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Wisconsin-based Hoffman EV showed its Badger, an 11-seat minibus built around components from a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y, at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. The company says it hopes to offer other body styles, including pickups, but production plans, range, final pricing and a firm sales schedule have not been established.
Wisconsin startup Hoffman EV has debuted the Badger, an 11-seat minibus built using major components from a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y, and says the platform could support other forms including pickups. The vehicle appeared at the SEMA show in Las Vegas; the company has not set final prices, production plans or a confirmed date for sales.
The Badger uses Tesla donor-vehicle hardware and software, according to Hoffman EV. The company says components carried over can include the motors, battery pack, dashboard, steering wheel, seats and door handles. Those parts are installed in a new chassis, with the battery positioned about 1.5 inches higher than in the original Tesla vehicles. The startup says the design has eight inches of ground clearance and an improved breakover angle for rougher roads.
The example shown at SEMA was configured as a bus, with removable doors, roof and most seats. Hoffman says the Badger is titled as an 11-seat vehicle. Its body and structural components use powder-coated aluminum, and the company says the new materials are recycled apart from some small 3D-printed parts. The startup also says the Badger can use Tesla Superchargers and the donor vehicle’s Full Self-Driving (Supervised) driver-assistance system; those are company claims, not independent assessments of the vehicle’s capabilities.
Hoffman EV has discussed selling complete vehicles with customers’ choice of body style, as well as a kit option that includes a vehicle identification number and requires the buyer to source a Model 3 or Model Y. The company says it could build about 100 units a year, but has not finalized the plan. Pricing is also only an estimate: founder Geoffrey Hoffman placed it somewhere between the Slate Truck and a Tesla Cybertruck, a broad range that the report describes as roughly $26,400 to $77,000.
A Second Life for Tesla Hardware
The Badger proposes a different route for using older or damaged Teslas: instead of repairing them as their original models, Hoffman EV would reuse their major electric-drive and cabin systems in a new vehicle. If the approach reaches production, it could offer buyers a way to get a purpose-built bus, utility vehicle or pickup using existing Tesla components. That possibility remains a company plan rather than a proven commercial offering.
The idea also raises practical questions for prospective buyers. A boxier body can affect efficiency, while seating capacity, vehicle certification, service arrangements and the donor car’s condition can all shape how useful a converted vehicle is. At present, Hoffman EV has not supplied an estimated range or detailed production specifications, so customers cannot yet compare the Badger’s performance or ownership costs with established electric vehicles.
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From Classic Conversions to Badger
Hoffman EV’s existing business focuses on converting older British and other classic cars to electric power. Its portfolio includes conversions of the DeLorean DMC-12, Volkswagen Beetle, classic Land Rover models and vintage Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars. The Badger extends that work from one-off or classic-car conversions toward a vehicle concept based on more recent Tesla platforms.
Hoffman says the SEMA vehicle drove from the company’s Wisconsin base to Las Vegas and used Superchargers along the way. That demonstration suggests the prototype can operate on public roads and access Tesla charging, but it does not establish how a production Badger would perform or how many could be built. The startup has said attending SEMA would help it gauge which versions potential customers want.
“He does not have a precise short-term plan, and attending SEMA would help identify what people actually want.”
— Geoffrey Hoffman, Hoffman EV founder, in an Out of Spec Reviews video
Range, Price and Production Remain Open
Several core details are not yet available. Hoffman EV has not announced an official sales date, final price, production schedule or estimated driving range. The report says sales are expected to start next year, but the company’s plans are not settled. Its estimate of roughly 100 vehicles annually is a stated potential capacity, not a confirmed production target.
Range is especially difficult to assess without specifications or testing. InsideEVs notes that the Badger’s boxy shape may reduce range compared with the donor Model 3 or Model Y. Hoffman has also said the lighter vehicle could perform better around town, and the startup plans aerodynamic improvements in the first quarter of 2027. Neither point is supported by published range figures in the source material. The final available configurations, certification details, warranty coverage and compatibility of driver-assistance features in a converted chassis have also not been explained.
Customer Feedback and 2027 Changes
Hoffman EV says it will use interest at SEMA to help decide which Badger body styles to pursue. The next meaningful milestones would be a finalized product lineup, specifications and pricing, followed by a confirmed sales schedule. The company has also said it expects to improve the vehicle’s aerodynamics in the first quarter of 2027, though it has not provided a detailed account of those changes or their effect on range.
Until Hoffman EV releases those details, the Badger should be understood as a debuted vehicle concept with a stated conversion approach, rather than a product with fully established performance and availability. Buyers considering a kit would also need to account for sourcing a suitable Model 3 or Model Y donor vehicle.
Key Questions
What is the Hoffman Badger?
The Badger is a vehicle developed by Wisconsin startup Hoffman EV, using components from a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y in a new chassis. Its SEMA debut was configured as an 11-seat minibus.
Is the Badger a Tesla?
No. It is a Hoffman EV vehicle that the company says uses Tesla donor hardware and software. The Badger is not presented as a Tesla-built model.
How much will the Badger cost, and when will it go on sale?
Neither is confirmed. Founder Geoffrey Hoffman has discussed a price range between the Slate Truck and Tesla Cybertruck; the report gives an approximate span of $26,400 to $77,000. Sales are tentatively expected next year, but the schedule is not finalized.
What range will the Badger have?
Hoffman EV has not published an estimated range. Its boxy shape could reduce range compared with the donor Tesla, while the company has suggested its lower weight may help around town. Those effects have not been quantified in the available information.
Will buyers be able to get a pickup version?
Hoffman EV says the Badger platform could support different body styles, including pickups. The company has not confirmed which versions will be offered or when they could be available.
Source: insideevs.com
