Kindred Motorworks, a California-based company, has introduced an electrified version of the iconic Volkswagen Type 2 Microbus, aiming to blend vintage design with modern electric vehicle (EV) technology. The updated model features a classic two-tone paint scheme reminiscent of the 1960s “Flower Power” era, but is equipped with a powerful electric drivetrain that significantly outperforms the original 53-horsepower engine.
Located on Mare Island, a former U.S. Navy shipyard north of San Francisco, Kindred has positioned itself as a specialist in “restomod” vehicles—classic cars upgraded with contemporary performance and comfort features. The company’s EV Microbus preserves nostalgic elements such as the split-window design produced between 1950 and 1967 while introducing modern amenities like heated seats, air conditioning, and smartphone connectivity via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
During a recent test drive near the Hudson River in Bergen County, New Jersey, Kindred’s then chief commercial officer Greg Clark and test engineer Basil Elbanna highlighted the practical benefits of electrifying the Microbus. Clark emphasized customers’ desire for authenticity combined with improved driveability, noting that while traditional restorations prioritize aesthetic accuracy, they often sacrifice performance, especially on steep inclines. Elbanna pointed out the shortcomings of the Microbus’ original heating system, which relied on rudimentary “heater boxes” that were often ineffective.
Kindred’s EV conversion involves extensive work, requiring approximately 1,500 labor hours per vehicle. The company plans to produce around a dozen units in its first year with ambitions to increase annual output to 50. The $275,000 price tag positions the vehicle as a high-end collector’s item. The featured 1966 model included the rare 23-window configuration, typically valued between $100,000 and $200,000 when fully restored.
Powered by a Grayback electric drivetrain developed on Mare Island, the Microbus utilizes a single 294-horsepower motor paired with a 74-kilowatt-hour battery, delivering up to 200 miles (320 kilometers) of range. While it retains much of the original’s iconic styling, the electric powertrain addresses the longstanding criticism of the Microbus’ limited speed and hill-climbing ability. The battery placement beneath the floor improves weight distribution and reduces the oversteer tendency seen in the original rear-heavy design.
Though not designed for high-performance driving, the EV Microbus offers a unique blend of vintage style and modern functionality suited for urban outings, leisure trips, and short-range errands, according to Clark. The interior maintains a retro feel, with features such as a nearly horizontal steering wheel and wraparound seating that encircles a removable table.
Volkswagen has also entered the market with its own electrified take on the Microbus, known as the ID. Buzz. Introduced in the U.S. in 2024, the ID. Buzz features updated styling, a longer wheelbase, three rows of seating, and available all-wheel drive, capable of accelerating from zero to 60 mph in around six seconds. However, sales have been modest, with approximately 12,000 units sold across the U.S. and Canada. Volkswagen skipped the 2026 model year in North America due to excess inventory but plans to return in 2027 with enhancements including Tesla’s North American Charging Standard (NACS) and an expanded “lorrier” camper variant featuring overnight battery-saving modes and outdoor amenities.
Volkswagen's product manager Ryan Gavin attributed the slow adoption of the ID. Buzz in North America to unfavorable timing, citing the loss of a $7,500 federal EV tax credit and cutbacks in charging infrastructure investment following the 2024 U.S. election. He also alluded to a shift in cultural attitudes that may have undermined enthusiasm for a retro-styled EV inspired by the optimistic countercultural iconography of the past.
Together, the electric reinterpretations by Kindred and Volkswagen represent a renewed interest in merging classic design with zero-emission technology, each targeting different segments of the emerging EV market for vintage-inspired and retro-modern electric vehicles.