How a plug-in hybrid electric conversion of a classic VW Bus works, how far it goes, and where things stand. Where we don’t have an answer yet, we say so.
A complete, restored classic Volkswagen Bus with a plug-in hybrid electric conversion. An electric motor drives the wheels; a small onboard gasoline generator extends the range. Each one is built to order by Duet Drive, a small, pre-revenue company — no Duet Bus has been delivered yet.
A classic Volkswagen Type 2 Bus, restored. The donor may be a bay-window or a split-window Bus, and it may come from Brazilian or Mexican production as well as US-market Buses; we will confirm the specifics for each build. The pictures on this site are illustrations of a split-window Bus. Finish, trim and detail will vary.
The Bus is fully restored and rust-free: bodywork, fresh paint and a renewed interior, in colours and upholstery true to the original style. What is new is underneath — electric drive, a battery, and a small gasoline generator. Inside, it keeps a familiar dashboard with real knobs and switches, not an oversized touchscreen.
No. Duet Drive is an independent company, not affiliated with or endorsed by Volkswagen AG. We restore and convert classic Volkswagen Buses; Volkswagen and VW are trademarks of Volkswagen AG.
The ID. Buzz is a new, battery-only electric van from Volkswagen; for the 2025 US rear-wheel-drive model, Volkswagen quotes 234 miles of EPA-estimated range. A Duet Bus is a restored classic Bus with a plug-in hybrid conversion: you plug in for everyday electric driving, and a small gasoline generator lets you refuel at any pump for long trips.
The engine never drives the wheels. It turns a generator. Everything that moves the Bus is electric, so it pulls like an electric car. Plug in at home for local trips; on longer journeys the generator makes electricity from gasoline, and you refuel at any gas station.
Our calculated total range is 415–475 miles at 55 mph, or 340–390 miles at 65 mph. On battery alone it is approximately 65–85 miles at 65 mph. These are engineering estimates, not tested or EPA-rated figures, and they assume a 12-gallon usable tank, which is still a sizing assumption.
Plug it in: a full charge takes approximately 5–7 hours with the planned 6.6 kW onboard charger and a suitable 240 V supply. The charging hardware is still under evaluation, and the plug type is not yet final. The generator runs on ordinary gasoline, which refuels the generator, not the battery.
Like an electric car in a classic Bus: smooth, quiet power from the electric motor. Our development target is 0–60 mph in about 6 seconds, against roughly 37 seconds for a stock Bus. That is a target, not a measurement from a finished car.
Build yours in the configurator to see the price, with each option priced as you choose it. Tax, title and delivery are additional.
Paint: one of six house colours — Pastel White, Black, Titian Red, Neptune Blue, Velvet Green or Kansas Beige — or a bespoke colour match. Upholstery: basketweave vinyl, houndstooth cloth or bespoke leather. Wheels: hubcaps, Fuchs 15 x 5.5 or EMPI 5-spoke. Accessories: a modern chassis package, roof rack, ceramic window tint and an audio upgrade.
Orders are not open yet, and we have not announced a delivery date. Join the interest list to be told first when build slots open, and to follow the first ten Buses as they are built.
There is no deposit. Joining the interest list takes no payment and does not reserve a Bus or a build slot. We write at most once a month — build news, photos, offers and word of when build slots open — never share your address, and every email has a one-click unsubscribe.
Not decided yet. Today we build complete, restored Buses to order. If we offer conversions of customer-owned Buses, we will say so here before orders open.
Not currently. The Ghia, the Beetle and camper packages are not offered; the current Duet Drive build is the Bus.
We have not announced where Duet Buses will be restored and assembled. We will publish it before orders open.
Warranty terms are not final. We will publish them before orders open, and before anyone is asked for a deposit.
Registration and emissions requirements for converted classic vehicles vary by state, and our compliance work is not complete. We will publish how registration works for a Duet Bus before orders open.
Build your Bus to see your price, or write to us — a person reads every message.