Bus Stop: The Kindred Motorworks Custom EV Volkswagen Bus

No matter where you go in the world, the classic Volkswagen Bus—the Type 2—is an icon. Now, Kindred Motorworks of Vallejo, CA, near San Francisco, is taking this legend and giving it new life. That includes a full restoration and all-electric power. We were one of the first media outlets to drive the Kindred Motorworks EV Bus prototype. This is a 60-year-old restomod that takes the bus from what was just over 50 HP to 294 HP, with a complete rebuild/restore, 23-window conversion, and many creature comforts original bus owners could only imagine.

As one of the first media outlets to drive this one-of-one EV Bus prototype, we put together the above video. And note, this all-electric Bus was prototype No. 2 and will remain a prototype. But Kindred is currently producing these vehicles for purchase. You may notice a few things that seem unfinished in this bright yellow Bus, and that’s because it’s a prototype.

Kindred Motorworks Offers A Bespoke Bus

Each one of these Buses starts out as an original VW Bus, this prototype being a 1966. About 1,300 hours’ worth of work is put into the vehicle, turning it into a bespoke electrical masterpiece. There are a variety of colors, interior finishes, and much more for buyers to select to make each EV Bus their own.

The prototype EV Bus we drove rolled on custom 17-inch wheels wrapped in 205/50/R17 Continental rubber. It utilized the swing-axle rear and had an independent front wishbone suspension with coil springs all around and front and rear disc brakes. This ’66 model had undergone a full restoration along with a 23-window conversion. This Bus has all the classic style of the original, but with a few modern exterior amenities. But it’s what’s in the engine bay (er … motor bay) that counts.

Grayback EV Platform

Kindred’s EV Bus uses the company’s Grayback EV platform. The company utilizes this setup in all of its EV offerings. This includes their EV Bronco and EV Porsche 911. Kindred developed Grayback over the last four years, investing millions of dollars to achieve OEM levels of engineering. This is not some homebuilt conversion.

This EV platform allows the Kindred EV Bus to have full Level 3 charging ability with a CCS plug, giving users easy public power-ups. The Bus has about 200 miles of range on a full charge. Of course, its range will depend on how you drive it and environmental factors.

A Reimagined Vintage Interior Experience

The inside of this Bus was truly wonderful. While still a prototype, all of the goods were there, and the finishes were an ideal mix of new and old.

Vast amounts of natural light pour through the van’s 23 windows. Open the side doors on the side, and you’ll find an L-shaped bench seat upholstered with supple leather. The lower portion is paint-matched to the vehicle’s exterior. A removable table with a bamboo top is in the center. The bamboo finishes are echoed throughout the Bus. This includes the overhead storage and speaker area, the floor-mounted cubby, and the rear cargo space (which has a top that opens and closes to store the table when not in use). It manages to feel vintage yet fresh and modern.

Kindred says the idea was to create a hangout space by completely reinventing the interior.

Up front, it’s classic VW. You have the big Bus steering wheel, sliding side windows, wing windows, and the classic split front windows, which are all operable. The yellow metal dash has retro knobs. But those knobs control modern amenities such as new HVAC (with air conditioning), lights, and even the volume for the Pioneer touchscreen infotainment system. And yes, there’s a backup camera, too. After all, if you’re driving a quarter-million-dollar vehicle, you don’t want to back into anything.

You may notice the gear shifter, which looks like it’s for a manual transmission. It isn’t. This is the company’s sequential gear shifter, and it only moves front and back to put the vehicle into drive, reverse, neutral, and park.

Driving the Kindred Motorworks EV Bus: Powerful and Playful

Put the key in and turn it, and the bus is now on. Pull on the gear shift lever quickly, and you’re in drive. Etherial sounds emanate from the van, letting others know the van may be approaching; something many EVs do because of their otherwise silent nature.

The steering has a fixed column and is taught and responsive. No tilt or telescoping adjustments are present. It takes time to get used to the driving position, but that’s the case on any old VW Bus.

Merging onto the highway used to be something VW Bus owners had to time precisely due to the original 53 HP gas engine. With 294 HP on tap and instant torque, merging is nothing short of rapid. The same can be said for passing, too. No more worrying about whether there’s enough thrust on tap in an old van. The Kindred Bus has gobs of power. In fact, I think some motorists on the freeway were a bit dumbfounded to be passed by a vintage VW in the fast lane.

There was a fair bit of wind noise in this prototype. Having a sliding ragtop and operable front windows likely doesn’t help. However, if you were in an old Bus, you probably wouldn’t notice it as much over the screaming air-cooled engine. The Kindred EV Bus is, of course, otherwise silent sans wind noise.

Driving a forward-control vehicle means sitting atop the front wheels. This exaggerates bumps, and this VW isn’t any different. But overall, the ride is quite good. The four-wheel disc brakes are also orders of magnitude better than the original bus’s brakes.

It’s just such fun overall. You’re driving an expertly restored classic vehicle. It’s bright and fresh inside. It’s surprisingly quick. The whole thing is just a kick in the pants. As we drove, we got lots of smiles, waves, peace signs, and thumbs up. From pedestrians to Harley-Davidson riders, it seems everyone loves a vintage Bus.

Not Cheap, And With Good Reason

Each one of these hand-built custom EV creations is unique, and buyers can get them with the options they want. Each Bus starts at $249,000. If you consider that an original 23-window van has sold at auction for over $200,000, and you get an OEM-quality EV powertrain plus a warranty, it puts things into perspective.

But these aren’t mass-market vehicles, and Kindred knows that. The company expects 12 of these to be made for its first year, with more after that. These are specialty vehicles designed to be enjoyed and cherished. They’re also designed to take the worry out of owning a vintage vehicle. It’s not going to leak oil, you won’t have to worry about if it’ll start. It’s not going to have the issues old cars have. In fact, part of the ethos behind these EVs, as Founder and CEO Rob Howard explained, is to allow the owner to focus on all the good things about owning a classic, and less about repairing them and worrying if it’s going to break down.

“They’re kindred spirits of the old models,” said Howard. And if that was the point of these VW Buses, then Kindred has hit the nail on the head.

Kindred is taking vintage platforms and retrofitting them with modern electric powertrains. With 100 employees, including 18 engineers, they’re breathing new, bespoke life into icons using a special mix of old-school cool and cutting-edge tech to create captivating one-of-a-kind all-electric rides that turn heads, which could point to the future of classic car customization.