The beloved Meyers Manx fiberglass dune buggy was created by Bruce Meyers in 1964 as a bolt-on kit for Volkswagen Beetle floorpans, turning the economy car into an adept off-roader. Sixty years later the Meyers Manx 2.0 EV will reach customers, providing them with a modern silent electric drivetrain.
This vehicle also shows the value of massive weight reduction, which permits the Manx to use amazingly small pouch-style lithium-ion battery packs and still achieve a range that is acceptable for a vehicle that has no doors or windows.
The base 20-kilowatt-hour battery pack will provide a 150-mile driving range and a 1,500-lb. curb weight. The optional 40-kWh pack is good for 300 miles and that version of the Manx weighs 1,650 lbs. Horsepower depends not only on the output potential of the electric motor, but also on the available power from the battery pack, so the 40-kWh pack produces 200 hp …