Volkswagen delays release of ID.Buzz California electric camper

author: FutureCar Staff    

If you were eagerly anticipating the release of the Volkswagen ID.Buzz California, a full-fledged electric camper, you'll have to wait a bit longer. Despite ongoing work, Volkswagen has no plans to release the ID.Buzz California anytime soon.

While fully electric camper vans are possible, VW commercial vehicles will not be offering one in the near future. 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 equipment 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 maximum weight limit for European category B driving licenses, which is up to 3.5 tons. Consequently, the upcoming VW California 6.1 will not be based on the ID.Buzz and will instead be called the Multivan.

Volkswagen will be unveiling its "California Concept" at the Dusseldorf Caravan Salon, which will take place from August 25 to September 3, 2023. The concept will be based on VW's Multivan with a long wheelbase and hybrid drivetrain. Production of the concept is scheduled to begin 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 will be a challenge. The camper version would require new battery technology with increased energy density, range, and lower costs, which is something that VW will continue to develop over the next few years.

Despite the delay in releasing the electric camper version, the ID.Buzz has already seen high demand since its launch last year. In the first half of this year, 2,279 ID.Buzz models were registered, and in July alone, that number reached 536. This growth has likely contributed to Volkswagen surpassing 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. For example, Winnebago offers an all-electric camper, and companies like Alpincamper or TC Conversion provide extension kits. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz has released its VAN.EA platform, which will host its next-gen electric vans, including campers.

While the ID.Buzz California may be delayed, Volkswagen has recently partnered with several outside companies to outsource EV technology, including XPeng and Hyundai Mobis. This suggests that Volkswagen is actively working towards developing the necessary technology to make the ID.Buzz California a reality in the future.

FutureCar Staff