By: JEDDY September 10, 2022
Nowadays, we are entering the era of using EV cars or electric vehicles all over the world. The cause of the big change is due to the reduction of pollution that is harmful to the world. including the high cost of fuel Each time you fill it, you have to sweat. because the money in the account was lost in a small amount Today, we have seen various car brands produce electric cars to meet the aforementioned needs. Most of which are new models.
Okay, if you’re a regular driver, that’s fine. But if you are a fan of vintage cars too. In addition to paying attention to the EV system, what should I do? There is a definite solution to this problem. especially the car line Volkswagen The most classic that today can make it into an electric car with the skill of Thai people. B.P. GARAGE Let’s get to know the best with Khun Ton. The owner of this garage
BP GARAGE in Phutthamonthon Sai 4 is a garage that takes care of the service for Volkswagen cars, supervised by Mr. Ton. Established more than 20 years, but the relationship with the classic car of this brand started from childhood.
“Volkswagen is a custom made car with its own style. whether the decoration by being yourself make it unique But it might be better than this one. And it’s a car with little maintenance because the main part is the engine that doesn’t need much maintenance. It’s a really usable car.
but over time the era has changed There may be additional air conditioners. There might be some problems. But he can change it for the better with the times.”
You begin to tell a story about what makes you fall in love. Flavorful Volkswagen, showing an overflowing passion as well. Before adding to the history of BP Garage, let’s briefly listen to that.
“Initially, I graduated from school and came to work at the garage. Because we already have a passion for Volkswagen. It’s a car that I’ve been using since high school. It’s a used car at home. I have a mechanic background from my father who is already a mechanic. There has been a constant connection.
Personally, I like to make Volkswagen cars, like to customize, to modify when I was still studying. I continued to develop myself until I became a garage in the early 1997 when I opened the garage for the first time. We are on Rama 2 Road, it was a profile that there was a Volkswagen car. Park on the roadside a lot. In the past, we bought a car to collect and fix it too. That’s the starting point of BP Garage.”
After learning about Mr. Ton’s passion for Volkswagen causing us to doubt one thing The car from Germany started coming to Thailand since when exactly?
“The cars that were first brought in for sale in Thailand were probably in the late 1950s, until now it could be 50-60 years old. In fact, they were mostly used in the government at that era. And the transportation system is used a lot. Whether it’s military officials, teachers, doctors, they use them, and then there are dealers selling them for the general public. So it has become widespread all the time. In one era it was a car that was less maintenance than others.
And I think that with the charm of the car body and even if the car is old. But it’s always beautiful Either in appearance, strangeness, or what motivates There are many points in Volkswagen itself, and there are many types of cars to use, including vans, turtles, and vans.”
Coming to our main point in this conversation. That is to turn a vintage Volkswagen car into a modern-day EV engine. It is also the development of the potential of the car more. but reducing fussy problems as well
“About changing Volkswagen to 100% EV, it started with me and my younger generation having the feeling that we are already doing this brand. and some cars of some families which is the first car of the house But enough to catch it for maintenance It may be done and rarely used. Will come to drive again, afraid that the battery will run out When I start to run, I’m afraid that there will be problems. So we try to come back and do our homework. Let’s try to think that if we already specialize in the car. Plus we have a team that does software to produce equipment to become EVs.
We gathered together to find information until this red Volkswagen car was born. The first car that was 100% EV and it turned out to be successful in everything. Both take to race at Buriram circuit, both circuit and drag, we’ve all tested it, even on the Dyno Test, we’ve done it too. It answered the question.”
How long does it take to research?
“This car from the start until the day we can answer that it’s perfect should have 1 year, 1 year to become a home car like a normal car. We overlook the word Volkswagen is a car that drives and will lose it. It became a motorhome that could go anywhere. Get in the car, just turn on the system, and most importantly, don’t need to fill up with gas.”
When something new comes with challenges. Which Khun Ton has learned a lot from his own work. and confirmed that during the period of 1 year there was never a word of discouragement But enjoy the homework that has to be done all the time.
