VW Guarantees Buzz with ID., its Concept EV Lineup
The latest EV concept line recently unveiled by Volkswagen looks backward and forward simultaneously. The ID. Buzz is a futuristic version of the iconic microbus. It’s what George Jetson would drive if he was a flower-wearing, surfing proponent of palm trees, and SoCal beaches. The ID. line also includes the ID. Crozz, ID. Vizzion, and ID. All of which have sleek, sculpted lines and feature options for autonomous driving and augmented reality. Perhaps one of the biggest buzzes of this VW concept is that the electric buzz is guaranteed—the German automaker will guarantee 70 percent battery capacity for eight years or 100,000 miles.
There is much wrangling about EV car battery warranties. A 70 percent capacity guarantee ensures that a car battery providing less than 70 percent of the original range of a vehicle will be replaced. The batteries of cars that are charged more often degrade faster, so that the battery of the lower range Smart EQ with an estimated 99 miles per charge will degrade much more quickly than a Tesla S 100D with an estimated range of 393 miles. BMW and Nissan offer similar seventy percent of capacity guarantees. Chevy Volt, with its 238-mile range, covers 60 percent of battery capacity while a Tesla that needs even less recharging, does not provide a percentage guarantee, and instead covers unlimited miles. The guarantee offered by Volkswagen for the concept ID. lineup is at the high end of the standard for a major EV automaker battery warranty, especially since the range is predicted at around 300-400+ miles, ensuring that drivers will spend more time on the road than at the charging station.
The first VW bus was sold in the U.S. in 1950 and boasted 30 hp! The ID. Buzz is as boxy as the iconic bus, with rounded-off corners, windows all around and near-zero body overhang, yet most comparisons end there—the electric powertrain will produce 369 hp and the headlights are hexagonal an act as “eyes” to communicate the vehicle’s status. It has already won awards since being revealed at the Detroit Auto Show and is slated to begin production in 2019 as a 2020 model.
Another car in the ID. line include the ID. Crozz, a bossy Sportster with an anticipated top track speed of over 110 miles per hour, an augmented reality heads-up display and an infotainment tablet. The ID. is a four-door (two of them are sliders) that features an entirely new cockpit experience with intuitive controls and a retractable steering wheel for full-autonomous driving when possible. The ID. Vizzion is the most futuristic of the line and doesn’t need a steering wheel or pedals because it is slated to be VW’s first fully-autonomous vehicle. And it won’t just drive you. The car will recognize occupants and automatically adapt seats, climate control, and music playlists on an individual basis.
No matter which vehicle you get, VW is developing DC Fast Charging to get cars to 80 percent of battery capacity in just 30 minutes, reducing charge time dramatically, one of the biggest hurdles for potential EV car customers. Another obstacle for those owning a European car is cost and reliability of service and repair. EuroCar Service has been your dependable, accurate and honest European vehicle service facility since 1981. When you are looking for the very best for your Volkswagen, Audi, BMW, Land Rover, Mercedes, MINI, SAAB, Volvo, Smart car, or Fiat, we offer highly trained ASE Certified Master mechanics and the latest in automotive technology. We are conveniently open Monday through Friday, 7:30 to 5:30 and will even provide free shuttle service and loaner cars for our Seattle customers. Our inclusion on Expertise’s list of Best Auto Shops in Seattle demonstrates our commitment to the cutting-edge procedures demanded by owners of the world’s highest-performing vehicles. Schedule an appointment online, or call today to join the EuroCar Service family!
