All Electric Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo Is a Retro Van for the Future • Professional Pickup

Volkswagen has revealed the production-ready ID Buzz Cargo, an all-electric van that puts practicality and style on equal footing.

Riding on the same MEB platform that underpins Volkswagen’s ID 3, the Skoda Enyaq iV and Audi Q4 e-tron electric cars, the ID Buzz Cargo offers zero-emissions motoring while being able to carry a sizeable payload.

Electric Future

The ID Buzz Cargo will arrive in the UK with a 77kWh battery pack paired with a 201hp electric motor that drives the rear wheels. While Volkswagen hasn’t released any range expectations, the same battery pack can drive the ID 4 for 317 miles.

Rapid charging will be possible, with rates of up to 170kW, allowing the Buzz to be topped up from 5% battery level to 80% in as little as 30 minutes.

Using the latest ID software from Volkswagen, the Buzz will also offer a ‘Plug & Charge’ function in the future. Via this function, the ID Buzz authenticates itself at compatible DC rapid-charging stations via the charging connector, sharing all payment information and allowing a seamless experience.

Bidirectional charging enables the ID Buzz to feed unneeded energy from the battery into the customer’s home network. By using this option, it’s possible to power the house at peak times using the Buzz’s battery, before relying on cheaper off-peak power to recharge the van overnight. There’s also the considerable benefit of being able to use it as a backup supply in the event of a power cut. A special DC bi-directional wall box will be required to take advantage of this, of course.

The lithium-ion battery is integrated deep down in the sandwich floor, with the electric drive system positioned to give a good distribution of weight and a low vehicle centre of gravity. Both factors help improve handling and agility, while also allowing the cargo area to be maximised.

Retro-future design

“The T1 – an icon of the 1950s – enabled people to gain mobility and freedom. With the ID. Buzz, we are transferring this T1 DNA to the present day and thus into the era of electric mobility,” explains Jozef Kabaň, Head of Volkswagen Design.

Clearly harking back to the original T1 with its iconic V-shaped front panel between the LED headlights, the ID Buzz screams retro but, at the same time, looks like it’s a vehicle for the future. Owner-operators and small businesses will benefit simply from standing out from the crowd, with careful colour combinations (including optional two-tone choices) and design touches creating a unique aesthetic.

“The ID. Buzz brings a lot of sympathy and proximity to people back to the road,” the chief designer continues. “In the T1 you are practically sitting on top of the front axle – there’s no front overhang. For all its safety relevance and technology, the ID. Buzz has super short overhangs.

“The ID. Buzz is timeless, sustainable and yet also extremely functional – that makes it unique.”

Designing for street appeal hasn’t come at the expense of efficiency, with the sleek ID Buzz Cargo promising a drag coefficient of 0.285-0.29. This allows the ID Buzz to cut through the air more cleanly than most cars, reducing energy consumption and increasing range.

Payload and Towing Capacity

Despite relatively compact dimensions – the ID Buzz Cargo measures just 4,712mm long – the van manages to pack quite a payload area. A long wheelbase allows for a lengthy cargo area that is sizeable enough to accommodate two Euro pallets.

A maximum cargo capacity of 3.9m3 is surprisingly capacious for such a compact vehicle. If mass rather than volume is important, expect a payload limit of 650kg.

Impressively, the ID Buzz will be able to tow up to a tonne; some way off a conventional diesel-powered van, but a strong figure for an electric choice.

Pricing and Availability

Production of the Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo will begin in Hannover for the first few deliveries in the Autumn of this year, with advance sales starting in May. There’s no news on pricing just yet, but don’t expect this to be a bargain choice – a starting price over and above £50,000 is likely.

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Phil Huff

Phil Huff, a seasoned automotive journalist since 2011, specialises in new car and van launches for national and regional newspapers, magazines, and online platforms. As the editor of light commercial vehicle publications Professional Van and Professional Pickup, Phil delivers high-quality content for a UK audience of LCV owner-operators and small business users.