Over the past two years, we’ve seen lots of photos and learned lots of little details about Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz. But, the final details were only recently released in A press release by the company. In this article, I will share some of these details with you.
Volkswagen says the ID. Buzz reflects a new era for the automobile. Two versions are available to order: the ID. Buzz MPV for families, and the ID. Buzz Cargo van for commercial users. Sales of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles have started in Europe, with the first vehicles expected to be delivered this fall.
Although it’s relatively big and tall (compared to most EVs), the efficiency picture isn’t great. The tight overhangs of the aerodynamic body (CD 0.29) are visually related to the agile driving characteristics. The 150 kW (201 horsepower) electric motor produces a maximum torque of 310 Nm (229 lb-ft) almost immediately after starting. Because it is rear-wheel drive, the steering is also free from any effect of the power system. To lower the center of gravity and minimize body roll, the 77 kWh (net) battery is embedded deep into the vehicle floor. With the weight evenly distributed throughout the car, handling is more precise. Additionally, with a tight turning radius of just 11.1 meters (36.4 feet), the ID. Buzz is perfect for those who frequently drive around town.
The identity. Buzz’s range on the combined WLTP cycle is 263 miles. The buzz range is up to 263 miles, while the ID. Buzz Cargo has a distance of 264 miles. Using an 11 kW on-board charger, the battery can be charged at home, at work or at public AC charging stations. IDENTIFIER. Buzz can draw up to 170kW from DC fast chargers, charging from 5% to 80% in just 30 minutes. Vehicles also have “Plug & Charge” capability; which enables automatic activation and billing when connected to an electric vehicle (EV) charger (included).
In early press releases, VW promised fully autonomous driving, but the industry has discovered in recent years that the problem is harder to solve than they thought. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have helpful automated systems. Assistance systems include Forward Collision Warning with Pedestrian and Cyclist Monitoring (Autonomous Emergency Braking), which provides automated emergency braking when an accident is imminent. Driver assistance technologies such as Car2X (immediate hazard alert) and Front Assist with pedestrian and cyclist monitoring are now available in Europe.
The ID is the vehicle identification number. The latest Volkswagen ID was installed in all Buzz vehicles during production. Over-the-air software updates allow these technologies to improve for existing cars without the need for modifications or a visit to the dealership.
“L identity. Buzz is aimed at all kinds of different customers – families, people who need a lot of space for their hobby, as well as business owners and manual trades,” says Thomas Schäfer , Board Member of Volkswagen AG and Head of the High Volume Brand Group “People who go for the ID. Buzz will be just as likely to come from an SUV or van world as fans of buses that want to go electric, so this model is of exceptional importance for Volkswagen and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.
Both vehicles are nearly identical in size. The length of the Buzz models is identical. The wheelbase is also long, at 177.7 inches. The area between the axles is used to its greatest potential. Depending on the variant, the ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo has a height of 75.9 to 76.8 inches (excluding exterior mirrors). The threshold for loading the ID. Buzz and ID .Buzz Cargo is weak.
The spacious ID. Buzz is suitable for both leisure and professional use. The driver and front passengers sit in individual seats with standard adjustable interior armrests. The 3-seater bench seat in the rear is split 40/60, with folding backrests. It is also possible to extend the two sections of the bench seat by 5.9 inches lengthwise for more legroom or additional luggage capacity. The MPV comes with two standard sliding doors. When five people are on board, there’s 39.6 cubic feet of luggage space behind the second row which expands to 77.9 cubic feet when the second row is folded down.
Buzz, on the other hand, is a bit stuffy. It is derived from the German word “buzz” and implies “intellectual buzz”. Originally created by transportation service Uber in 2012, Buzz Cargo was an attempt to merge two distinct ideas: “Uber-like technology for trucks,” according to Fortune magazine. The identity. Buzz is equipped with permanent magnet synchronous motors (PSM), power electronics units, single-speed automatic gearboxes, 12 lithium-ion battery modules and other components integrated into the front of the vehicle. The battery has a net energy capacity of 77 kWh (82 kWh gross). The high voltage energy routed between the motor and the battery is managed by power electronics which transform the stored direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC). The on-board electronics rely on a 12V power supply via a DC/DC converter.
The electric motor is located in the driving rear axle and has an output of 150 kW (201 hp). The immediate 229 lb-ft of torque ensures excellent acceleration, with a 0-62 mph time of 10.2 seconds. However, the top speed is electronically limited to 90 mph. In Germany, the ID. Buzz belongs to the highest efficiency class: (A+++, as in A Christmas Story).
The rear of the vehicle has a connection point which is used to charge the high voltage battery. At a charge rate of 11 kW, the battery can be charged from 0 to 100% in 7 hours 30 minutes on a level 2 charger. Identity. Buzz’s battery can be recharged on DC fast charging stations up to 170 kW. In this case, the battery is charged from 5 to 80% in about 30 minutes.
The vehicle is supposed to be equipped with a decent suspension that does not come off the bargain shelf at VW. Up front, there’s a strut-style setup with a sophisticated multi-link arrangement at the rear. Both axles are very compact but have wide track widths of 65.9 and 65.7 inches, respectively. The large track width at the rear provides ample space to pass loads between the wheel arches.
With all of these features, plus its retro look, this should prove to be a popular EV model once it opens to full international orders.
All images (including featured image) courtesy of VW.
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