VW Electric Van Available 2022
When Volkswagen revealed its electric van as a concept at the Detroit Auto Show in January 2017, they didn’t say whether they would produce it for sale. However, later that year in December, VW confirmed that the van will, in fact, be available for sale in 2022. (1, 2)
Volkswagen will sell its new electric van, called the I.D. Buzz, in the United States, Europe, and China. The I.D. Buzz is meant to be a clear callback to their original microbus but with a significantly updated look. Many of its outer design features are similar to the microbus, which was at the height of its popularity in the United States in the 1960s and 70s. The I.D. Buzz will also have a two-tone V design on the front, as well as rectangular windows. (2)
But the I.D. Buzz has features that were unheard of in the 1940s when the microbus was first developed. The original microbus had just 30 horsepower, while the I.D. Buzz boasts 369. It has an electric motor on every axle, provI.D.ing all-wheel drive. The I.D. Buzz’s 111 kWh battery pack allows for 300 miles of estimated range. And the VW fast-charge system recharges the battery to 80% capacity in just 30 minutes. (2)
VW’s Electric Future
“For me, the I.D. Buzz concept is the most beautiful and most exciting electric car in the world,” saI.D. Dr. Herbert Diess at the announcement in Pebble Beach, CA. Diess is Volkswagen’s Chairman of the Board of Management. “Our goal is clear: we want to make the fully electric, fully connected car a bestseller around the world. The iconic car of the electric age must be a Volkswagen.” (2)
The I.D. Buzz is just one of four electric concepts that VW has in play. They include a sedan called the I.D. Vizzion, hatchback called the I.D.3, and SUV called the I.D. Crozz. (3)
This electric endeavor follows 2015’s “dieselgate”. Volkswagen confessed to installing software that reduced the readings of harmful emissions in tests in 11 million VW vehicles. Some drivers are now taking legal action, as VW’s actions skirted European emissions standards. Volkswagen’s promotion of electric cars is part of its agreement to repair the damage. (1, 4)
Ongoing Development
While the version of the I.D. Buzz that VW will release in 2022 will undoubtedly be spectacular, its ongoing development promises exciting features. Like Volkswagen’s other electric products, the I.D. Buzz will use a Modular Electric Drive kit. Its design combines components to boost the van’s electric driving ability. The I.D. Buzz has a front trunk, and its three rows of seats can be moved into various configurations to maximize the use of space. (2)
While it won’t be ready in 2022, VW will continue to develop technology to include in future models of the I.D. Buzz. These innovations include an automated pilot mode, popup laser scanners in the roof, a steering wheel that folds up, and the inclusion of augmented reality. (2)
“The I.D. Buzz stands for the new Volkswagen,” Diess said. “We are fully committed to the future of mobility, and we want to reignite America’s love for VW.” (2)