VW ID. Buzz: Electric car takes legendary T1 Bulli into the new century

The legendary VW T1, also known as the “Bulli”, enjoys cult status. With the newly introduced VW ID. Buzz, Volkswagen is bringing the minivan into the new century and launching a purely electric version of the classic. You can find all the info in our article.

VW ID. Buzz as Bulli successor

The name VW ID. Buzz almost amounts to a stroke of genius, because automaker VW Commercial Vehicles (VWN), headquartered in Hanover, Germany, thus combines the manufacturer’s ID line with the modern expression “Buzz,” which is presumably to be seen as a youthful borrowing of the “bus.”

For VWN, the electric Bulli is likely to mark the most important model launch of the year, as the legendary T1 has a cult following. Since its debut in 2017, they have taken their time and are finally launching the all-electric mini-bus. Visually, the ID. Buzz has many parallels to the iconic T1, but shows off a modernized front end that represents the e-car age. It is optionally available with a two-tone paint finish.

The technology of the VW ID. Buzz

In purely technical terms, the VW ID. Buzz is based on VW’s modular e-drive system (MEB). Realized is a power of 150 kW, which is called as in the original exclusively via the rear axle. The top speed is 145 km/h.

The ID. Buzz and the ID. Buzz Cargo come with a 77 kWh battery (82 kWh gross). The lithium-ion battery is charged at wallboxes and public charging points with 11 kW alternating current (AC). Using a CCS plug at a DC fast charging station (direct current), the charging power increases to up to 170 kW. This allows the battery to be charged from 5 percent to 80 percent in just 30 minutes.

The series will also be equipped with the latest ID. Software will also offer the “Plug & Charge” function in the future. In this process, the ID. Buzz authenticates itself via charging plug at compatible DC fast charging stations with the ISO-15118 standard and thus exchanges all necessary data with the charging point. Bidirectional charging enables the ID. Buzz to feed unneeded energy from the battery into the customer’s home network (vehicle-to-home).

Modern interior and good handling

Since the battery of the VW ID. Buzz models is located in the floor, this lowers the center of gravity, which benefits handling. Inside, the E-Bulli relies on a modern appearance along with ample space in the front and rear. Five people have plenty of room in the lounge-like, friendly ambience of the bus version, while the trunk has a volume of 1,121 liters. If the second row of seats is folded down, the load volume increases to up to 2,205 liters.

The VW ID. Buzz Cargo is presumably aimed more at companies and tradesmen and is even more versatile. It offers a choice of two or three seats in the front and has a fixed partition to the 3.9 m³ cargo space. According to VW, this should allow two Euro pallets with cargo to be loaded crosswise.

At the top of the steering wheel, a 5.3-inch display shows speed and other values. Depending on the model, there is also a 10-inch or a 12-inch touchscreen in the center that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A total of eight USB-C ports can be found in the ID. Buzz, located to the right of the steering wheel, in the passenger door, in the sliding doors and in the cargo area. A Qi charging pad is also offered.

Prices and Availability

The VW ID. Buzz and the ID. Buzz Cargo are scheduled to go on pre-sale as early as May 2022 and hit the market this fall. They will kick off with the VW ID. Buzz 01 with five seats and 1,121 liters of trunk volume, with other models with six and seven seats to follow later. Volkswagen has not yet provided details on prices.