All-electric Volkswagen ID.Buzz models make world premiere

MANILA: The new Volkswagen ID. Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo made their world debut last Wednesday, March 9. With Europe's first all-electric bus and transporter series,  Volkswagen is delivering yet another solution to sustainable and CO2-free mobility.  The ID.Buzz is equipped with the most up-to-date ID. software and sets new industry standards in terms of safety, comfort, and charging.

In a statement, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Board of Management Chairman Ralf Brandstatter said, “The ID.Buzz is a genuine icon for the electric era. A car, the likes of which only Volkswagen can build. In the 1950s, the Volkswagen Bulli stood for a new feeling of automotive freedom, independence and great emotion. The ID.Buzz picks up on this lifestyle and transfers it into our time: emission-free, sustainable, fully networked and now ready for the next big chapter: autonomous driving. With this car, we are bringing together the core themes of our Accelerate strategy in one product for the first time.”

The ID.Buzz, like all other models in Volkswagen Passenger Car's ID. family, is based on the Group's Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB) in terms of engineering. The world's first versatile mass production platform for all-electric vehicles serves as a cross-brand foundation for a wide range of models and segments. Its architecture enables progressive software and technological development, which benefits not just new models like the ID.Buzz, but also previous models through over-the-air updates.

The assistance systems in the new model line are developed to ensure easy and safe driving. The Car2X local warning system is standard on the ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo, and it uses signals from other vehicles and the transportation infrastructure to detect hazards in real time. The Front Assist emergency braking feature and Lane Assist are also standard. New assistance functions are being added to the ID. family with the launch of a new software. Travel Assist with Swarm Data is an optional feature that allows for partially automated driving over the entire speed range and, for the first time, assisted lane-changing on the highway. Another new feature is the  Memory Function, which allows for autonomous parking on a previously saved route.

The ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo will be available across Europe with a 77kWh battery. It feeds power to a 150kW electric motor, which drives the rear axle. The battery's position in the sandwich floor, along with the lightweight electric drive system, results in a well-balanced weight distribution and a low vehicle center of gravity. Both of these help improve handling and agility. The lithium ion battery can be charged using 11kW alternating current (AC) from wall boxes or public charging stations. When charged using a CCS plug connector at a direct current (DC) rapid-charging station, the charging power rises to up to 170kW. The battery charge level goes from five to 80% in around 30 minutes when charged this way. The Plug & Charge function will also be available in the future, thanks to the latest ID. software. This function allows the ID.Buzz to use the ISO 15118 standard to authenticate itself at compatible DC rapid-charging stations. This also allows the vehicle to exchange all essential data with the charging station, which is an added convenience. 

The ID.Buzz may also feed unused energy from the battery into the owner's home network through bidirectional charging. A special DC bi-directional wall box will be used for power transfer and communication.

The ID.Buzz's unique styling creates a visual frame around these futuristic technologies. “The T1 – an icon of the 1950s – enabled people to gain mobility and freedom. With the ID.Buzz, we are transferring this T1 DNA to the present day and thus into the era of electric mobility. The ID.Buzz brings a lot of sympathy and proximity to people back to the road,” Volkswagen Design Head Jozef Kaban stated. 

The iconic front, with its V-shaped front panel between the dynamic LED headlights, has always been a trademark of the model series.

With the ID.Buzz' spaciously designed interior, every occupant will surely enjoy the new Bulli vibe. Typical of Bulli, the layout is quite clear, the concept is well-thought-out, and the space usage is optimal. Five passengers have plenty of room for travel and luggage in the MPV version's lounge-like, pleasant atmosphere. The cargo capacity can even be expanded to 2,205 liters when the second-row seats are folded down.

The ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo have a long wheelbase of 2,988mm, which is almost the same as the current T6.1. Both models have a length of 4,712mm. The two versions of ID.Buzz, including the roof aerial, are 1,937mm or 1,938mm tall, depending on the specification. The new model is also 81mm wider than the T6.1 at 1,985mm. Meanwhile, the 11.1-meter turning circle is unusually small.

The ID.Buzz's design follows the core principle of automotive construction: form follows function. The iconic clear forms are complimented by exceptional aerodynamics — the ID.Buzz has a drag coefficient of 0.285, while the ID.Buzz Cargo has 0.29. As a result, energy consumption is reduced while range is increased.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles' flagship plant in Hannover, Germany manufactures the ID.Buzz model range. Most of the electric drive system modules sent to the plant for this purpose will also be manufactured in Germany to the highest quality standards. Since 2022, the Hanover plant has served as a high-tech site for the assembly of all-electric vehicles for the Volkswagen Group. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has also initiated a transformation process across the board to be able to produce more electric models in the future.

The ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo leave the production line as zero-emission vehicles, bearing witness to a mobility decision that allows their owners to address today's climatic concerns.

“Both versions of the ID. Buzz are pioneering in terms of their sustainability: their manufacture and shipping has a carbon-neutral footprint. We are also using recycled synthetic materials and the interior is completely free of any real leather. The ID.Buzz will also be used for future autonomous mobility concepts such as ridepooling — an e-shuttle service of Group subsidiary MOIA that can be booked via an app. The electric Bulli is thus also a part of the future of inner-city transport.” Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Board of Management Chairman Carsten Intra said.

The ID.Buzz and ID.Buzz Cargo will be available in select European markets starting this autumn. Advance sales will begin in May. Volkswagen America will also kick off the comeback of the so-called microbus in the US and Canada.

Photos from Volkswagen

Also read: Volkswagen Group invests €2-B for Project Trinity EV factory