Whether company car driver, fleet manager or board member. Whether for business, commercial or private use. The sight of a Bulli from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is highly likely to make any driver’s heart beat faster.

And no wonder, this classic is just really likeable. What’s more, it has proven its flexibility, performance and qualities in the intervening decades – whether as a people carrier, a multipurpose vehicle and even as a recreational vehicle. So it is also not surprising that the portfolio has been extended to include a new development for the electric age: as a member of the all-electric ID. family, it has completely revamped itself technically thanks to the family’s modular electric drive matrix (MEB). At the same time, this has paved the way for a new design – both outwardly with wonderfully short overhangs and inwardly with a generously spacious interior.

The new ID. Buzz and the new ID. Buzz Cargo

The e-Bulli is available as a five-seater minivan and as a transporter. This dual-purpose function creates the most varied potential uses – while the new ID. Buzz plays more to its strengths as a people carrier or a user chooser model in the professional environment, the new ID. Buzz Cargo is – as its name suggests – designed entirely for commercial use. Like its conventionally powered sibling, it can therefore be conceivably used as a service vehicle with corresponding shelving and product line fittings or as a delivery and courier vehicle, to mention just some scenarios. The two ID. Buzz models benefit from the long wheelbase of just under three metres – incidentally the longest to date to be developed on the MEB platform. The turning circle of just over eleven metres is nonetheless small thanks to the low wheel arches and the large steering angle and is similar to that of a Volkswagen Golf.

In the case of the ID. Buzz, this creates an open space in the interior that puts the focus even more on people and their needs and offers lots of room for driver and passengers as well as numerous storage spaces and interfaces. The sense of space is generous, light and airy. The front seats in the ID. Buzz – and also in the Cargo version – are positioned comparatively high and fitted with armrests. Incidentally, the optional, electrically adjustable comfort seats in the ID. Buzz with its large number of setting options has been honoured for its ergonomics by the Healthy Back Campaign (Aktion Gesunder Rücken, AGR) in Germany.¹⁾

With its long wheelbase, the ID. Buzz also offers a newly designed cargo area concept. Not only does it offer ample space for two transversely loaded euro pallets and a total cargo space of up to 3.9 cubic metres²⁾, the load capacity is also a plus for tradesmen, parcel carriers etc.: the ID. Buzz Cargo can transport up to 650 kg.

Ease of handling: when driving and loading

The ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo are launching across Europe with a 77 kWh (net) battery (gross energy content: 82 kWh). It provides current to a 150 kW electric motor, which – as the flat engine once did in the T1 – drives the wheels on the rear axle. The position of the battery, integrated deep down in the sandwich floor, and the lightweight electric drive system result in a good distribution of weight and a low vehicle centre of gravity. Both factors optimise the handling and agility.

The lithium-ion battery can be charged in various ways. At wall boxes and public charging points that offer AC charging power, a charging output of up to 11 kW is possible depending on the charging capacity of the charging point. The charging process can be completed much faster at a rapid-charging station with direct current (DC) and corresponding charging capacity: With a charging capacity of up to 170 kW, the battery charge level rises from 5 to 80 per cent in about 30 minutes.³⁾

Using the latest ID. software, the model line will also offer the Plug & Charge function in the future. Via this function, the ID. Buzz authenticates itself at compatible DC rapid-charging stations via the charging connector based on the ISO 15118 standard. It also exchanges all necessary data with the charging station in this way – an added convenience.

The new ID. Buzz and the new ID. Buzz Cargo are available now for pre-ordering.