Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is currently going through the final phase of trials of the ID. Buzz prototypes.
The pre-production fleet is touring Europe, marking the final test runs under everyday conditions between Barcelona, Paris, London, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Hamburg and Hannover.
Kai Grünitz, Head of Vehicle Development at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles: “Before we start full production of the ID. Buzz, these final trials with vehicles practically matching the ultimate full-production specification provide us with indispensable input for the final fine-tuning.”
The ID. Buzz prototypes are now only slightly disguised. It is becoming noticeable that the designers have transferred the styling of the 2017 concept car to the 2022 full-production version – the similarities are striking.
Both ID. Buzz versions also draw on the stylistic elements of the legendary T1, the original Bulli. Those elements include extremely short vehicle body overhangs, maximum utilisation of space on a minimal footprint, the classic division of the vehicle body design into an upper and lower level, plus the unmistakable face with its V-shape. And just like the original Bulli, the ID. Buzz too has rear-wheel drive.
The new model line is based on the Volkswagen Group’s Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB).
Both ID. Buzz versions are launching this year with a high-voltage lithium-ion battery providing gross energy content of 82 kWh (net: 77 kWh). The battery supplies a 150 kW electric motor, which is integrated in the rear axle, which it also drives.
The top speed is electronically limited at 145kph. Official figures for range are not yet available.
Thanks to the space-saving MEB concept, the ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo promise good utilisation of space. The five-seater ID. Buzz takes up to 1,121 litres of luggage even with all seats occupied. The maximum load capacity of the ID. Buzz Cargo, fitted with a partition wall, is over 3.9 m3.
The model line will in future offer the "Plug & Charge" function. Using this function, the ID. Buzz authenticates itself at many providers’ (DC) quick-charging stations via the charging connector, exchanging all necessary data with it in this way – a much more convenient arrangement.
And there is going to be another new feature: bidirectional charging. This technology opens up a whole new spectrum of possibilities. One example: It will from now on be possible to store excess power from a home’s own solar panels in the ID. Buzz and to feed it back into the home in the evening in order to be independent even without the sun.
