ID.Buzz California electric camper delayed by Volkswagen

author: FutureCar Staff    

If you were eagerly anticipating the release of the Volkswagen ID.Buzz California, the full-fledged electric camper version, you'll have to wait a bit longer. Volkswagen has announced that they are still working on it, but there are no immediate plans for its release.

While fully electric camper vans are indeed possible, VW commercial vehicles won't be offering one anytime soon. Despite the high demand for an electric camper version of the ID.Buzz, Volkswagen has stated that it would be too heavy. According to VW commercial vehicles, equipping the all-electric camper with the same features as the current VW California would result in a weight of at least three tons.

Due to its weight, the Volkswagen ID.Buzz California would exceed the limit for those with a European category B driving license, which allows for a total weight of up to 3.5 tons. As a result, the upcoming VW California 6.1 will not be based on the ID.Buzz and will instead be called the Multivan.

VW will be unveiling its "California Concept" at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon, scheduled to take place from August 25 to September 3, 2023. This concept will be based on VW's Multivan, featuring a long wheelbase and a hybrid drivetrain. The production version is expected to begin rolling out next summer at VW Commercial Vehicles in Hannover, Germany.

While Volkswagen is not ruling out the possibility of an ID.Buzz California, bringing it to market within this decade poses a challenge. The camper version would require new battery technology with increased energy density, range, and lower costs, which VW will continue to develop over the next few years.

Despite the delay in the electric camper version, the ID.Buzz has already garnered significant demand since its launch last year. In the first half of the year, 2,279 ID.Buzz models were registered, with an additional 536 registered in July alone. This growth has propelled Volkswagen ahead of Tesla in EV registrations in Germany through July of this year.

While Volkswagen may not have the technology right now to make the ID.Buzz California practical, other companies have proven that all-electric campers are possible. Companies like Winnebago offer fully electric campers, and others provide extension kits for existing vans. Mercedes-Benz has also released its VAN.EA platform, which will host its next-generation electric vans, including campers.

Although Volkswagen is currently partnering with outside companies to outsource EV technology, such as XPeng and Hyundai Mobis, they still have work to do to make the ID.Buzz California a reality.

FutureCar Staff