Volkswagen's commercial vehicle division has implemented several improvements to the electric Kombi, including increased range, boosted power, the addition of a 240V socket in the cargo area, and a reduced entry price. These modifications were announced in the United Kingdom.
In the British market, the initial version of the ID.Buzz Cargo has become £5,655 more affordable compared to its previous model.
The core mechanical change involves replacing the 59 kWh unit with a 58 kWh battery. Although the nominal capacity is marginally lower, the manufacturer claims that the new cell composition has optimized energy performance. Consequently, the range under the WLTP cycle has increased to 351 km, representing an advance of 27 km over the previous configuration.
Additionally, the electric motor's power has been increased from 170 hp to 190 hp, providing more vigorous acceleration even when the vehicle is loaded.
A major practical feature is the integration of vehicle-to-load (V2L) technology across the entire ID. Buzz Cargo line. This system provides 2.0 kW of continuous power and peaks of up to 3.6 kW via a 16A, 240V three-pin socket installed in the cargo area.
This functionality allows the van to act as a portable power source for equipment such as laptops, lighting, power tools, and small appliances, eliminating the need for generators on external jobs. This benefit is especially targeted at service providers, field technicians, and event organizers, who constitute the user base for light utilities.
The improvements also cover the digital aspect. The utility now operates with ID. Software 6.0, which introduces an app store in the multimedia system. Through this store, users can install charging, parking, and streaming services directly from the vehicle's central unit.
The Connected Travel Assist assistant has been enhanced to utilize more online data, allowing it to identify traffic lights and reduce the vehicle's speed before stopping upon detecting a red signal. Dale Piper, ID. Buzz product manager in Volkswagen's commercial division, stated that the package was adjusted to maximize customer usage potential during the workday.
The 58 kWh ID. Buzz Cargo model has an introductory price of £29,995 excluding tax in the UK. All vehicles equipped with this battery qualify for the Plug-in Van Grant, a British government program that offers an additional discount of £5,000 for eligible customers. Furthermore, the manufacturer offers corporate leasing options with monthly payments starting from £239.
However, these updates are not expected to reach Brazil anytime soon. Volkswagen has never marketed the ID. Buzz in the country; the 70 units imported in 2023 were exclusively passenger models and offered only through subscription under the Sign&Drive program. The recently updated cargo version is not part of the Brazilian operation.
