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Buzz Camper Conversion

Looks pretty interesting. Obviously the design of the ID’s structure limits the roof opening, so it will be interesting to see how they figure out a roof bed system down the line. Maybe a side opening pop top like the Bilbo’s?

The floor storage locker is a neat idea - handy, because storage elsewhere is very limited. I like the idea of the kitchen becoming semi-outside but that does eat into cupboard space.

The little roof rack in wood, snuck in behind the pop top how cool is that!
 
As @Corradobrit says, we all jumped on this the other day in another thread. I still have to say it’s an excellent effort by the conversion company - well throught out and doing the very best they can with the space available. In doing so though they have highlighted every weakness the Buzz Cali fans have tried to ignore. Too small, not enough space, no versatility, missing key features expensive, etc etc etc. At 91K for the luxury version (which says it sleeps 4!) it is an expensive way to wear your green badges and a lesson in just because you can does not mean you should. That there is something different on its way from VW, I have no doubt. Is it this? Not on your nelly.
 
So with a massive battery pack under the floor, why do they need add a further power bank to run the hob?
 
Jerba have checked what could be possible having stripped the Buzz van back to the bare metal. I think the verdict is… a nice ‘Day van’. Seems to be loads of space under the floor, which surprised me.
 
Kayleigh said:
So with a massive battery pack under the floor, why do they need add a further power bank to run the hob?
Click to expand...
Easy to charge at home.

Just pull it out and charge fully before a trip. Then Topped up during ‘off grid’ camping using roof mounted solar.
 
Ch1pbutty said:
Easy to charge at home.

Just pull it out and charge fully before a trip. Then Topped up during ‘off grid’ camping using roof mounted solar.
Click to expand...
Would love to know what they spec'ed for the power source. I used my small microwave in the Cali during my last trip powered with a EF Delta 2. Boiling a mug of water consumed 7-9% of the charge. Cooking a complete meal and brewing a pot of tea would empty the power pack.
I don't see this as a practical way to power the induction hob (with likely more than the 1250W needs of my microwave), fridge, lights AND charge all the gadgets. Looks way under equipped in the electrical dept, made even worse when you know you are sitting on top of a 77kWh battery pack.
 
One thing I would be wary of, especially in the early days of buzz conversions is whether the converter was one of VW’s approved converters.
 
Corradobrit said:
Would love to know what they spec'ed for the power source. I used my small microwave in the Cali during my last trip powered with a EF Delta 2. Boiling a mug of water consumed 7-9% of the charge. Cooking a complete meal and brewing a pot of tea would empty the power pack.
I don't see this as a practical way to power the induction hob (with likely more than the 1250W needs of my microwave), fridge, lights AND charge all the gadgets. Looks way under equipped in the electrical dept, made even worse when you know you are sitting on top of a 77kWh battery pack.
Click to expand...
That’s why gas cooking & heating would be better, with a small leisure battery.
 
Kayleigh said:
So with a massive battery pack under the floor, why do they need add a further power bank to run the hob?
Click to expand...
Converters are not allowed to hook into the EV battery for legal and safety reasons. Even if there was an OEM version I would imagine they would segment off part of the battery pack.
 
dspuk said:
Converters are not allowed to hook into the EV battery for legal and safety reasons. Even if there was an OEM version I would imagine they would segment off part of the battery pack.
Click to expand...
If the Buzz had V2L capability the owner could use the charging connection to power other components so there is a way around that limitation. The Kia EV6 offers that feature and people plug their caravans into the onboard power pack.
 

Jerba’s initial view of the viability of the Buzz Cargo as a camper. More of a day van possibly.
 
Cwcltd said:
Nice Buzz conversion.

First I’ve seen, looks good.
Click to expand...
at Outbase campervans in The Netherlands they are also "buzzing" (and building) a ID Buzz Campervan. They state that they are doing this in coordination with VW (@ArunAlec).
They want to make it a 4 person campervan, so also a poptop where one can sleep in.
Including a 3Kw extra household battery and reversible front chairs.
First impressions;
5649accb-01ae-e54a-33c6-3b3ce2b30ff1.jpg

468e76fe-934e-01fd-43ca-7644dfa74e14.png
 
2 berth (barely though, the bed looks very small?) and even less storage than the Cali. Looks ideal for a solo camper only. Hard pass from me.
 
