Electric Kombi KEV heads to VW Nationals

News

Mar 21

KEV, VW NZ’s electric Kombi, has had a new wrap. Photos: VW NZ

KEV, the famous electric Kombi, is making an appearance at next weekend’s Volkswagen Nationals this year being held around Kaikoura.

The 30 year event for owners of the famous German car brand is run by volunteers of the local VW club. This year’s event is being organised by East Coast Air Cooled – a non-profit car club based in Christchurch, established in 2016.

Volkswagen New Zealand’s 1966 Kombi, which has been reimagined into a fully electric vehicle called KEV (Kombi Electric Vehicle), will be on display for the weekend.

Since KEV’s appearance last year to promote clean energy, he’s been re-wrapped in the Volkswagen Greenprint design.

Once used by the Dunedin Health Board, KEV was created into an EV with the help of Wellington’s The Surgery, New Zealand's premier Automotive and Classic Car Restoration studio.

Wellington’s The Surgery, converted the 1966 Kombi to an electric model.

The initiative last year was to "green up" one of the brand’s most recognisable vehicles with an open-source guide online to help Kombi owners revolutionise their iconic retro.

Anyone can revolutionise their Kombi with the Volkswagen Greenprint, available from volkswagen.co.nz/ekombi.

This year’s VW Nationals begins on Easter Friday with a quiz, followed on Saturday with a show and shine, a Sunday drive and a farewell breakfast on Monday.