Rerun – Volkswagen ID.Buzz Cargo at Los Angeles Show

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The original Volkswagen Transporter is one of the most recognizable light commercial vehicles. With the auto show premiere of the ID.Buzz Cargo concept, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is showing how an electrically powered and completely redeveloped Transporter might change the world of LCVs.  With fresher decals it’s in LA as a support vehicle for the I.D. R Pikes Peak record holder. (see AutoInformed on VW ID.Buzz Cargo  Teases New Light Commercial Vehicles and VW Group Electric Shuffle – Emden, Hanover to build EVs)

Based on the Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB), its a mild variant to the I.D. Buzz Cargo concept first shown in Detroit last year. The Cargo could be launched as a production vehicle in Europe as early as 2022.

Such a vehicle has the potential to revolutionize parcel delivery. Between 2005 and 2015, the global number of parcels delivered grew by 128%, due in large part to the revolution in e-commerce and home delivery.

In the US delivery trucks account for 7 % of urban traffic and 17 percent of congestion costs due to wasted hours and fuel. The use of autonomous electric delivery vans has the potential to lower the CO2 footprint of these vehicles, lower operating costs to delivery services (and thus, potentially, to customers), and make the whole process more efficient.