The electric Volkswagen T2 Bulli from 1972 is the inspiration for ID. to hum
MANILA: In 1972, Volkswagen presented a prototype of the T2 Bulli with an electric drive train in the rear. This 50-year-old dream comes to life with the launch of the new Volkswagen ID. To hum.
THE CENTRAL THESIS
What was the battery capacity of the first Volkswagen T2 prototype?
The battery of the first Volkswagen T2 prototype weighed 880 kg and had a capacity of 21.6 kWh.
Which major automotive trends flow into the new Volkswagen ID. To hum?
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz is innovative and versatile and combines today’s major automotive trends: electric mobility, intelligent networking of assistance and information systems, technical requirements for automated driving and over-the-air software updates.
The first electric drive systems for Volkswagen were designed in 1970 by the then Head of Future Research, Adolf Kalberlah, laying the foundation for the all-electric ID. To hum. Two years later, the T2-based Bulli was shown as a prototype.
The first T2 prototype, a flatbed truck with an open bed, weighed 2.2 tons and was equipped with an 880 kg battery with a capacity of 21.6 kWh. The new ID card. Buzz, on the other hand, has a battery capacity of 7 kWh and weighs only 500 kg.
Because the electric T2 was built on the same foundation as the conventional T2, installing the battery under the vehicle was a challenge. The battery was instead installed on the cargo floor, where it could be pulled out if necessary. The ID Buzz, on the other hand, is based on Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive (MEB) platform and has a completely new architecture. This allows the battery pack to be installed low and flat in the ‘sandwich floor’, resulting in a lower, more dynamic center of gravity that provides responsiveness, safety and driving pleasure while providing additional interior space. By doing without a front engine, the ID. Like the T2, Buzz has a very tight turning radius, making it perfect for maneuvering through congested streets or parking lots.
The T2 electric van had a range of 85 kilometers, but instead of charging it, Volkswagen developed an innovative battery swapping system. Seven T2s were tried in a 1978 fleet test in Berlin, Germany, with a transfer station in the Tiergarten district. Engineers were able to replace a dead battery with a fully charged battery in just five minutes, cutting the time it would have taken to charge the battery by several hours.
Due to significant advances in charging capabilities, the term battery replacement is no longer used. The ID. Buzz has a maximum charging capacity of 170 kW, which means that batteries can be charged from 5% to 80% in around half an hour.
Volkswagen was already a leader in energy management in the 1970s. The T2 electric van’s energy recovery system collects kinetic energy during braking and uses it to charge the battery. A technological masterpiece back then, a given today. While the technology for the ID. Buzz has been updated and tuned to increase range by 20% to 30%, the key principle of inertial power generation in a closed system remains the same.
What began as a groundbreaking development in 1972 with the T2 electric transporter is now reality after 50 years. The ID Buzz is innovative and versatile and combines today’s major automotive trends: electric mobility, intelligent networking of assistance and information systems, technical requirements for automated driving and over-the-air software updates.
Photos by Volkswagen
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