Automakers are continuing to rapidly transition their vehicle lineups to offer more EVs, but the charging grid hasn’t quite kept up with the boost in EV production. The market is ripe for innovation, and German tuner ABT has come up with something that may work as a compelling EV charging solution with solar panels mounted to the upcoming VW ID Buzz all-electric van.
ABT has designed a solar roof panel exclusively for the Volkswagen ID Buzz EV, which is effectively the resurgence of the iconic VW bus. ABT says it had designs on creating a solar roof for the ID Buzz from the jump, but at the time the concept was introduced, solar models shapes were too “complex” and the process was “cost intensive.”
However, the German tuner seems to have figured it out and decided that the long wheel base ID Buzz is fit for their design. The tuner says that its solar panel roof model has a peak output of 600W and can send power directly into the EV van’s battery. The tuner says it is already “considering” a side panel extension which would boost output to 1,000W.
The panel can charge the ID Buzz while parked or driving and is capable of generating enough power to provide an additional estimated 1,864 miles of range over the course of a year. Averaged out, that’s just over 150 miles of range a month, which isn’t massive, but hey it’s something, right?
ABT says that its panel could work for other uses like powering a refrigerator or interior lighting in a camper van version of the ID Buzz. While this isn’t officially a factory option, ABT says that Volkswagen Group Service will handle the conversions. For anyone interested in picking up this mod, the down side is that it is unlikely that it will be sold in North America, considering it’s a German tuner shop.
If you live anywhere else, you’ll have to wait a little bit longer to get your ID Buzz converted. ABT says production of its solar roof won’t begin until 2024.
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