Engineering:Volkswagen I.D. Buzz
Volkswagen I.D. Buzz | |
---|---|
I.D. Buzz at the IAA 2017 | |
Overview | |
Manufacturer | Volkswagen |
Production | 2022–, Germany: Hanover[1] USA:Chattanooga[2] |
Designer | Einar Castillo |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 3 and 4 door minivan |
Platform | Volkswagen Group MEB platform[3] |
Powertrain | |
Battery | 111 kWh[4] |
Electric range | 435–600 km (270–373 mi)[5] |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 3,300 mm (130 in)[3][6] |
Length | 4,942 mm (195 in)[3][6] |
Width | 1,976 mm (78 in)[3][6] |
Height | 1,963 mm (77 in)[3][6] |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Volkswagen BUDD-e |
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz (stylized in all-caps as I.D. BUZZ or ID. BUZZ[6] and also known as the VW Electric Microbus)[7] is an electric minivan based on the electric MEB platform. It is the second concept vehicle to be shown from the I.D. series of MEB-based electric vehicles.
Design
Concept car descriptions in 2017 indicated the electric microbus could be produced in two versions: a high-end 275 kW (369 hp) all-wheel-drive version with one motor each on the front and rear axles and an 111 kilowatt-hours (400 MJ) battery pack,[6] and a less-expensive 200 kW (268 hp) rear-wheel-drive version with an 83 kWh (300 MJ) battery pack.[4]
According to the chief executive of VW Autonomy, Alex Hitzinger, the I.D. Buzz minivan is the basis of Volkswagen's self-driving automobile,[8] and could be used for MOIA,[clarification needed] a vehicle for hire company competing with Uber.[9] MOIA launched in April 2019, serving Hamburg, Germany, after a 2018 trial with a small fleet of battery electric Multivan T6 vehicles.[10] The autonomous features are part of the "I.D. Pilot" mode, which is anticipated to become available in 2025.[6]
Cargo variant
The I.D. Buzz Cargo (stylized as the ID. BUZZ CARGO) debuted at the 2018 IAA Commercial Vehicles show in Hannover[11] as a support vehicle for the Volkswagen I.D. R Pikes Peak Hillclimb racer. The Cargo has a maximum estimated cargo capacity of 1,760 lb (800 kg) and uses the simplified rear-drive powertrain.[12]
The Cargo prototype was shown in October 2019 at Nike stores in Santa Monica, California; Chicago ; and New York City with retro livery branded "Blue Ribbon Sports", the predecessor company to athletic apparel manufacturer Nike, Inc.[13]
History
The concept vehicle was first shown as a prototype at the 2017 North American International Auto Show in Detroit,[14] then shown again at Geneva in March.[15] Members of the automotive press were invited to drive the concept during Monterey Car Week later that year, in August,[2] where it was also announced that a production vehicle based on this prototype will be launched in 2022.[16]
It will be one of nine new Volkswagen brand models based on the MEB platform.[4][7][17] A cargo van variant is also planned for production,[8] to launch in Europe alongside the passenger version in 2022.[11]
Rollout
In December 2019, Volkswagen announced it had partnered with the Qatar Investment Authority to deploy a fleet of 35 ID. BUZZ AD autonomous vehicles based on the I.D. Buzz to serve semi-fixed routes in Doha by 2022.[18]
See also
- Electric car use by country
- Volkswagen Microbus Concept
- Volkswagen I.D. series
- Volkswagen I.D.
- Volkswagen I.D. Crozz
References
- ↑ "VW confirms electric vehicle plants in Emden & Hanover". Electrive. 2018-11-16. https://www.electrive.com/2018/11/16/vw-specifies-factory-setup-for-emden-hanover/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Stevens, Tim (19 August 2017). "VW's adorable I.D. Buzz hits dealerships in 2022, but we drove it, today". Roadshow (CNET.com). https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/auto/2022-volkswagen-i-d-buzz/preview/.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "2017 Volkswagen I.D. BUZZ Concept". http://www.conceptcarz.com/s26999/Volkswagen-ID-BUZZ-Concept.aspx.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Lambert, Fred (2017-08-17). "VW announces that it is bringing its all-electric microbus to production in 2022". Electrek. https://electrek.co/2017/08/19/vw-all-electric-microbus-production-2022/.
- ↑ "Volkswagen Confirms Electric I.D. Buzz Production". Autotrader.com. http://www.autotrader.ca/newsfeatures/20170619/volkswagen-confirms-electric-i-d-buzz-production/.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 "NAIAS 2017 in Detroit: Volkswagen presents the ID. BUZZ" (Press release). Volkswagen Group Newsroom. January 9, 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Perkins, Chris (19 August 2017). "Confirmed! Electric VW Microbus Coming". Road & Track. https://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/future-cars/a12036821/vw-electric-microbus-confirmed/.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Alex Hitzinger. "Interview: VW's hip, all-electric ID Buzz van is a platform for its self-driving efforts". electrek (Interview). Interviewed by Bradley Berman. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ↑ "VW I.D. Buzz Microbus confirmed for 2022 release". Auto Express. August 20, 2017. http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/volkswagen/98136/volkswagen-boss-confirms-id-buzz-concept-to-make-production.
- ↑ "Mobile, Modern, MOIA: In Hamburg, the future of mobility begins this Monday". Volkswagen AG. April 2019. https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/news/stories/2019/04/moia-officially-starts-in-hamburg.html.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Kautonen, Antti (September 20, 2018). "VW I.D. Buzz Cargo: EV microbus gets a commercial version". Autoblog. https://www.autoblog.com/2018/09/20/vw-i-d-buzz-cargo-ev-microbus-van/.
- ↑ "Volkswagen ID. BUZZ CARGO: The electric van that could deliver the future" (Press release). Volkswagen of America Newsroom. November 29, 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ↑ "Nike offers pop-up experiences across America starring the Volkswagen ID. BUZZ CARGO" (Press release). Volkswagen of America Newsroom. October 15, 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
- ↑ Goodwin, Antuan (January 8, 2017). "Volkswagen ID Buzz concept is an electric microbus for the autonomous future". Road/Show (C|Net). https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/volkswagen-i-d-buzz-concept-is-an-electric-microbus-for-the-autonomous-future/.
- ↑ Krok, Andrew (March 3, 2017). "Volkswagen ID Buzz concept continues new-age nostalgia tour in Geneva". Road/Show (C|Net). https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/volkswagen-id-buzz-concept-continues-new-age-nostalgia-tour-in-geneva/.
- ↑ "The I.D. BUZZ goes into production". Volkswagen AG. September 2017. https://www.volkswagenag.com/en/news/stories/2017/09/id-buzz-goes-into-production.html.
- ↑ "Dit zijn de vijf elektrische VW's!". June 21, 2017. https://www.groen7.nl/dit-zijn-de-vijf-elektrische-vws/.
- ↑ "'Project Qatar Mobility': Self-driving shuttles set to take Doha's local public transport to the next level in 2022" (Press release). Volkswagen Group Newsroom. December 14, 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2020.