Southern Cross University has unveiled one of Australia’s most ambitious electric vehicle prototypes – a long-range converted Volkswagen Kombi. 

But it is more than an uber-cool, 1970s retro vehicle conversion coming out of Southern Cross’s Northern Rivers campus at Lismore. 

The 18-month project, jointly funded by the NSW Government, delivers on four fronts: 

A retro-fitted electric vehicle with a driving range that suits regional Australia.

A tangible learning resource about renewable energy that is now available for schools around the country.

The project was led by a SCU graduate and included hands-on electrical and mechanical engineering experience for current students.

The new electric Kombi complements another existing renewable energy project – the solar-powered Sunflower that delivers remote power. 

Professor Tyrone Carlin said the electric Kombi is now part of a narrative about a University determined to find solutions to today’s challenges. “One of our goals was to create a Kombi with a range that was practical for regional Australia and, at 200km or even more per charge, we believe we have achieved that,” Professor Carlin said. 

Andy Naughton, of electric classic car conversion business EV Machina, is the Environmental Science graduate who was commissioned to undertake the conversion, using 10 x 5.3kWh batteries to help deliver 53kWh of power to an 88kWh electric motor. The batteries are split into two encased packs, one between the front seats and the other in the rear engine bay, with both being charged simultaneously. An elaborate battery management system controls the delivery and distribution of power. 

“This particular combination of the range, the power, the idiosyncrasies of a Kombi – all add up to make it one-of-a kind electric vehicle conversion. And we had to learn along the way – there was no workshop manual for this one,” said Mr Naughton, who won a 2018 Clean Energy Hackathon competition through the University’s Enter- prise Lab. 

Chair of Engineering and Information Technology, Dr Ricardo Vasquez Padilla, said the Kombi was a wonderful opportunity to get students involved at the cutting-edge of technology and engineering systems.
“One of our students helped with the CAD (computer- aided design) of components and then saw them through to manufacture. It was a great hands-on experience,” Dr Vasquez Padilla said. 

Vice President (Engagement) Mr Ben Roche, whose portfolio managed the project, said the University had worked in partnership with the STEM Industry Schools Partnerships (SISP) program, an initiative of the NSW Department of Education’s Educational Standards Directorate, to create Kombi-related digital resources for schools not just in NSW but across the country. 

“We know school students are deeply engaged with ideas of sustainability and the future,” said Mr Roche.
“This resource shows how universities can be a place for putting ideas and passion into actions and developing real, practical solutions to the problems we face.” 

The project received funding from Investment NSW’s Boosting Business Innovation Program. Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said Southern Cross University’s Electric Kombi was an example of turning ideas into innovative solutions to global challenges. 

“The knowledge and expertise gained through innovations like the Electric Kombi will not only help address the need to reduce emissions but will inspire a generation of students to tackle similar challenges,” Mr Ayres said. “Through Investment NSW, the NSW Government is fostering an innovation ecosystem to solve both present and future challenges while creating the jobs of tomorrow.”