It says the bed size is 1200mm wide. Comparing to the Buzz boot width, which is 1275, the bed looks significantly narrower to me, more like 1000mm. That’s excluding No.4 on the diagram. Also worth noting that the Buzz appears to narrow towards the rear, which leads me to believe VW will craft this into a very cleverly designed Beach style California. It’s simply not big enough to try and squeeze a full sized camper inside.
 
Corradobrit said:
Would love to know what they spec'ed for the power source. I used my small microwave in the Cali during my last trip powered with a EF Delta 2. Boiling a mug of water consumed 7-9% of the charge. Cooking a complete meal and brewing a pot of tea would empty the power pack.
I don't see this as a practical way to power the induction hob (with likely more than the 1250W needs of my microwave), fridge, lights AND charge all the gadgets. Looks way under equipped in the electrical dept, made even worse when you know you are sitting on top of a 77kWh battery pack.
Click to expand...
As some here know, I use a Bluetti AC200 MAX coupled only to the 12v input charger when driving and a 200W flexi solar panel when stationary, to power my 1500w induction hob, 800w microwave, 1200w air fryer, 1300w Dyson Air Wrap (for the Missus) and various laptops, phones and 5G router on my campervan travels.

Never had an issue and though it's quite weighty, I LOVE not having to bother with gas anymore and best of all - it's FREE. I then move to use at home with the panel in the garden 24/7. The 2kWh are plenty

Bluetti 2kWh Solar Generator.jpg

Solar 2.jpg
 
dspuk said:
Converters are not allowed to hook into the EV battery for legal and safety reasons. Even if there was an OEM version I would imagine they would segment off part of the battery pack.
Click to expand...
I've spent a lot of time researching V2l (vehicle to load) which in some vehicle manufacturers such as the Ioniqs and Hyundais and actually allow you to tap into the main traction battery via an in-car 3 pin 230v socket with the rated draw upto 3600W.

Some other brands such as Chinese MG, need an adaptor that plugs into the charging port but allows full 2400W draw from the main traction battery.
 
Wannabecamperman said:
I've spent a lot of time researching V2l (vehicle to load) which in some vehicle manufacturers such as the Ioniqs and Hyundais and actually allow you to tap into the main traction battery via an in-car 3 pin 230v socket with the rated draw upto 3600W.

Some other brands such as Chinese MG, need an adaptor that plugs into the charging port but allows full 2400W draw from the main traction battery.
Click to expand...
Yup. When I worked at Nissan we did loads of advertising stunts based on V2L with the Leaf, powering streets and the like.
 
Cwcltd said:
Nice Buzz conversion.

First I’ve seen, looks good.
Click to expand...
Without having seen one, i have long suspected it was going to be difficult to build a useful campervan out of the IDBuzz. The video confirms my suspicious that the existing ICE Californias are going to see a long life as there is little that does as much, so well, as the current versions. As others remark, this EV version is more Caddy than California.
 
Corradobrit said:
If the Buzz had V2L capability the owner could use the charging connection to power other components so there is a way around that limitation. The Kia EV6 offers that feature and people plug their caravans into the onboard power pack.
Click to expand...

You can order the Buzz with a 230V socket under the front passenger seat. So it is possible to recharge the ‘leisure’ power bank off the main battery.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
rupertpoon said:
You can order the Buzz with a 230V socket under the front passenger seat. So it is possible to recharge the ‘leisure’ power bank off the main battery.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Might be best a avoided unless you are on EHU, otherwsie will eat into your driving range.

If we charge our EV at home, pretty sure any preheating of the car is direct from 'hookup' - ie bypasses the cars drving battery when plugged in....but i might be wrong.

If above is the case it would mean that you could have full climate control when hooked up camping without drawing power from driving battery.
 
rupertpoon said:
You can order the Buzz with a 230V socket under the front passenger seat. So it is possible to recharge the ‘leisure’ power bank off the main battery.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
I may be wrong but am pretty certain that this option is just a 3 pin adaptor on a standard 12v outlet - the same as Ford, Toyota and Land Rover offer on some models, only rated to around 150w max.

I doubt that there is any pure sinewave inverter or true vehicle-to-load like the 2000w / 3600w that MG, Kia and Hyundai allow from the main traction batteries. That's what we need to make a truly electric camper, and I'll be first in the queue, subject to electricity prices not rising further.
 
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