>@simplytheresa is holding out for one of these
>http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4103928/The-VW-camper-goes-hi-tech-Electric-powered-model-costing-45-000-host-gadgets-ability-drive-unveiled.html
https://www.digitaltrends.com/cars/volkswagen-idbuzz-electric-van-launch-date/
It will sell, although I personally would never trust the self driving bit.
"22 inch wheels" much better for 21st century, midwest potholes. :-)
If it is still $45k (which I sincerely doubt) that is half the price of an F-150 and cheaper than a bunch of the USED cars out there now. But if at $45k, I might buy one just for fun.
Thanks for the heads up! And it'd be coming at a good time as our current vehicles are starting to act as if they are ready to be put out to pasture.
Tom and I got a demo of some self-driving tech from our nephew and while not yet capable of handling winding mountain roads, I'm bullish on the highway driving potential.
And I'll keep my fingers crossed for the $45K price tag. If it really comes up at that price, it sounds like my dream vehicle.
Ha! Well, we're going to need a new car sooner or later. Might as well be one that simplytheresa is excited about.
If it's $45K, I'm down with that, but I'll be surprised especially since it was announced as AWD. That would make it the cheapest AWD vehicle on the market.
>buy one just for fun
But only if it has decent hvac. My 70s VW Kombi van would freeze you, even in the front seats. I hung a shower curtain being the front seats but you still needed a lap blanket.
I replaced a couple of VW heater boxes in the ca 1980 (because they would rust out in VT and there was a market in Texas heater boxes). Those vehicles had air-cooled engines and the "heater boxes" came off the engine (maybe took in rerouted exahust???) and then had ports in the car. They were fully passive. No fans. If the engine got really hot, you could cook eggs on the floor of the back seat. But until the engine got really hot and the heater boxes got really hot and a sort of chimney/convection thing got going, there was basically no heat. No A/C of course. But almost no cars in VT had A/C then.
I trust that 50 years of tech advances will come up with something better. In any case, an electric motor requires that it at least be different.
Mine had aftermarket AC. The blower unit was ceiling mount just behind the front seats. Not a bad setup.
It was under-powered. I couldn't do 70 mph on the interstate unless I drafted a semi. As it turned out, that was an OEM carb problem. A buddy installed an aftermarket carb (Rochester, IIRC) and it would hit 80 or better.
0-60? Yes.
"VW is limiting the van's top speed to just 90 mph (145 km/h). Considering its ancestor could only hit 60 mph (usually while cruising downhill), this shouldn't be too disappointing to most customers."
2024 Volkswagen ID Buzz electric microbus revealed: less flower, more power - The Verge
https://www.theverge.com/2022/3/9/22967468/volkswagen-id-buzz-electric-microbus-photos-specs
As long as it can do 35 up a steep hill...
I don't think it looks like it would handle very well at 80, let alone 90. I think we're fine with this.
On the other hand....
>>670 charging stations across the US,
vs
>>There are about 115,000 gas stations in the U.S.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-many-gas-stations-are-in-us-how-many-will-there-be-in-10-years-2020-02-16
The article goes on to say that GM is building out a network of charging stations for their vehicles. If people had to drive around to find a GM station to fuel their Ram truck, passing Ford and Toyota and Kia stations along the way, people would go ballistic.
Tesla has a pilot program in four countries to allow non-Tesla cars to charge at select Tesla stations, but it's currently very limited which I find revolting (see what I did there?).
>fine with this
I have to have a van for my travel with med supplies. Plus, we've had vans since the 80s and are used to having the space. 2WD is fine, even preferred, but I want 300 mi range at a minimum. What I DO NOT want is a subscription-based ev phoning home every evening. That one might work
--we'll see.
You Don't Really Ever Own an EV – Review Geek
https://www.reviewgeek.com/111381/you-dont-really-ever-own-an-ev/
Also, Rivian just upped their prices by $12-20k.
Hey - I know I'm a bit late, but I'm back from dealing with a family emergency and was delighted to see the update on the IDBuzz progress. Thank you! I'm also disappointed both with the subscription-model services and also the fake noise-making at low speeds. As if our world wasn't noisy enough. Still, it's exciting to follow and I'm excited to see what they end up releasing.
