Volkswagen reinvents the Kombi commercial

In yet more electric-vehicle news from Hannover, Volkswagen has unveiled another EV concept in the form of a commercial van called the VW I.D. Buzz Cargo.

Based on the Volkswagen I.D. Buzz people-mover concept, which is expected to be sold in Australia as the reborn Kombi van a couple of years after Volkswagen Oz launches its EV range here in 2021, the Cargo version is, well, the cargo version.

The load-lugging I.D. van made its global premiere at the Hannover truck show in Germany overnight. It differs from the Kombi/Microbus concept due for production from 2022 in that the windows and rear seats have been removed.

It has a cargo capacity of 800kg, a driving range of around 550km when equipped with a big 111kWh lithium-ion battery and a 230-volt power socket so drivers can plug in devices and equipment, although this will drain the battery considerably.

The compact van features a 150kW electric motor that powers the rear wheels, and an all-wheel drive version will be available. It has a top speed of 160km/h.

Unlike the new Volkswagen Kombi EV, the I.D. Buzz Cargo has solar panels embedded in its roof, which are claimed to add an extra 15km of driving range each day.

Charging Volkswagen’s biggest 111kWh battery is claimed to take 30 minutes to get it to 80 per cent, via 150kW direct current (DC) fast-charging.

The vehicle features an electrically operated sliding side door to access the cargo area, plus rear barn doors and two front doors, all of which are unlocked via smartphone proximity.

Inside, the traditional cockpit is gone, replaced by an augmented reality display projection on the windscreen, displaying road speed, battery charge and navigation instructions.

The Volkswagen I.D. Buzz Cargo has cameras instead of wing mirrors and could easily become a production car given it’s based on the same MEB platform as VW’s other impending EVs.

Volkswagen has already presented several EV concepts grouped under the I.D. umbrella, including the original Volkswagen I.D. hatchback, the I.D. Buzz people-mover, the I.D. Crozz SUV, the I.D. Vizzion sedan and the I.D. R race car that smashed the course record at the 2018 Pikes Peak Hill Climb event in Colorado earlier this year.