Meet the Production VW ID.Buzz All-Electric Minivan

Discussion in 'In the News' started by xcel, Mar 18, 2022.

  1. xcel

    xcel PZEV, there's nothing like it :) Staff Member

    [​IMG] More fun then the original and far more sustainable.

    Wayne Gerdes – CleanMPG – Mar. 9, 2022

    Meet the all-new VW ID.Buzz

    [​IMG]

    Volkswagen has finally, officially, introduced its ID. Buzz lineup. This EV minivan uses design cues from the iconic T1 Microbus. The short overhangs, spacious interior and two-tone color palette pay homage to the past, while the high-tech interior, sustainably crafted design features, and EV technology makes it a vehicle of the future.

    The ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo will come onto the market in the first few European countries as a 2023 in the third quarter of this year. The features and specifications that follow apply to European models; details for the U.S. version will be available closer to launch sometime in late 2023 as a 2024.

    With the ID. Buzz, Volkswagen accelerates its transformation to EVs. Volkswagen’s new ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo are based on the Group’s Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB). The MEB is the world's first scalable large-production-run platform, and it provides the basis for all sorts of different models and segments. At present, 30 percent of all EVs in the Group are already based on the MEB. By 2025, it’s planned to be more than 80 percent. For VW Commercial Vehicles, the all-electric ID. Buzz is an important building block to help reduce the carbon footprint of the whole product portfolio.

    The first European versions of the ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo will come to market with a high-voltage Li-Ion battery providing gross energy content of 82 kWh (77 kWh net) supplying a 201 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque electric motor driving the rear wheels. More battery versions with various power output levels are expected to follow in 2023.

    The battery is mounted in the floor of the vehicle, giving the ID. Buzz agile handling for a vehicle of its size. To home charge, an onboard 11 KW charger is ready for the L2 in your garage. At a DCFC’er, the power increases to 170 kW. With DC-fast charging, the battery charge level rises from 5 to 80 percent in as little as 30 minutes. Using the latest software, the ID. Buzz model line will offer the Plug & Charge.

    For Europe, bi-directional charging will enable the new ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo to feed power back into the domestic grid (vehicle-to-home). In the future, this can also make the power available for stabilizing the grid. The power transfer and communication take place via an optional DC bi-directional wall box.

    ID.Buzz Exterior

    The ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo are launching in Europe in the normal-wheelbase form. In 2023, extended wheelbase versions of both ID. Buzz models will arrive on the European market: the U.S. version, arriving in 2024, will be based off the long-wheelbase passenger model.

    The ID.Buzz is built off a standard 117.6 in wheelbase that is 185.5 in long, 76.3 in tall, and 78.1 in wide excluding mirrors.

    The short body overhangs provide an unusually small turning circle of just 36.4 ft.

    The ID. Buzz uses styled LEDs headlamps and DRLs with a slim lateral bar between the headlights. At the back, the ID. Buzz has horizontally arranged LED taillamps, which are connected to one another by a full-width light strip for the first time on a VW Commercial Vehicles model.

    VW Commercial Vehicles will be offering the ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo both in the base colors and with a variety of two-tone finishes for European markets. The spectrum consists of a total of eleven color variants: seven single-color options—‘Candy White’, ‘Mono Silver’, ‘Lime Yellow’, ‘Starlight Blue’, ‘Energetic Orange’, ‘Bay Leaf Green’, and ‘Deep Black’—and four two-tone options. On two-tone ID. Buzz models, the upper section, including roof and V-shaped hood, is finished in ‘Candy White’, while the areas below the character line are in a choice of four shades: ‘Lime Yellow’, ‘Starlight Blue’, ‘Energetic Orange’ or ‘Bay Leaf Green’. Exterior mirrors and door handles are finished in body color.

    Both European ID. Buzz versions will come with 18” steel wheels while passenger models arrive with 18 to range robbing 21” alloys.

