Motorized buggies have a surprisingly long and colorful history. Long before the SUV craze or the rise of the side-by-side, early automobiles of the late 1800s looked more like horse-drawn carriages with engines bolted on. Then came the 1960s, when the VW Beetle-based Meyers Manx turned the humble buggy into a pop culture icon, blending beach vibes with off-road freedom.
Fast forward to today, and that same free-spirited DNA is getting a jolt. As automakers charge full speed into electrification, the classic dune buggy has evolved into a new generation of battery-powered fun machines. These electric buggies capture the carefree spirit of their predecessors while adding instant torque, near-silent cruising, and a futuristic edge.
From concept cars and off-road prototypes to surprisingly street-legal EVs like the new Moke Mini, we’ve rounded up some of the coolest electric buggies on (and off) the market. Whether they’re tackling dunes, rolling down boardwalks, or just turning heads at stoplights, one thing’s clear: the age of the electric buggy is back and buzzing.
Meyers Manx 2.0
The original Meyers Manx from the 1960s is the OG of beach buggies. While the old-school dune buggy kit car is based on the Beetle platform, this modern version uses batteries and electric motors.
Design-wise, it’s easy to see that it’s related to the original Manx. They could easily have made it look too modern or futuristic, but we like that they kept it retro. The Manx 2.0 is powered by two electric motors, but it doesn’t have AWD. Each motor powers one of the rear wheels, producing a total of just over 200 hp. Early announcements cited estimated ranges of about 150 miles with a 20 kWh pack and about 300 miles with a 40 kWh pack, but the current Manx 2.0 order pages list a claimed range of up to about 125 miles depending on configuration.
VW ID. Buggy
Since the original Meyers Manx was built on a Volkswagen Beetle platform, it made sense for the German carmaker to develop its own buggy… and it does look a bit like the Manx. As its name implies, the ID. Buggy is built on VW’s electric ID platform.
Like the Manx 2.0, the ID. Buggy has around 200 electric horses, but here, one electric motor powers both rear wheels. With a 0 to 62 time of 7.2 seconds and a top speed of 99 mph, it promises to be a fun toy. Sadly, VW never intended to put it into production. However, MotorTrend reported that VW would make the platform available to “external producers” who want to build one. Any takers?
Volkswagen e-Beetle
Let’s stick with the Volkswagen Beetle for a bit longer; there’s more to talk about than just the Meyers Manx and VW ID. Buggy. In 2019, Volkswagen announced it would offer an electric conversion for the classic Beetle.
To make it happen, VW partnered with a company called eClassics, providing them with the electric powertrain from the e-Up. The result is the stylish e-Beetle, which has a top speed of 93 mph and a range of 124 miles. While the range isn’t huge, it does support fast charging.
Kyburz eRod Offroad
Swiss company Kyburz unveiled its eRod Offroad concept vehicle at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show. This cool vehicle looks just like the traditional buggies but is obviously battery-powered, just like the RC cars we had growing up.
Kyburz says the eRod will “offer passionate drivers and motorists lots of emission-free curve-carving fun, both on and off-road.” The eRod has fat off-road tires and long-travel suspension to ensure plenty of traction and ground clearance. KYBURZ has not published a detailed top speed figure for the eRod Offroad prototype, but the road-legal eRod is rated up to 120 km/h (about 75 mph), which is plenty for this kind of open-air fun.
Savage Rivale Coastrunner EV
Savage Rivale is a Dutch manufacturer with one of the coolest company names we’ve ever heard. Its Coastrunner EV resembles an oversized, luxurious golf cart, but according to the company, this is “the ultimate beach cruiser.” We can’t deny that it looks comfortable.
It uses a single electric motor powering the rear wheels. With 70 hp, it’s not lightning quick, but it’s enough to give it a 75 mph top speed. The range is limited to 112 miles due to a 20 kWh battery, but it has a large fridge, so you can enjoy some chilled (non-alcoholic) drinks while waiting for it to charge!
