In Hannover, Germany, Volkswagen started tests to use the ID.Buzz, also known as an electric Kombi, in a service called ridepooling. Despite the far-fetched name, it is nothing more than the shared ride, popular in Brazil with the “crowding” vans.
The main difference, however, is that the electric Kombi will also be autonomous, that is, it will work without a “human” driver. There is, however, the possibility of offering the service in the traditional way, with a pilot at the wheel of the vehicle.
According to a report by Auto Esporte, which went to Hannover to check up close how the service works, the ID.Buzz will be used by Moia Mobility and will replace the current vehicle nicknamed “Pluto”.
Close to retirement, the Pluto is a vehicle based on the Crafter van, launched by Volkswagen in 2006, with a maximum speed of 90 km/h and approximate autonomy of 300 km per charge.
There are currently 565 electric “Plutos” (e-Crafter) running around Hannover and Hamburg, and passengers interested in the service that will use the electric Kombi in the future must first download the application and register on the platform. The costs of the trip and its value are shown in the app before the call is completed.
When will ID.Buzz “invade” Germany?
According to Moia, the expectation is that the ID.Buzz will definitively replace the electric “Plutos” in 2025. By this date, the company created by Volkswagen hopes to have expanded the “autonomous capacity” services to 15 cities in Germany.
The next step, according to Christian Buhlmann, head of communications for Volkswagen’s commercial vehicles area, is to “prove that the model can work”, but, according to the automaker’s representative, this will need to be done gradually.
Launch of ID.Buzz, the electric Kombi
Disclosure/Volkswagen