    ID.Buzz Interior

    The std. length ID. Buzz features a spacious cabin with five seats. Driver and front-seat passenger sit on individual seats with adjustable armrests. In top trims, the seats are electrically adjustable and have both memory and massage functions. Front seats can be adjusted up to 9.6 in forward and aft, and 2.4 in in height. A three-person bench seat in the rear can be folded down completely or split 40:60, and it can be moved lengthways a total of 5.9 in. A fold-down table located in the backs of the front seats add to the ID Buzz’s utility. An optional height-adjustable trunk floor creates a level load space surface. The upward-opening rear hatch reveals 39.6 cu ft of luggage space behind the rear seats. Two minivan based side sliding doors standard.

    On the standard wheelbase, a six-seat configuration will arrive later with individual seats arranged in three rows of two. With the extended wheelbase, a seven-seat configuration will also be available in a 2/3/2 arrangement.

    The ID. Buzz Cargo will launch with three seats as standard and have an optional individual seat for the front-seat passenger. Behind the seats is a fixed partition, separating off the cargo space. This partition will be optionally available with a window and an opening for loading items. The cargo space measures a massive 137.7 cu ft and provides room for two pallets. Loads can be secured via lashing rings in the floor and bars on the side walls. The new ID. Buzz Cargo is fitted with a wide-opening tailgate and a sliding door on the passenger side. It will be possible to configure the van with a second sliding door as an option.


    The cockpit of the ID. Buzz includes a standard 10” driver display paired with a 10” central infotainment display. A 12” display with navigation is optional. Both the Digital Cockpit and infotainment system are connected with the instrument panel only at the bottom, looking like free-floating tablets. Beneath the infotainment system is a control bar with digital buttons and touch sliders. The touch sliders are used to regulate temperature and volume, while the buttons provide direct access to menus for the dual-zone Climatronic HVAC settings, driver assist systems, driving profiles, and the parking functions.


    The transmission is operated via a steering column stalk: turn it forwards from the neutral position ‘N’ to ‘D’ for drive and back from ‘N’ to ‘R’ for reverse. To the left of the multifunction steering wheel, there is an island of digital controls for activating the light functions, as well as heating and defrost for the windshield and rear window. To the right of the steering wheel are two USB-C plugs and a tray for wireless charging. In the center console there are two more USB-C plugs; there is a fifth in the front passenger door, another in each of the two sliding doors, and one by the rearview mirror for a dash cam. Two cupholders fold out from the lower dashboard area. In the ID. Buzz Cargo, there are two more cupholders near the A-pillars.

    VW ID.Buzz Driver View

    [​IMG]

    VW Commercial has developed an optional movable and removable center console specifically for the ID. Buzz. In its upper section, it provides storage bins, a 1.5 quart flip-lid compartment, and a 1.3 gallon drawer to accommodate tablets or laptops. In the two-seat Cargo and five-seat ID. Buzz, the center console is latched in place between the driver’s seat and front passenger seat. On the six-seat ID. Buzz, it can also be placed in the middle of the second seating row. It can be easily taken out and fitted back in.

    The new ID. Buzz comes with the interactive ‘ID. Light’. It stretches across in front of the windshield in the driver's field of vision above the instrument panel and gives the driver information based on the color and position of the light signal. For example, a signal in the right-hand area of the strip advises of obstructions in this area or corresponds with a navigation instruction to change lanes. When ‘ID. Light’ goes red, it is signaling danger and the need to brake.

    The ID. Buzz also features standard 10-color ambient lighting, with 30 colors as optional. The 30-color version lights up a strip in the instrument panel, the decorative strips in the four doors, the storage bins in the doors and the footwell. The Digital Cockpit and the infotainment system also take on the chosen base shade. In addition, two colors can be combined in each case for the different zones, and a ‘Mood Menu’ activates preconfigured lighting profiles.

    In Europe, the base interior trim for the ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo is called ‘Soul’. Four ‘Mistral’ interior trim options feature the two-tone finishes found on the exterior. ‘Candy White’ is used in for the instrument panel, the door trim around the inserts, the seats’ outer panels and backs, and optionally even the steering wheel, while ‘X-Blue’, ‘Orange’, ‘Yellow’, and ‘Green’ can be found in the dashboard and upper section of the door inserts, as well as the seat inner panels.

