ID. Buzz California: Volkswagen pushes back its electric camper van

While fitted vans have enjoyed unprecedented popularity for a few years now and Volkswagen has just launched the ID electric van. Buzz, inspired by the Combi, one would expect the latter to offer a version suitable for camping. Yet the ID. Buzz California (name to be confirmed) was not expected before 2025. We now learn that the launch of the fitted version of the electric van has been postponed by Volkswagen.

Thus, according to the Edison media, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is facing a weight problem. With a minimum empty weight of 2.4 t in the short version, the ID. Buzz is a very heavy vehicle. A converted version, based on the long version of the electric van, would therefore very quickly approach the maximum GVW of 3.5 t, beyond which vehicles require a specific permit. The payload dedicated to passengers and their luggage would therefore be very limited.

Certain companies certainly offer fitting kits allowing you to sleep in your ID. Buzz, but a more complete treatment similar to that operated by Volkswagen on its California seems compromised for the moment. One example among others, the pop-up roof alone weighs 100 kg.

As Volkswagen had already made us understand when launching the ID. Buzz, it would therefore be necessary to wait for an improvement in the energy density of the batteries of the model so that it can be declined in a fitted version. Thus, with a lighter battery, but with the same capacity as the current useful 85 kWh pack, the total mass would be more contained and would make it possible to maintain a sufficient payload.

A rechargeable hybrid version while waiting for the electric

If an electric Volkswagen California is therefore not in the news, a plug-in hybrid version could appear very soon. Thus, the current generation of the fitted van from Volkswagen is based on the aging van T6.1. The latter will be replaced by two models: the new Multivan, which has already been launched and is intended solely for passenger transport, and a more classic T7 van for the Transporter and probably Caravelle versions, currently being developed with Ford.

We now know that it is the Multivan, available in gasoline and rechargeable hybrid, which was chosen to serve as the basis for the next California. The latter will be announced in the form of a concept, presented at the Düsseldorf Caravan Fair (August 25 to September 3, 2023).

Volkswagen has published some information and two sketches of this showcar, soberly named California Concept, which seems quite close to the series. We already know that it is based on the long version of the Multivan eHybrid, whose empty weight reaches 2.2 t. In addition, the touch screen dedicated to adjusting functions specific to the California, previously integrated into the roof console, now seems to be integrated into the furniture and is now in tablet format.

Volkswagen ends its press release by recalling that “nobody ever claimed that a California should only have one sliding door”. We also note that the California Concept benefits from a double exterior blind. If it is indeed equipped with a double sliding door, it will be interesting to see how Volkswagen has managed to review the interior layout. Case to follow!