Volkswagen begins sales of all-electric ID. Buzz in Europe

MANILA: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has begun ID. Buzz sales in Europe. Volkswagen ID. Buzz comes in two variants: the ID. Buzz MPV and the ID. Buzz Cargo van.

Volkswagen ID. Buzz features an iconic, bold, and welcoming look. The aerodynamic body’s short overhangs match aesthetically with its nimble drive qualities.

Both ID. Buzz variants are built on Volkswagen Group’s Modular Electric Drive Matrix (MEB). In the ID. Buzz, the MEB system is composed of a permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PSM), a power electronics unit, an automatic single-speed gearbox, and 12 lithium-ion battery modules. The power electronics unit controls the high-voltage energy flow between the motor and the battery by converting the stored direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC). A DC/DC converter provides 12V power in tandem with the on-board electronics.

The electric motor, which is built inside the driven rear axle, produces 201hp. The instant 229lb-ft of torque guarantees great acceleration with a 0-100kph time of 10.2 seconds. Electronic limits set a 144kph top speed. The ID. Buzz is rated in Germany's highest efficiency category, A+++.

A connection point on the vehicle's nearside rear allows for charging of the lithium-ion high-voltage battery. The battery can charge from 0 to 100% at a rate of 11kW for seven hours and 30 minutes. The ID. Buzz may be charged at DC fast-charging stations at up to 170kW. In this instance, it takes about 30 minutes to charge the battery from 0 to 80%.

With the latest Volkswagen ID. 3.2 software, the ID. Buzz has the ability to Plug & Charge at compatible DC fast-charging stations. Additionally, ID. 3.2 makes route planning for long trips easier by intelligently and automatically including the charging stations into the route. The routing algorithm for this has improved in the latest version.

The system also has updated settings options for individual preferences, such as a charging time optimization function to avoid charging for an excessively long time at the final charging stop before a destination. It will also be possible to access the Apple Music and Spotify streaming services through the infotainment system whether or not the smartphone is linked. The ID. Buzz's user-friendly voice control system, known as “Hello ID.,” has also received a premium upgrade with the latest software update. Over-the-air updates are used to keep the ID. Buzz's operating system and software up to date.

Volkswagen ID. Buzz comes standard with Front Assist with pedestrian and cyclist monitoring, PreCrash occupant protection including pre-tensioning the safety belts, Car2X that uses swarm data to provide warnings of dangers in the surroundings, and PreCrash occupant protection. The ID. Buzz Pro also comes with Dynamic Road Sign Display and Lane Assist. The two latest systems are available as options: Park Assist Plus with memory function for automated parking and Travel Assist with swarm data utilization and assisted lane changing.

The core concept of the suspension serves as the foundation for unprecedented levels of comfort and safety. There is a strut-type setup up front and a complex multi-link setup at the back. The vehicles' wide tracks measure 65.9 inches and 65.7 inches, respectively, despite the fact that both axles are quite small. The wide track width at the back allows for plenty of space to transfer loads through between the wheel arches. The five-seater's cargo area measures 47.4 inches by 48.4 inches.

18-, 19-, 20-, and 21-inch wheels are available for Volkswagen ID. Buzz, while only 21-inch wheels are available for Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo. The ID. Buzz's agility is increased by the fact that the front tires are always narrower than the rear ones. Depending on the size of the wheels, the front brake discs can be up to 15 inches in diameter. Both vehicles have wear-resistant drum brakes at the back.

The ID. Buzz is capable of braking without using friction. The process converts the kinetic energy into electric energy, which is then sent to the battery. As soon as the driver takes their foot off the drive pedal while the ID. Buzz is in automated mode “D” (Drive), the ID. Buzz moves forward smoothly and without resistance, thanks to the electric motor. Here, the vehicle's rolling extends the range. The ID. Buzz slows down as soon as the driver releases the drive pedal in automatic mode “B” (Brake). Now that the recovery effect is so strong, the conventional brakes are scarcely ever needed. This is especially useful during downhill areas because a lot of energy is recovered. The electric brake servo is vital in this situation because the ID. Buzz only uses its drive system to brake up to about 0.30g.

The design concept of the original ID. Buzz show car that made its debut at Detroit in 2017 has been assiduously maintained for the full production version. This features the unique V-shaped hood that resembles the vintage T1 Bus, the incredibly short overhangs, the maximum space utilization on a minimal vehicle footprint, and the division of the bodywork design into an upper and lower level. In  the T1, design came after function, and the ID. Buzz is no different. The ID. Buzz's exceptional aerodynamics go hand in hand with its classic, clean look. It has a drag coefficient of 0.29. This contributes to increased range and reduced electric power consumption.

A slim lateral LED bar is positioned between the stunning LED headlights. The enormous VW logo in the center of the bar pays tribute to the classic T1 Bus. The ID. Buzz is the first Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles model to feature horizontal LED tail lights joined end to end by a light strip. The IQ.Light - LED matrix headlights are also available as an option for the ID. Buzz.

The ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo are available in standard colors as well as a variety of two-tone finishes. They come in 11 color variants: Candy White, Mono Silver, Lime Yellow, Starlight Blue, Energetic Orange, Bay Leaf Green, Deep Black, and four two-tone paintwork colors. The upper section of the Bulli, which includes the roof and V-shaped hood, will always be painted in Candy White if one of the two-tone painting treatments is chosen. There are four metallic colors available for the portions below the character line that wrap around the entire vehicle: Lime Yellow, Starlight Blue, Energetic Orange, or Bay Leaf Green.

In the five-seater ID. Buzz, the driver and front passenger sit in separate seats with internal adjustable armrests. The front seats in higher specification variants also feature armrests on the outside. The top variants of the seats are fully electrically adjustable and include massage and memory functions. The front seats have independent adjustments for height and length of up to 2.4 inches each. The rear triple bench seat can be divided 60:40 and folded down. The rear bench seat can also be moved 5.9 inches horizontally, either in its entirety or split 60:40, to add more legroom or luggage capacity. The MPV comes standard with two sliding doors. They can be opened and closed electrically as an option. With five passengers, there is 39.6 cubic feet of luggage space behind the second row, increasing to 77.9 cubic feet when the second-row seat is folded. The five-seater ID. Buzz has a payload capacity of 1,166 pounds.

Meanwhile, the ID. Buzz Cargo comes with three seats in the cab: the driver’s seat and a double bench seat. An individual seat for the front passenger is also available for the ID. Buzz Cargo as an option. Behind the seats, there is a fixed divider separating the cargo area from the passenger area. The option to have a window or opening through which items can be loaded is accessible for this partition. The ID. Buzz Cargo can carry up to 1,429 pounds of cargo. There are lashing rings in the floor and rails on the side walls to secure loads.

Volkswagen ID. Buzz offers a high, comfortable, and commanding seating position. The instrument panel is positioned high in order to accommodate that. A free-standing 5.3 inch ID. Cockpit display serves as the cockpit in front of the driver. The Ready 2 Discover infotainment system, which has a standard 10-inch touchscreen, is located at the center of the dashboard. A 12-inch screen is available with the optional Discover Pro navigation system. App-Connect (including App-Connect Wireless) for integration with smartphones and DAB+ (digital radio) are both included as standard features, depending on the variant.

Volkswagen ID. Buzz comes with the Online Connectivity Unit (OCU)  with a fixed SIM card (eSIM). gThe OCU gives the ID. Buzz access to a wide range of online services and vehicle features offered through We Connect and We Connect Plus. The We Connect features are available at no cost for an unlimited period. The We Connect Plus service is offered for free for one year without a navigation system and is included as standard for three years with the Discover Pro navigation system.

The latest version of We Connect offers Temperature Guidance and Battery Care Mode. Temperature Guidance sends a reminder to recharge the battery when there is a cold weather forecast and it is low on charge. Battery Care Mode, on the other hand, maximizes the high-voltage battery's service life. The maximum charge level is set to 80% if the Battery Care Mode is activated. Battery Care Mode can be manually turned off as needed, such as during long trips, so the battery can be fully charged. We Connect Plus' navigation feature, Online POI Search, has also been improved. Buzz owners will soon have the option to individually purchase and download additional apps and services through the infotainment system’s in-car shop.

“No other vehicle manufacturer has a comparable all-electric MPV and van duo in their portfolio. The avant-garde technology and design concept of the ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo are globally unique,” Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Chief Executive Officer Carsten Intra stated.

The ID. Buzz MPV comes with up to eight USB-C ports. Two of them are located at the right of the steering wheel, along with a tray for a smartphone with an inductive charging function. Additional USB-C ports can be found in the front-passenger door and, depending on the variant, in the rear-view mirror mount. The two sliding doors, as well as the sides of the cargo compartment, all have USB-C ports.

The ID. Buzz Cargo, on the other hand, is fitted with up to five USB-C ports. Two of them are located above the smartphone tray, one in the front-passenger door, and one that works with the rain sensor in the rear-view mirror mount. All USB-C ports, except for the 15-watt port on the rear-view mirror mount, use the latest USB Power Delivery (USB-PD) charging standard, which can deliver up to 45 watts. This makes it possible for laptops or other rechargeable devices to charge three times as fast as when plugged into regular USB-C ports. A 230-volt plug for larger electrical equipment is available as an option and is located within the frame of the front-passenger seat.

The five-seater ID. Buzz includes the interactive ID. Light, just like all other models in Volkswagen's electric vehicle lineup. The narrow, illuminated strip stretches across in front of the windshield in the driver's field of vision above the instrument panel.  The ID. Light provides the driver with easy-to-understand information. The position and color of the light signal make this intuitive recognition and evaluation of the information especially easy. For instance, Two illustrations: a signal on the right of the light strip indicates obstructions in front of the ID. Buzz based on color. However, if the ID. Light continuously flashes red, it shows a warning: Beware! Brake!

“The ID. Buzz appeals to all sorts of different customers — families, people who need lots of space for their hobby, plus business owners and the manual trades. People opting for the ID. Buzz will be just as likely coming across from an SUV or the van world as Bus fans who want to go electric. This model is therefore of exceptional importance for Volkswagen and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles,” Volkswagen AG Management Board Member and High-Volume Brand Group Head Thomas Schafer said.

The ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo are being manufactured at the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles headquarters in Hannover, Germany.

Photos from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles

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