Otmar has a really cool idea on his website. It all revolves around using a
syncro Vanagon.

Buy a syncro, remove the driveshaft from front to rear. Use the gas engine
to power the rear wheels, and mount an electric motor on the front drive
assy. You can cruise on the gas engine for highway use, and switch to
electric for in the city. And while on gas power, an alternator can be used
to recharge the batteries for the electric motor.

I like this, since you could do the following to lower the conversion costs:

Sell the expensive syncro tranny, and purchase a cheaper 4-spd model.
Sell the viscous coupler (no longer used)
Sell the driveshaft (no longer used).

Or are you thinking of the type of hybrid where you mount a small gas/diesel
engine that runs a generator to charge the batteriees when needed?

Oh, Otmar's website is at:

http://www.evcl.com/strvan/strvan.html

TomC
tcarrington@relitech.com
http://volksweb.relitech.com
85 Vanagon Crew Cab
82 Westy diesel=>gas conversion
65 Notchback

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Andrew Dunn [SMTP:AndrewD158@AOL.COM]
> Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2000 10:09 AM
> To:   vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject:      Hybrid vanagon?
>
> I recently saw an ad for an "electric" vanagon in DC.  Was sold already. I
> heard the guy spent 10 G converting it.  I'm interested in building a
> hybrid
> gas/electric version.  This is an interesting mod I can find the time to
> work
> on.  Does anyone have any ideas on this, any websites , etc.
>
> Andrew Dunn