Volkswagen ID Buzz 2022: fully-electric Kombi successor with 402km range revealed

---

Volkswagen has revealed the ID Buzz van that offers a spiritual successor to the iconic T1 ‘Kombi’ with fully-electric underpinnings – and an Australian release in future is on the cards.

The ID Buzz electric van will be sold globally in both people mover trim and in a commercial-minded ID Buzz Cargo variant with closed in windows – with both models serving as zero tailpipe emission alternatives to Volkswagen’s T6.2 van range.

Volkswagen Australia general manager of corporate communications Paul Pottinger told Chasing Cars that the brand would soon make an announcement on its Australian electric car model strategy, and said that the ID Buzz was “of interest” to the Australian business.

It comes as multiple car manufacturers look to electrify their commercial vehicle line-up with the Ford Transit, Peugeot Expert and Mercedes-Benz Vito all featuring an electric option. 

Volkswagen said it plans to offer more versions in the future, including a smaller battery option known as the ID Buzz Pure and a long-wheelbase option with a larger battery and the capacity for seven seats in 2023.

Arguably the most anticipated variant will be the ID Buzz California camper van which will be released in 2024, following the success of the Transporter– and Caddy-based California vans.

Later this decade, it is also expected that Volkswagen will electrify its larger Crafter van line that sits above both the ID Buzz and the T6.2 range in size and capability.

ID Buzz battery range, charging and motor outputs

Sitting atop the same MEB electric car platform as Volkswagen’s ID3 small car and ID4 midsize SUV – plus the confirmed-for-Australia Cupra Born hot hatch –  the ID Buzz is rear-wheel drive and will be fitted from launch with a 77kWh usable battery providing around 402km of range, Volkswagen says.

Once flat, the ID Buzz can be recharged using a DC charger at speeds of up to 170kW, allowing the battery to be recharged from 5-80% (from 20km to 321km of range) in 30 minutes.

Away from ultra-rapid chargers, the charging speeds for the ID Buzz vary depending on the infrastructure available – but AC charging speeds are capped at 11kW:

• 170kW ultra-rapid DC charging: 20km to 321km range in 30 minutes
• 11kW three-phase AC: 0km to 402km range in seven hours
• 7kW single-phase AC: 0km to 402km range in 11 hours
• 2kW three-pin power point: 0km to 402km range in 38 hours

In the vein of the iconic Kombi, the ID Buzz is rear-wheel-drive. Power is rated at 150kW, while there is 310Nm of torque available underfoot. Volkswagen says that the positioning of the motor on the rear axle allows the turning circle to be minimised to 11.1m – nearly 10 percent smaller than that of a diesel-engined Transporter.

Interior space and features

The ID Buzz is similar in size to the aforementioned Transporter, with a a similar 2988 mm wheelbase (-12mm) and 1938mm hight (+18mm), though the EV is noticeably shorter at 4712mm (-96mm) and wider at 1985mm (+81mm).

The five-seat van has 1121-litres of boot storage when all the seats are in place and a huge 2205-litres when the second row is folded flat – while the two-seat ID Buzz Cargo has enough floor space to store two Euro pallets.

The ID Buzz is loaded with a range of safety features including Car2X’ local warning system which uses Wi-Fi to alert the driver of road hazards within 800m using signs from other cars and traffic infrastructure.