“It has to catch new technology to adapt to our car, something that we think the car is okay with, such as the brake system as an engine. We drive at this speed, we think that the brake system that it has, it will be able to stop the car as we thought.
But when it’s an EV with higher performance We have to upgrade the brakes to make them better to meet the needs, such as adding better Power Break or being able to make the brakes better. So we tried since we didn’t do anything with the car. Just put the motor in, etc.
After that we continued to improve. When customers come to make a car with us If changing to EV, we will have to test every customer’s car. So that we will inform the customer first that the brakes for the original car are brakes, but if it’s an EV, it may need to be increased. But it’s up to the customer to decide. whether to add or not to add.”
This car, Khun Ton has stated that it can achieve the highest speed in the Buriram United Circuit at 160 km / h, while the Dyno Test can do 180 km / h. There is an increase in horsepower if measured from the 1600 engine, including a large set of drivers that affect the strength. and speed as well
The first step is the most important. This sentence can be applied to everything, even at the BP Garage.
“When you bring the car to do I have to do the model for each car first, how to install what and where. The first step is to write the Dimension of the device installation. When we finish drawing the machine, send it to the Software team to see if the box is this much, the block is this much, if we put this device in, will it be possible? If these two steps have passed, step 3 is to wait for the device box to reach me. Then the installation will not last long. In conclusion, about 2-3 months
The car that we have done in the end has to actually go to Test Drive. because the customer brought the car We have to bring him back to being a typical Volkswagen EV as a real-life car. It’s not that you take an old car to make an EV and drive it, that’s all. Our purpose is to bring it back to be able to use it for real. Wake up early and go on the system.”
What are the key systems for Volkswagen vehicles to install EVs?
“Basically an EV has its own system, it’s its package. The important problem is how much more the car is ready to be an EV.”
“Each vehicle that comes installed with us We’ll take the basic car to be weighed first. How many kilograms is the front wheel? How many kg are the rear wheels? how many kilograms We will arrange the equipment that we will design. to put as much weight in the same spot as possible In order not to make driving, physique or Feeling driving change. But it definitely has to add weight to it. or lighter We will try to make it as close to the original as possible. This is the weight first.
Next, about the equipment and the design. Every car must vary according to the beauty as well. The van is one A turtle car is another type. Van is another type, Volkswagen doesn’t have Mass Product.
Then put these in the box we designed. Everything when writing the design is not me. Finished and finished. The Software team may say that the box is too small, too big or too thick. I also look at how I need to adjust it. To say that steps 1-2 takes some time. when crystallized about appearance about the equipment He took the software and the hardware that was put together. I will install it as I designed it.”
So what’s the next step?
“After less than a month, the car will be able to run. then come to assemble the air conditioner make electricity on the car Then invite customers to come to test for real with us.
Our car is Air Cool. We use the air system. At first, no one believed me. that the system I made will actually answer the question I don’t use the motor like everyone else. But everything is done by Thai people. We’ve figured it out, done it, crystallized, we’ve passed the test.
As for now, a Benz is one of the homework that has been planned to be done. There are many new things. with vintage car design We have to make it where it should be as much as possible. Simply put, if nothing is opened, it still looks like that model.”
It’s well known that vintage cars, not just Volkswagen, come with manual gears and clutch pedals. This may cause driving is not as comfortable as an automatic car. Including the new generation may not be familiar with the Manual system, but for EVs, it is designed to meet the needs of making driving more comfortable. as well as to increase the security as well
“Preliminary The air conditioner is now an electric air conditioner. No worries about the heat, the car park is not cold, the car runs, the air conditioner is cold. These problems will go away. And another important point is the gear. Which our gear is still Manual, but the drive will change, for example, when we start, we may start at 3rd gear and use it to run for a long time.
But every car depends on what kind of car you use. Some people like to get out of the 2nd gear and change to 4 at all. Some people run close to the city to wear 3 only when braking, no need to press the clutch. Brakes like a car with automatic transmission. Stop the car and brake. To continue, lift the brake and press the accelerator.
