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The famous Volkswagen microbus, or The Bus, which was best known as the vehicle of choice during the hippie era, is getting an all-electric makeover.
The German auto giant on Wednesday unveiled the modern iteration of the VW Bus — the VW ID Buzz, whose exterior is inspired by the original.
The ID Buzz and its commercial version, the ID Buzz Cargo, are set to debut in Europe later this year.
The company is scheduled to roll out a specially designed US version that has a longer wheelbase. It will be available to American consumers in 2024.
VW did not say how much the vehicle will cost nor did it specify how long it will be able to drive on a full charge.
Based on the 11kW alternating current, indications are that a full charge could yield as much as 300 miles, according to The Verge.
The inaugural European version will be outfitted with a battery pack that boasts 81 kWh of energy capacity — of which 77kWh is usable. The battery will power the rear-axle motor, whose horsepower is clocked at 201.
VW has also capped the vehicle’s speed at 90mph — which is 30mph faster than the original Bus.
The ID Buzz also offers a spacious interior with front seats that can be moved up to 9.6 inches forward and back. There’s also a three-person bench seat in the rear that can be folded down completely or even split 40:60.
The interior will also be environmentally conscious. In lieu of leather, the company uses recycled materials and a fabric made from collected ocean plastic as well as PET bottles.
Owners of the ID Buzz should expect to charge their vehicles from 5% power to 80% in just 30 minutes.
VW, which is planning to invest $100 billion over the next five years to develop its electric manufacturing capacity, is banking on its subsidiary, Electrify America, and its more than 670 charging stations across the country.
The company hopes the infrastructure that has been put in place will lure drivers away from gas-powered cars and toward EVs.
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