Obrist replaces the front trunk with a 1.0-litre, two-cylinder gas generator
The engine can run on gas or methanol
The new engine powers a 17.3-kWh battery
The Tesla Model 3 is one of the most recognizable electric cars on the market today. You could even argue that fifty years from now, when electric vehicles will be the norm, we will look back at the Model 3 as the Model T of EVs, the one that reached the masses and launched mainstream electrification in the automotive industry.
And yet, there’s a company in Austria called Obrist that converts Model 3 cars into hybrid vehicles.
Obrist Tesla Model 3
Obrist installs a 1.0-litre, two-cylinder engine in the front of the Model 3 where the “frunk” is located, and this engine powers a new 17.3-kWh battery that is also from Obrist. The battery replaces the traditional Model 3 battery.
The operation saves roughly 98 kg, or 216 pounds over the regular Model 3. On the other hand, the system generates just 136 horsepower which makes the Obrist Model 3 a lot slower than a regular Model 3, but Obrist wants to offer more powerful engine options in the future.
It should be noted, however, that the goal is not to build Model 3 variants with a hybrid version. The company is just using the Tesla for testing purposes with the ultimate goal to deliver hybrid conversion technology to automakers.
You can check out the video below for more information on the company and a test drive of the Obrist Model 3 by InsideEVs