The train when we stopped at a standstill. The motor of the electric car, it will stop, no rotation 0, like we turn on the radio and turn off the radio volume, we are working, but just no sound. When we accelerate the motor, when we spin it. Then we have a safe system with parking for safety. We will have a Stop that presses and presses on the accelerator, however, the accelerator does not spin. We will cut off the working system of the motor. We have a lot of safe systems.”
Of course, the transformation into an EV will require a change in the engine. But the overview above indicates that most of everything still has a very original feel.
“I lifted the engine off. But the wires in the engine I can’t keep. and then put the motor to replace the engine Then we reorganized the wiring of the EV, rewiring some of the wiring. But the lighting system is 12v, the basic system of the car. As for the headlights, taillights, dim lights, everything is the same. On the system, I make it go back to On at the same switch. The key doesn’t change to the push button. will use the starter key Twist the start as usual.”
Trying to keep the classic Volkswagen as much as possible?
“This is our purpose. I mean, we try to make it better. like this red If we don’t stick stickers Then we close the window and run. People understood that it was a normal car. If you don’t look, where’s the exhaust pipe gone?”
BP, Garage’s Volkswagen EV currently comes in four specifications: 100km, 150km, 200km and 300km, depending on the owner’s preferences. The installation price starts at 400,000 baht, with a 5-year warranty on the whole system, can check the mileage normally, and also has a memory in the software system to record the driving history as well. As for the care, it’s almost no different from a normal car.
As for charging 0-100% through the adapter, it takes about 8 hours to meet the needs of people living in the city. and travel that is not very far, but can actually travel long distances But have to plan to see the gas station that has a charging service point as well. And most importantly, save a lot of money.
“I calculated roughly. I ran 1,000 kilometers, it would be about 4-500 baht. I used to test like that. It should be more than 1.50 baht per kilometer.
Of course, when something new comes in, there will always be questions about safety. Which Khun Tonkla guarantees that the car that leaves the BP Garage is very safe because it has passed every detailed test.
“This is new. So it’s normal to be concerned about safety. Whether it’s afraid of electric shock, fire, which sometimes has news coming out But our own has passed the test. We took the car to run it hot to run it Over Spec to find a point to protect.
But our own safety system has more than 20 points, what is a little bit will cut even if we drive fast, high acceleration system, we will cut it. The car will turn off like a engine, but within 10 seconds it will resume. or hot motor high temperature cuts Well, it’s not damaged, but we only go over what we’ve programmed.”
At present, there are 3 to 4 Volkswagen cars that have come to Khun Ton to install EV systems, and are about to make an old Mercedes. Another challenge as well. That makes BP Garage always have to plan to develop the work.
“Now we’re going to develop the different systems in the EV, we’ll be working in parallel with the new EV car, that is, we can do whatever he has. We’ll make it as much as him in the Volkswagen Version, but at least our drivetrain won’t lose to him.
Because I myself had the opportunity to test drive many new cars, we went to see how the acceleration time was. See how other people’s 100 speeds with us 100 feel? What is the acceleration rate? ?And then take them to develop our car as close to the truth as possible. Finally, it’s in the Volkswagen car, in the car we want to revive him.”
“I consider myself proud. At least now there is feedback from children whose parents own their first Volkswagen cars and are stuck in the house. They think that today will take the car to make it run again like before. Plus, you don’t have to worry about the battery running out. Or what will be broken? When it’s an EV, it’s a new car in the same body. We resurrect by changing hearts. Change the machine inside instead.”
For any friends who have a car Volkswagen And interested in converting to an EV car can be followed via the fan page. BP Garage By Ton And via phone number 081-829-2995, Khun Ton is happy to give advice to everyone.
Thank you Ton and B.P. Garage That gives us the opportunity to experience the classic in the form of an EV as well.
Stay tuned for more interview clips. Mr. Ton BP Garage via fan page Unlockmen recently
Photographer : Krittapas Suttikittibut