Volkswagen revealed the study of the electric van called Volkswagen budd-e at this week’s 2016 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It is based on the new platform for electric cars. Budd-e also serves as a presentation of the infotainment and connectivity concepts in the near future. They also announced the beginning of serial production early next year.

President of Volkswagen Herbert Diess canceled its participation at the premiere of the new Passat in the US last September as a direct result of an affair with the controversial software in diesel engines. This year Diess confirmed his participation at the consumer electronics fair CES in Las Vegas, where Volkswagen revealed one of this year’s most interesting studies. This study, called budd-e, represents electric version of a van and serial reincarnation of the legendary “bulli”. Budd-e, which will be dimensionally shorter than the new Multivan, will be made in VW’s plant in Mexican Puebla. The serial production is very close, the first examples will come of the serial production lines at the beginning of 2017.

Volkswagen budd-e as electric reincarnation of the legendary model Type 2 “bulli”

The study and the serial Volkswagen budd-e will retain the key highlights of Volkswagen Type 2, one of the most recognizable Volkswagen models of all time. Budd-e will have electrically powered engine already presented in the Audi R8 e-tron study and the Audi e-tron quattro.

Volkswagen electric van BUDD-e range up to 533 kilometers

BUDD-e is the first Volkswagen, which was designed by the new, electric car designed modular power platform MEB. It will have all-wheel drive with a 100-kW electric motor at the front and 125-kilowatt electric motor on the rear axle. All this enables the acceleration in 6.9 seconds to 100 kilometers per hour and a maximum speed of 180 kilometers per hour. The engine is powered by batteries with a capacity of 92.4 kWh, which allow maximum reach 533 kilometers (European NEDC cycle) and 233 miles (US EPA cycle). Battery charge is possible through a wall outlet or inductively. Fast charging with 150 kW promises that the battery can be filled up to 80% capacity in 30 minutes.

Because of compact and very thin batteries they can be placed on the bottom of the car. That way Budd-e can offer plenty of room for passengers and their luggage. New Volkswagen electric van is 4.597 mm long, 1.835 mm high and 1.940 mm wide and can be placed somewhere between Touran and Multivan. Because of the large wheelbase and short overhangs it is very manouverable and thanks to four-wheel steering its 11.5 meter turning circle is quite usefull achievement.

Heating and ventilation completely installed in front of the car, as it increases the space. This is mainly in favor of the fact that Volkswagen Budd-e was designed as a lounge where passengers spend their time traveling with pleasure. Of course they didn’t forget about the driver, who will be able to “hang out” with other passengers because of the option of some sort of self driving car. Driver’s environment is otherwise devoted entirely to the new electronic toys. We can see a lot of digital displays, Budd-e will allow intuitive operation with motion, touching and speaking, it will have a big basic screen and full connectivity to the Internet and home.

For Volkswagen, the electrical study budd-e – electric van will also be produced with conventional diesel and gasoline versions – is extremely important. They need to correct the reputation of the trade mark in the United States. Group management has already made a step in the right direction last year, when they announced the new “electric only”  Volkswagen Phaeton.

Image credit: Volkswagen