The 2CV Méhari Club Cassis has just approved its second conversion kit. After the 2CV sedan, it is the Type AK 350 and AKS 400 vans that are affected by a switch to electric. The installation will cost you €14,900, before deducting certain state aid.
Retrofitting, authorized in France since April 4, 2020, is still struggling to become more democratic. The 2CV Méhari club in Cassis, via its R-FIT kit, is thus one of the only players to come out on top. It can indeed count on about fifteen approved installers distributed in France and the reliability of its unique proposal for the Deuche. Great news: the classic model is now joined in the range by vans, capable of traveling a hundred kilometers without recharging.
More torque, less noise
Replacing a vehicle’s internal combustion engine with an electric unit is not to everyone’s taste. Yet the body, cooled by air as at the time, retains fairly similar performance. The power stagnates around 20 hp but the torque climbs to almost 100 Nm. This allows the 2CV to restart much faster until it reaches 90 km/h.
Driving pleasure also benefits from the quiet operation of an EV. Only the adapted and preserved mechanical gearbox can be heard through a few squeaks. “The charm of the old” should therefore be preserved, according to the Club de Cassis. Another good point: these retrofitted vehicles can perfectly enter the EPZs, without any restrictions.
This comfort at the wheel is however reduced by the autonomy, announced close to 90 km WLTP. The presence of a small 10 kWh lithium battery under the bodywork can hardly do better. Note all the same that a fast charger is delivered as standard, capable of recharging the van in 3h30 on a mains socket.
A conversion for less than €10,000?
The R-FIT kit includes its own set of various services. Thus, all the thermal elements are first removed and then the new components are reassembled. A certificate of approval will also be given to you and you will have access to a guarantee (2 years for the kit, 3 years for the batteries). This set costs €14,900, i.e. €1,000 more than for the traditional 2CV, from which you can deduct up to €5,000 depending on state aid. Regional retrofit bonuses are also possible and can be combined, as in Grenoble or PACA (up to €6,000), enough to convince small budgets.
Be careful, only the AK 350 and AKS 400 (1963-1977) models are concerned, the first AU and AZU versions not yet being homologable. The 2CV Fourgonnette is also no longer cheap since fine examples no longer sell for less than €10,000. Otherwise, the R-FIT company still offers the purchase of a new electric vehicle, but prices start at €40,000 including tax on utility versions.