    ID.Buzz Driver Assist Systems

    The European five-seater ID. Buzz models are equipped w/ Front Assist, Lane Assist, and Dynamic Road Sign Display. Optional systems include Adaptive Cruise Control, Side Assist, Travel Assist, Emergency Assist, Park Assist, Light Assist, and Area View.

    ID.Buzz Sustainability

    VW’s ID. Buzz has been designed with sustainability in mind including no leather in the vehicle. The steering wheel cover is made of polyurethane, but looks just as high quality as leather and provides a similar feel. The materials used for the seat covers, floor coverings and roof liner of the ID. Buzz incorporate recycled material. There will be a fabric made of what is known as Seaqual yarn, with fibers consisting of 10 percent collected ocean plastic and 90 percent recycled PET bottles.

    The two new ID. Buzz models will also use organically based vehicle paint and forgoes cobalt in the high-voltage battery. The company’s sustainability measures include a plant that recycles the high-voltage batteries at the end of their automotive life cycle to prepare them for a second use. VW Commercial provides a guarantee of eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first, for the ID. Buzz battery.

    [​IMG]

    ID.Buzz Production

    The new ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo models are being produced by VW Commercial at its main plant in Hannover, Germany.

    The majority of the ID. Buzz electric drive system modules are also made in Germany. The modules including the electric motor, the axles and the battery system are being produced at the components factories in Kassel, Braunschweig, Salzgitter and Hannover. The ID. Buzz is the first model in VW’s family of EVs for which VW is making the axles. This is being done in an assembly hall specifically set up for the purpose at the Hannover-Barsinghausen site with 200 employees.


    Long term, Hannover also plans to produce the battery system for the ID. Buzz, currently made in Braunschweig and the company is currently investing around 100 million euros in the construction of the battery system assembly.

    Start of European ID. Buzz Cargo production: First half of 2022
    Start of European ID. Buzz production: First half of 2022
    European launch: Q3 of 2022
    Start of advance sales in Europe: May 2022
    North American debut of long wheelbase: 2023
    North American sales launch: 2024

    Drive system

    Type: RWD
    Max. Power and Torque: 201 hp and 229 lb-ft
    Battery capacity: 77 KWh Useable
    L2 Charging: 11 kWh
    L3 DCFC: Up to 170 kWh

    The ID. Buzz is not the first ‘Bus with an electric drivetrain—50 years ago at the Hannover Trade Fair, Volkswagen showed a T2 powered by a rear-mounted electric motor with a maximum range of 52.8 miles.

    The idea for the movable and removable center console of the production ID. Buzz originated in the 2017 I.D. BUZZ Detroit concept car.

    VW ID.Buzz

    [​IMG]

    Will this be the vehicle that places VW back on the map? The VW Microbus is still an icon today. The VW ID.Buzz sure has a shot at becoming the next Driveway icon. Woodstock III anyone? ;)
     
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  2. EdwinTheMagnificent

    EdwinTheMagnificent Legend In His Mind

    Axing the Golf took VW off the map.
    Sorry , VW.
     
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  3. Trollbait

    Trollbait Well-Known Member

    The cheating didn't?
     
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  4. BillLin

    BillLin electric everything with solar and geothermal

    Who says cheaters never prosper? It seems much of the company was forced to invest in EVs and electrification has taken off worldwide.
     
    xcel likes this.
  5. EdwinTheMagnificent

    EdwinTheMagnificent Legend In His Mind

    Yeah , I'm still a bit miffed at VW for killing affordable diesel cars in North America.
    BMW and Mercedes make some great diesels , but affordable ?

    I wouldn't give VW any credit for electrification , the momentum and demand was already
    growing. I do give them some credit for the excellent EA charging network.
     
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  6. BillLin

    BillLin electric everything with solar and geothermal

    Absolutely. Imagine if VW hadn't been caught? Let's hope VW will make the "People's Car" again, now in EV form.

    Having the inside advantage with EA is another reward for their cheating, albeit created with their funds.
     
  7. Trollbait

    Trollbait Well-Known Member

    It killed the affordable ones before they were caught. Anyone else remember Honda trying to get a diesel Accord US legal after they cancelled the first hybrid?
     
