Bhaderwah Boy Shines Again, Now Converts Beetle Into India’s First Vintage Electric Car

A young and talented Bhaderwahi engineer turned 1948 model Volkswagen Beetle into an electric vehicle and became the first from India to convert a vintage car into an electric car.

Mohammad Jawad Khan completed the project in eight months time and converted the 1948 Beetle into an electric car. He is the same boy who made Chenab Valley proud after making Solar Car named SVIET Volta, last year.

He hails from the Gatha village of Bhaderwah in Doda district. In the lockdown, Jawad launched his startup `Tadpole Projects Pvt Ltd’. Later, he started working on the maiden project of the Centre of Excellence for Research on Clean Air (CERCA) under the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.

He completed his project in eight months and became the first Indian to convert the vintage car into an electric vehicle. Moreover, it’s mileage can be increased. “In future, I will convert common cars into electric cars but it take time as I am waiting for approval ARAI (Automotive Research Association of India is the leading automotive R&D organization of the country set up by the Automotive Industry with the Government of India), after which I can convert all common cars which are now old,” Jawad told Chenab Times.

“My work will be most beneficial for controlling air pollution in Delhi and other states by turning all petrol and diesel cars into electric cars,” he added.

Coming from Volkswagen family, The Beetle was commissioned in the 1930s by Adolf Hitler as the “people’s car” (or volks wagen in German). Designed by Ferdinand Porsche, the curvy car was affordable, practical and reliable. Three decades later, the “Bug” (as it was affectionately known) became a symbol of the 1960s and the “small is beautiful” ethos. After the end of World War II in Germany, that time 10,000 cars were manufactured as the factory was put under British control. It contains an old diesel engine that emits a large amount of carbon particles into the environment. The engine is air-cooled 1200CC (1.2lt) and comes with 4 manual gear transmission system.

“It took me around eight months to complete the project due to lockdown but it usually takes two months. It is a fully electric car and I am thankful to Arun Sir (Arun Duggal Founder of CERCA) for reposing faith in me and giving me a chance to work on this project. Also to the hemant Sir who is the project coordinator of CERCA and CERCA is ready to fund all my future research work,” Jawad told in a conversation with Chenab Times.

“The mileage of this car goes around 50-70km and can be increased by adding more batteries. The AC charging takes about 6-7 hours and the DC charging system takes 40-59 minutes. Moreover, it is controllable through phone by using a bluetooth doongle. The car is working full-on manual gear system as it produces more torque, speed, and efficiency. The 90% of car parts are original. We are going to introduce wireless charging system in our electric cars in future,” he added.

 

It is pertinent to mention, it is the second time that Jawad had fully electrified a fuel car. He converted a vehicle into an electric car when he was student in Swami Vivekananda Institute of Engineering and Technology, Punjab. Jawad completed his B.Tech in electric stream recently from the same college.

 

Jawad belongs to a Bhaderwahi family, his father Nishat Ahmed Khan owns a Furnishing store in Gatha, Bhaderwah and his mother Parveen Akhter is a Govt school teacher. “After converting the vintage car, I am getting good offers. My startup deals in retrofitting of cars and micro dams,” he said.

 

At hometown, Jawad regrets on his local administration because they do not respond. “I had even submitted a project to the authorities but to no avail. I had told them that I could help the government with micro dams. So far they have not shown any interest,” said Jawad.

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