor and the base vehicle), it’s also a compelling proof of concept for other business-minded EV builders.

This isn’t the shop’s most powerful or technically ambitious conversion—but it might be the one with the most personality. And in a world of stealth EV swaps and badge-less sleepers, sometimes it takes a bright yellow VW to remind everyone that electric can still be fun.

SPECS

1968 Volkswagen Transporter (Type 2 Pickup)

• Owner: Classic EV Conversions
• Location: Denver, Colorado
• Nickname: Leo
• Build Time: 25 days
• Build Cost (parts only): $33,000

Powertrain

• Motor: NetGain Hyper 9 (125 hp / 175 lb-ft)
• Controller: Hyper 9 Controller
• Transmission: Original VW 4-speed manual with custom mounts
• Peak Current: 750 amps

Battery

• Capacity: 53 kWh
• Configuration: 5s2p (10 Tesla 5.3 kWh modules)
• Pack Locations: 2 modules in former gas tank location, 8 in treasure chest under bed
• Range: ~130 miles
• Charging: 3kW Elcon charger, J1772 inlet

Chassis & Suspension

• Suspension: Factory front and rear
• Brakes: Factory
• Wheels/Tires: Factory

Interior & Exterior

• Paint: Yellow and white (by previous owner)
• Graphics: Classic EV Conversions logo by StickerMule
• Gauges: TBS Expert Pro

Photos by Jerome Andre