Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo
John Kendall drives VW’s new electric-only van
Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo
John Kendall drives VW’s new electric-only van
It has been a long time coming – some 20 years since the first design study was seen at a motor show. ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo are about to land in a VW dealership near you. It is the largest member of the VW all-electric ID. family. That is a car rather than a light commercial vehicle family, which covers ID.3, ID.4, ID.5 and now ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo.
From a van perspective, the Cargo variant is no surprise. In design terms the vehicle has strong links with the original Type 2 Transporter whose combi variants became such a favourite with motor caravan customers. What’s more, it was designed from the outset to be solely electrically propelled; there is no petrol or diesel variant.
VW, like most motor manufacturers, was caught out by the speed with which the EV market developed, pushed along by carbon net zero plans both here and in the EU. At the time, VW was around mid-lifecycle with the T6 Transporter, which had not been engineered for electric propulsion. The Caddy was nearing replacement and the new model was designed with electric power in mind. VW’s logical response was to back its development plans for an electrified range, based on the MEB Modular Electric Drive Kit, i.e., the complete ID. range. So, in LCV terms, ID. Buzz Cargo is probably going to be a bit of a stopgap model until the replacement Transporter T7 comes along, which may or may not be a joint development with Ford.
Stopgap, because ID. Buzz Cargo is a bit of a compromise with its 650kg payload and 3.9m3 load volume. Caddy offers a payload of between 638kg and 705kg with a load volume of 3.1m3 or 3.7m3, making ID. Buzz barely larger in load volume terms, with a payload that can be less than the Caddy. Without an electric variant of the Caddy, ID. Buzz Cargo is having to cover the markets for both Caddy and Transporter. The van offers good towing capacity though, with the ability to tow a 1,000kg braked trailer. At the recent Hanover IAA CV Show VW showed a range of converted ID. Buzz concept vehicles including a box bodied variant and a Miele service van.
Limited range is not something that the ID. Buzz Cargo suffers from. With up to 258 miles on a full charge, most operators should find that they won’t be spending much time hunting for charge points during the day. Like several other electric vans, it’s the rear wheels that are driven, rather than the front wheels as you might expect with a conventionally powered VW van of this size. With most weight over the driving wheels from the load, drive motor and batteries, it will help to provide good traction. At the same time modern tyres, traction and stability control systems can effectively combat loss of traction or control in slippery conditions, offsetting the traditional advantages of front-wheel drive.
The load space is almost as wide as it is tall and able to accommodate two Euro pallets. We don’t know what the UK spec will be yet but expect a full-height front bulkhead and a nearside sliding door as standard. The bulkhead could be available with a window and loadthrough hatch for longer loads. Both a tailgate and rear doors are expected to be available. Lashing points in the floor with rails on the side walls and front bulkhead are likely too.
VW says that in the cab, a dual passenger seat will be standard with a single seat as an option. When the single seat is specified, the removable “Buzz Box” can be specified for the space between, providing storage space for a laptop and other items.
Instrumentation is based around a digital display in front of the driver. The display moves with the steering column on the ID. Buzz Cargo. Then there’s a larger display in the centre of the dash for the infotainment system. It’s very similar to the dashboard layout in the Caddy and VW’s car ranges including the ID. series. There’s a separate switch panel for the heating and ventilation which means you don’t have to work through the screen menus to find it. The central screen mimics the layout on an iPad with a button to return you to the home screen and it’s easy to use once you have grasped the logic.
ON THE ROAD
The ID. Buzz Cargo shares the same motor and battery with the passenger models and with 204hp (150kW) and maximum torque from zero revs, performance is brisk and effortless. It is also quiet, predictably much quieter than a diesel-powered van. Since it’s an electric van it is also easy to drive with no gear-changing. Once you’ve selected drive mode, you’re off. That ease of driving makes it an attractive vehicle for urban use, particularly considering its relatively compact dimensions. Stop/start driving is simple, with the added bonus of regenerative braking to feed energy back to the batteries when slowing down.
