Volkswagen Group promises to release the all-electric I.D. Buzz Cargo van in 2021. However, those who can’t wait can opt for an alternative proposed by ABT Sportsline.
The car atelier came to the Hannover commercial car show with two electric conversions of originally gasoline-powered Caddy and Transporter vans. Either can be ordered as a passenger minibus or as a cargo vehicle.
The first of these, the ABT e-Caddy, uses the elongated Caddy Maxi wheelbase and is scheduled for production in 2019. It comes with an engine good for 111 hp (83 kW) and can accelerate to a maximum of 120 km/h (75 mph). Its driving range is estimated at 220 kilometers (130 mi).
The other one is called the ABT e-Transporter. It only exists as a design study right now, but may eventually hit the market as well. If so, it will ship as a nine-seat car or a cargo van with 6.7 cubic meters (236.6 cu. ft.) of cargo space.
While the e-Transporter has the same engine as the e-Caddy, it may be released with an optional battery twice as large as the original one, giving it a driving range of about 400 kilometers (250 miles).
Photo: carscoops.com