Volkswagen's Bulli concept - No Longer Just a Hippy Ride...

Just as the Green Movement evolved from it's roots in the hippy movement so has the VW  microbus their vehicle of choice. Volkswagen AG is resurrecting their iconic microbus that debuted way back in 1950 and soon after quickly becoming a hippy favorite for its styling and space for travelers.

At the recent Geneva Auto Show Volkswagen showed a concept version of the van — known by its German nickname,  the Bulli . A six-seater powered by an electric motor and uses an iPad to control the entertainment system, climate control and other functions.

The Bulli was the brainchild of a Dutch Volkswagen importer, Ben Pon, who in 1947 sketched out a simple public bus built on the wheels of the Volkswagen Beetle. The original Bulli was made from 1950 to 1967. Other versions followed, and the vehicle was eventually sold worldwide. 

The concept is a lil'  shorter and wider than the original, with a less boxy front. But there are plenty of nods to the original, including a three-person bench seat in the front and a two-tone paint job.

Volkswagen said,  "the Bulli can go up to 186.4 miles on a single battery charge and can go up to 87 miles per hour."  That's far, fast and fly compared to that  of the Nissan Leaf which is rated at 73 miles on a charge by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.