EU: After strong interest, VW plans to build 130,000 ID Buzzes a year | Ars Technica
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2022/09/after-strong-interest-vw-plans-to-build-130000-id-buzzes-a-year/
What are VW's ev firmware subscription plans?
Oh boy! Though not responding here, you've just sent Theresa on a quest down the rabbit hole, finding other EV vans as well.
I wonder if the 2024 ID.Buzz will go on sale in late 2023, as is common for the new model years, or midway through 2024 (or not until 2025).
Unfortunately, info about subscription models for firmware and all that is diluted with all the coverage of a straight-up car "flexible" car subscription that is "between leasing and sharing" and being billed by VW as "its Business Model 2.0."
https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/press-releases/volkswagen-is-picking-up-the-pace-of-its-business-model-20-and-offering-car-subscriptions-from-today-7442
https://www.southernvolkswagengreenbrier.com/volkswagen-launches-all-new-ev-car-subscription-program/
Carnet, meanwhile, is $200/year
https://www.vwofakron.com/vwcarnet.html
[aside]I'm adding to the laws I will institute when declared King of the World that it will be henceforth illegal for marketing materials to use the words "just" or "only" in front of a price.[/aside]
Isn't that the big question? With their new separate software division (Cariad) I'm starting to fear the worst, though all I could find was this promise of a tierd service.
https://www.autoindustriya.com/auto-industry-news/vw-developing-new-vehicle-os-with-subscription-based-services.html
>> illegal ... to use the words "just" or "only" in front of a price
I would vote for that.
VW ID. Buzz gains solar roof panels for camping and added range
https://electrek.co/2023/04/06/vw-id-buzz-gains-solar-roof-panels-for-camping-and-added-range/
I'm looking forward to seeing the ID.Buzz on the road. It's a great, cheerful design. Also looking forward to the Canoo "Lifestyle Vehicle". They're just neat.
I just saw the Prius added solar panels too. It makes sense for a car that's parked a lot.
>>600W
Let's see, we get on the best days about 12kwh out of 300w array. So roughly 2kwh out of the panels. Let's say 4 since we have some shade trees. That's 5% of the total, which gives you maybe 20 miles * 14 miles* on a long summer day, or more to the point, lets you camp indefinitely without running down your battery. The latter point is something I was thinking about with EVs.
*update: Bad math. Range is 280 miles. 5% best case.
I see the new trend... travel only as far as the battery allows, then wait for it to recharge and move on :)
How long would that take to cross America? Never work in the UK, not enough sun.
The article says you *could* get 3000km per year. Conveniently, LA to NYC is about 4500km. So a year and a half under ideal circumstances. So say two years. I think you might still beat us across the UK. Maybe even top to bottom
TLDR: $65k, 230-ish range
https://www.fastcompany.com/91175209/vws-new-electric-microbus-is-getting-closer-to-release-heres-how-far-it-can-go-and-how-much-it-will-cost
Volkswagen's electric ID. Buzz is closer to release. Here's how far it can go—and what it will cost - Fast Company
>>TLDR: $65k, 230-ish range
Yeah, that won't be sitting in the driveway soon. I still like it and could see something along those lines in the future.
That said, the Tucson PHEV has been a great compromise - simplytheresa is currently off the grid sleeping in it while doing a 5-day nature journaling retreat. It was set up pretty sweet for a solo "camper" when she left (camper in quotes because this is at a center that also has rooms and a kitchen and showers, but she decided to save the money on the room and stay in the car).
These are key:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07HYXZYMN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
We also have a tailgate tent. If the car is going to sit for a couple of days, you lift the liftgate and put this tent over it that gives extra space and a lot of airflow. Very comfy.
The tent was ordered off Theresa's account, so I don't have the exact one, but it looks like this
https://www.amazon.com/Hasika-Tailgate-Awning-Travel-Waterproof/dp/B08B5YS4B4/
Maybe don't show her this one...
Volkswagen ID. Buzz Sets Record & Wins Big "Top Minivan in 2025" Award
https://cleantechnica.com/2025/08/14/volkswagen-id-buzz-sets-record-wins-big-top-minivan-in-2025-award/
Self-driving VW ID Buzz vans have made it to Austin. And soon, they'll sell you one.
https://insideevs.com/news/763105/volkswagen-id-buzz-ad-autonomous-taxi-production-version/
Oh boy! Next visit to Austin, we'll have to go for a ride.