Volkswagen ID. Buzz Gets Boost From Electrify America
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If you’ve been waiting for years for the futuristic electric throwback to the iconic Volkswagen Bus, the ID. Buzz, you’ll be heartened to know it’s almost here. Volkswagen’s US website says that it’s arriving in late fall 2024. That’s soon! In connection with the highly anticipated rollout, Electrify America announced yesterday that it’s going to be boosting the ownership experience for Buzz buyers for three years.
“The 2025 ID. Buzz charging plan includes three years of Electrify America’s Pass+ membership, which offers members preferential per-kilowatt-hour (kWh) rates of about 25 percent savings compared to standard pay-as-you-go options, plus 500 kWh of complimentary charging,” Electrify America writes. “The ID. Buzz also features Plug&Charge functionality, streamlining the charging process at Electrify America stations. By activating Plug&Charge in the Electrify America mobile app, ID. Buzz drivers simply plug in their vehicle and the charging session will automatically initiate, eliminating the need for them to reach for their wallet, smartphone, or bank card.”
Plug&Charge is a key to making electric vehicle ownership easy and convenient for normal buyers — well, for everyone, but early adopters are willing to have more “adventurous” or “involved” charging experiences than mainstream buyers.
Even after all the years of waiting for this vehicle to arrive, I remain fascinated and intrigued by it. Personally, I’m very drawn to it despite not having lived through the ’60s and ’70s era when the T1 and T2 Volkswagen Bus were so popular. There’s something about its tie-in with a major period of history and its new design that I find highly appealing. So, I’m super curious how it’s going to be received and how well it will sell in the USA. Will it stimulate a tingle in Baby Boomers (and others) and become a hit again? Will it find a whole new audience of buyers because of how cool it looks and how useful it is? Or will it be a niche product, as some readers have argued, because it doesn’t offer the main thing the original VW Bus offered — super low cost? The starting price is $60,000, which clearly isn’t cheap. Of course, many Baby Boomers now have a lot of money and can splurge, but they also have different needs and lifestyles (presumably).
Anyway, we will see, but the good news is that anyone getting a VW ID. Buzz will have a good charging package to get rolling in their new EV.
“We are so excited to bring the all-electric ID. Buzz to American driveways this year, and we’re partnering with Electrify America to further enhance the ID. Buzz experience for all owners,” said Andrew Savvas, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer at Volkswagen of North America. “With three years of Pass+ membership access to the largest open DC fast-charging network in the U.S., families can explore and experience all that electric mobility has to offer.”
“We are thrilled to offer such a comprehensive and convenient charging solution for the electrified ID. Buzz,” said Robert Barrosa, President and CEO of Electrify America. “With our extensive network of more than 970 Hyper-Fast charging stations strategically located along major highways and in metropolitan areas, ID. Buzz owners can confidently embark on road trips and daily commutes alike, knowing they have access to a coast-to-coast network.”
You can learn more about the charging package at ElectrifyAmerica.com/VW.
You can learn more about the Buzz on the VW website.
All images courtesy of Volkswagen.
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