Nikola NZT
Before you check your bank statement to see if you have enough cash to buy an NZT, you should know that Nikola closed its powersports division. Apart from this concept vehicle, there will most likely not be another NZT. That’s a shame, as it did have a lot of potential.
It used four electric motors to send 590 electrified horsepower to all four wheels and could supposedly reach 60 mph in just four seconds, while its 125 kWh battery provided a 150-mile range. With huge 35-inch tires and 12 inches of ground clearance, the NZT would’ve been an absolute off-road beast.
Citroën My Ami Buggy
In 2020, Citroën introduced the cutesy Ami, and soon after, the French carmaker showed us a special edition My Ami off-roader, complete with tubular doors, steel wheels, and a retractable roof.
Unfortunately, the My Ami only has a tiny 5.5 kWh battery and an electric motor producing less than 10 hp, offering a max range of 47 miles and a 30 mph top speed. That didn’t stop people from buying it, though. According to Stellantis, all 50 cars were sold in just 17 minutes.
Renault Twizy
It’s pretty impressive that Renault went beyond the concept car stage and actually put the Twizy into production, as it looks like some kind of futuristic moon buggy.
It only has a 6.2 kWh battery, but aftermarket options are available that push it to 13 kWh. With a total range of 56 miles and an 18-hp electric motor sending it to a top speed of 50 mph, the Twizy isn’t the most practical vehicle. Production continued into 2023, depending on the market, and while it is no longer a current model in many places, it still looks great today and will definitely draw some attention.
Citroën E-Mehari
The Citroën E-Mehari is the third electric buggy by a French manufacturer on this list, so they must like them. In the late 1960s, there was a plastic-bodied Mehari beach buggy based on the iconic 2CV. It’s no surprise that the 2016 E-Mehari is made as a tribute to that one.
The E-Mehari has an electric motor producing around 70 hp, enough to give it a 68 mph top speed, and it offers a 124-mile range. It’s not lightning-quick, but this vehicle is pretty much designed to cruise around the French Riviera, going from the resort to the beach and back.
Skoda Element
The Skoda Element is pretty much just a Skoda Citigo (VW Up!) with the roof and doors chopped off, the suspension raised, and underbody protection and all-terrain tires added.
It was built in 2017 by students at Skoda’s Vocational School. They also installed a solar panel and an extra battery to power the massive sound system, a cooler box, and a smart TV. With a 100-mile range and a top speed of 81 mph, the Skoda Element is the ultimate vehicle to get you to the beach and back.
Polaris Ranger XP Kinetic
Polaris is one of the biggest names in the powersports game, so it makes sense that the brand’s Ranger XP Kinetic is one of the best electric buggies for everyday use. It looks like any other side-by-side UTV, and thanks to its 14 inches of ground clearance and 29-inch off-road tires, it’s just as capable off-road
It’s available with either a 14.9 or 29.8 kWh battery, offering 45 or 80 miles of range, respectively. The electric motor delivers 110 hp and 140 lb-ft of torque, making it capable of towing 2,500 lbs and hauling 1,250 lbs in its bed.
Dacia Manifesto
Dacia is known for its affordable vehicles based on Renault platforms. However, the Dacia Manifesto is so completely different from the stuff they normally do, it’s hard to believe it’s built by the same company.
Dacia says the fully open Manifesto lets passengers be at one with nature. It also has lots of innovative solutions. There’s a removable headlight that can be used as a flashlight or lantern. The battery is removable, allowing it to power or charge devices. The seat covers can double as sleeping bags, and the tires are airless. We’re keeping our fingers crossed they’ll actually put it into production.
Moke
The original Mini Moke was made between 1964 and 1993, sharing most of its parts with the iconic Mini but featuring a more rugged, open-air body. Now, the Moke is back in fully electric form. Built by MOKE International, the new electric Moke is rated at 33 kW (about 44 horsepower), and the company quotes a top speed of up to 50 mph with a WLTP range of 54 miles.
Even better, electric Mokes can be street legal in the United States when registered as low-speed vehicles, but what roads you can use depends on state rules and local speed limits rather than being a blanket nationwide approval.