If you look back in the archives, you’ll find a story we brought you back in September of 2016 about a small startup known as Kreisel Electric that was in the business of developing advanced lithium-ion batteries have completely preserved cells, and thus a higher capacity which ultimately leads to increased range. The company has built a number of custom-made electric conversions with one of the most notable being the Porsche Panamera. But, the company has been very busy since we last mentioned it, and has put together a custom all-electric Mercedes G-Class for none other than Arnold Schwarzenegger himself! That’s right; the man that once owned a fleet of Hummers has decided to fully embrace his new stance on protecting his environment by adding the big, off road, and all electric one-off to his own personal collection.
The vehicle was first unveiled my Kreisel Electric and Arnold at the Hahnenkamm race in Kitzebuehel in January where Arnold not only learned about his new G-Class and took delivery but also took it out for a quick drive in the snow. During the official announcement, Schwarzenegger said, “To me, with the electric version of this fantastic car, a dream has become true. The initial test drive was a real pleasure: The Kreisel is incredibly sporty and perfectly benefits from the advantages e-mobility has to offer. I really look forward to the following test runs and to the gradual further development in California.”
As you can make out from his quote above, he’ll be conducting further testing and providing feedback to Kreisel Electric for some time to come. What’s really more important, though, is what makes this electric conversion so special. See, using an existing chassis and body that wasn’t designed for an all-electric powertrain is a real challenge, but Kreisel Electric’s technology makes it quite a bit easier. By removing the engine and gas tank, the company is able to place the required battery packs and electric motors while preserving the same general weight distribution. In this specific case, that conversion results in a G-Class SUV with 483 all-electric horsepower and a top speed of 133 mph. It is said to achieve 62 mph in as fast as 5.6 seconds, three seconds faster than the standard model, and has a range of about 190 miles.
But, there’s more to this story, so let’s move on down the page.
You Can’t Tell the Difference
The cool part about Kreisel Electric is their unique conversion process. As I mentioned, the engine and gas tank are exchanged for an electric motor and battery packs. But, with the hood shut and the charging cord removed, the only thing that makes Arnold’s model stand out is the Kreisel badge on the rear hatch and the custom Kreisel logo up front in place of the Mercedes emblem. The charging port is hidden away where the gas fuel filler tube used to be while the instrument cluster is modified to include required information while retaining a stock appearance to the untrained eye.
The Battery Packs Are Stashed Under the Hood
Most electric vehicles have the battery packs built into the floor pan or hidden under the rear cargo area, but Kreisel Electric’s conversion typically puts the battery packs under the hood which helps keep them cool and helps preserve the car’s stock weight distribution. In the case of this custom G-Class, the battery packs account for a total of about 1,100 pounds. They are also rated to charge at 150 kWh, which is faster than most electric vehicles available right now.
You Can’t Have Your Own All-Electric G-Class… Yet
With the Terminator and previous Governor of California owning an all-electric G-Class, there are at least a few who would like to own one as well, but you’re going to have to wait, at least for a little while. Kreisel Electric isn’t offering the conversion for other G-Class SUVs just yet but its currently in the process of developing an 800-kWh battery factory that will speed up the production of its manufacturing process and is currently working to get in with various automakers to implement their unique, high-density battery technology into production vehicles. That factory, by the way, is being built using profits from sales as opposed to investments from outside sources.
This isn’t Kreisel Electric’s First Rodeo
As I mentioned before, the company behind this one-off G-Class has also completed the conversion on a Porsche Panamera, giving it the all-electric capability to compete with the Tesla Model S on some fronts. But, that’s not all. The brand recently announced a major order from VDL, a company from the Netherland’s that ordered 2,000 electric powertrains and battery packs to upgrade its fleet of Mercedes Sprinter vans. The brand expects to sell as many as 50 million battery cells or more in 2017. But, there’s more. Kreisel Electric has managed to develop a conversion for the Volkswagen Golf, Skoda Yeti 4x4, Volkswagen Caddy, and the BMW 3 Series Touring. It has also developed and electric go-kart that can hit 62 mph in 3.1 seconds!
Conclusion
Arnold Schwarzenegger has taken climate change seriously in the past few years, so it really isn’t surprising to see the man take possession of a G-Class that doesn’t require a single drop of fuel. But, I think what’s really important here is to note the fact that the battery technology is there and automakers simply aren’t adapting it into their current lineups fast enough. If a company as small as Kreisel Electric that is currently in the process of building its first factory can take models like the Mercedes G-Class or BMW 3 Series and make them all-electric without much of a compromise in weight distribution or range, while using an existing chassis and body, then why can’t automakers do the same? What do you think? Let’s talk about it in the comments section below.