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  8. xcel

    xcel PZEV, there's nothing like it :) Staff Member

    Hi Trollbait:
    Oh yes we do. ;)

    2007 Honda Civic iCDTi

    [​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]

    Wayne
     
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  9. xcel

    xcel PZEV, there's nothing like it :) Staff Member

    Hi Edwin:

    I suspect we will at some time in the future receive the award winning ID.3 - the real all-electric Golf imho, that is selling extremely well in Europe. The 77 KWh traction battery in it might actually propel it to 350+ miles if its aero was cleaned up even more.

    Strong performance of the all-electric Volkswagen ID.3 after its first year in the European market: The car is an absolute hit as more than 70,000 were sold through last fall.

    2022 European VW ID.3

    [​IMG]

    The ratio of new customers that do not own other VW models that are purchasing the ID.3 is around 36 percent. In the first half of 2021, strong demand for the ID.3 and other ID. models made VW the market leader for battery-electric vehicles in Europe. In August, the car was the most popular electric car in many markets including Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Austria and Switzerland. In order to meet the strong demand, some 1,200 of the best-selling electric cars are leaving the production lines in Zwickau and Dresden every day, with Zwickau operating three shifts on both production lines. Moreover, production for the local market has started in Anting in China – the car will be launched on the Chinese market in the fall of this year.

    VW recently surveyed its ID.3 customers in Germany about the reasons for their purchase and their user behavior. The main criteria for buying or leasing an ID.3 were environmental performance (60 percent) and innovative technology (51 percent). Another important criterion for customers was the personal support provided by VW’s dealer and service network. And I bet today, the vast majority are saying to F Putin and get off the addiction.

    ID.3 production in Zwickau and Dresden is also net carbon-neutral. By 2030, at least 70 percent of all VW sales in Europe will be all-electric vehicles – that’s substantially more than one million vehicles. In North America and China, the share of electric vehicles in sales should be at least 50 percent. In addition, Volkswagen will be launching at least one new electric car each year.

    Wayne
     
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  10. EdwinTheMagnificent

    EdwinTheMagnificent Legend In His Mind

    That's more like it. Will we see this car here in the USA ?
     
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  11. Trollbait

    Trollbait Well-Known Member

    Not soon because of production limits. I think VW has enough demand in the markets where the ID.3 is already sold that moving to new ones isn't needed at this time. It's a similar case to the Outlander PHEV. US introduction kept getting delayed, because Mitsubishi was selling everything they could make already.

    We eventually got the Outlander PHEV. The Golf was popular in the US, and the ID.3 is its EV successor. Plus, consumer tastes will swing back to actual cars at some point.
     
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  12. EdwinTheMagnificent

    EdwinTheMagnificent Legend In His Mind

    Gawd , I hope so.
     
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  13. BillLin

    BillLin electric everything with solar and geothermal

    All I want is a station wagon to haul stuff. Something more efficient than what is currently out there though. I'll take one of those shooting brake EVs. :D
     
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  14. EdwinTheMagnificent

    EdwinTheMagnificent Legend In His Mind

    Yeah , but who makes one ?
     
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  15. BillLin

    BillLin electric everything with solar and geothermal

    upload_2022-3-22_11-4-5.png
     
    xcel likes this.
  16. BillLin

    BillLin electric everything with solar and geothermal

    Here's another possible future wagon.

    Screenshot_20220323-191822.png

    p.s. funny thing... I probably won't be able to afford either...
     
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  17. EdwinTheMagnificent

    EdwinTheMagnificent Legend In His Mind

    I don't think I like the 25" wheels.

    Or maybe 28s on the Avant.
     
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  18. BillLin

    BillLin electric everything with solar and geothermal

    Since I cannot afford the car anyway, why not huge, aero, carbon-fiber wheels?

    upload_2022-3-24_10-28-41.png
     
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  19. litesong

    litesong litesong

    Yeah, can I get 4 used, LESS huge, aero, carbon-fiber wheels with 4 mounted used, but good tires on the used market for $100, yet? I might have been in the market, but right now, I can’t even afford used stuff.
     
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  20. xcel

    xcel PZEV, there's nothing like it :) Staff Member

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