Volkswagen unveils four ID. Buzz EV concepts

Since the station wagon, Volkswagen vans have served as a blank slate for their owners, from the hippie car of free love in California to the ambulance in Germany. This will not change in the electric age either.

These four Volkswagen ID. Buzz concepts are part of the 30+ vehicles the German automaker is showing at the Commercial Vehicle Motor Show, showing how the new-age station wagon can be modified for different industries.

The first of the four ID. Buzz Concepts was converted into an ambulance by German commercial vehicle modification company Bösenberg.

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This ID. The Buzz ambulance concept offers space for up to three people, with the cargo area being converted into a work station for a paramedic and his medical equipment.

There is also a special signaling system (lights and sirens) built into the concept that runs on a separate battery system to the propulsion motors.

The next ID. The buzz concept is called ID. Buzz Flex-Cab concept and is essentially an ID. Buzz Cargo equipped for passenger transport. Think of it like an airport shuttle taxi.

Volkswagen remembers this ID. The Buzz concept is basically an electric version of the Caravelle people mover.

The Volkswagen ID. Adapted by Dutch commercial vehicle modification company Snoeks, the Buzz Flex-Cab concept features a three-person rear bench seat and rear air conditioning.

The rear seat can be positioned in two different ways – standard or with more legroom – and can be folded up with the included seat pan. All of this is adjusted electrically via a switch on the B or D pillar.

As a third concept, Volkswagen is showing an ID at this year’s IAA Transportation. Buzz Cargo with a box body best suited for courier drivers.

Thanks to the rear box, the loading capacity is said to be 6.0 m3, which is over 2 m3 more than the standard ID. Buzz Cargo.

The sides and back of the box can be equipped with traditional doors, sliding doors or roller shutters.

The concept shown at the IAA is equipped with a door on the passenger side, blinds on the driver’s side and large gullwing doors at the rear. Inside the box is equipped with a non-slip floor.

The fourth and final ID. The Buzz concept was converted into a refrigerated vehicle by German commercial vehicle modification company Wükaro. It was specially developed for “last mile” logistics in urban areas.

The cooling system consists of a flat 230 V cooling unit on the roof, four 100 Ah lithium-ion batteries and an inverter with an integrated battery charger.

Depending on the specification, the concept vehicle can carry a payload of up to 390 kg.

It is also possible to pre-cool the cargo area if the refrigerated ID. The Buzz Cargo concept is grid-connected.

In addition to four ID. Buzz concept vehicles, Volkswagen reveals the Miele ServiceVan version of the ID. Buzz equipped with spare parts and tools for Miele customer service.

There is an integrated folding table in the center console, which can serve as a workplace for the driver in the passenger compartment.

Despite series production of the regular ID. Buzz from May, Volkswagen still has to set the start date for the ID. Buzz for Australia – although it’s at the top of the wish list.

Volkswagen Group Australia has maintained the delayed launch of its first VW brand electric vehicles here, partly due to demand in other markets and a lack of emissions standards here, pushing us into the priority queue.

We will wait until the end of 2024 at the earliest to see the ID. Buzz and his ID. Buzz Cargo Van counterpart in Australia.

“We are not only talking to local governments, but also to fleet customers about what our future holds for electric vehicles, as the demand is very high and they want to move in this direction sooner [rather] than later,” said Ryan Davies, brand director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia recently.

“ID. Cargo is as firmly on our radar as ID. Buzz, [but] We can probably expect a sale at the end of 2024 at the earliest.

“We have big ambitions for the volume of this car, so we’re confident that we’ll get it. With what we have on the table, with what we can achieve here from a volume perspective, we think the factory would be pretty happy with that appetite.”

While there aren’t many all-electric vans available right now – the outgoing Kangoo ZE is the only option – there’s definitely fleet demand and a range of options coming soon.

Earlier this week we received details about the Mercedes-Benz eVito. Ford is bringing the e-Transit (2023) and smaller e-Transit Custom (2024) to Australia, and Renault is bringing the Kangoo E-Tech (2023) and larger Master E-Tech (2024).

Peugeot has indicated that it sees a market for electric vans, which it offers locally in Europe, and we expect China’s LDV to announce an electric Deliver 9 for that market soon.

MORE: 2022 Volkswagen ID. Buzz series production startsMORE: Volkswagen ID. Buzz and Cargo EV vans are in high demand in Australia