Hoffman EV Badger: Model 3-Based 11-Seat Van With FSD, Supercharging

Tesla enthusiasts have long wanted a Cyber-inspired van, and a Wisconsin startup has delivered one by building on a Model 3 donor. Hoffman EV unveiled the Badger at this year’s SEMA show in Las Vegas, and Out of Spec Studios’ Kyle Conner called it the “coolest freaking EV at SEMA.”

The exterior uses flat, angular panels, Cybertruck-style wheel arches, and a tall, upright windshield, while the underpinnings come from a recycled Model 3.

Model 3 Inside, Van Outside

Hoffman EV transplants the hardware and software from a donor Model 3 or Model Y—including the motors, battery, seats, steering wheel, center screen, wireless chargers, and the door handles—into its own aluminum chassis. The battery sits about an inch and a half higher than in the original car, and the Badger offers eight inches of ground clearance for rougher roads.

Because it retains Tesla’s software, the Badger behaves like a Tesla. According to Conner, it keeps Supercharging capability and even Autopilot features still work. He added that “FSD works,” too. Hoffman drove the prototype from Wisconsin to Las Vegas, charging at Superchargers along the route. Photos show a Tesla charge port on the rear quarter panel and a familiar Model 3 cabin up front.

The SEMA build is presented as an 11-seat bus. The doors, roof, and most seats are removable, and the rear features a drop-down tailgate, a spare tire, and a hitch receiver.

Build Whatever You Want

The concept is to repurpose used Teslas for specific tasks. Hoffman EV displayed a wall of potential configurations, including delivery vans, pickups with livestock beds, a pop-top camper, a safari-style shuttle, a snow plow, a convertible, and versions towing a boat or hauling an ATV.

Pricing is expected to fall between $26,000 and $77,000, with sales planned for next year. Buyers will be able to purchase a finished Badger or a kit with a VIN and bring their own donor Model 3 or Model Y. Hoffman says it can build about 100 a year for now, and better aerodynamics are planned for early 2027.

Based in Madison, Wisconsin, the company has extensive experience converting vehicles to electric. As one X user pointed out, that portfolio includes a Model 3-powered DeLorean.

Still Waiting on Tesla’s Van

Tesla has hinted at larger vehicles but hasn’t produced one yet. Its 20-seat Robovan was revealed alongside the Cybercab in 2024, but with the Cybercab only now ramping up, there’s no timeline for it. Elon Musk also teased a family hauler that’s “way cooler than a minivan” earlier this year, but nothing has materialized.

Until then, the Badger offers older Model 3s a second life in a form Tesla doesn’t build. More details are expected once Hoffman announces final specifications ahead of sales next year.