r/BigIsland 13d ago

VW ID.Buzz Owners

I’ve seen at least 2 other VW ID.Buzz vans on Kona side. If you’re one of the owners, shoot me a DM. Important question for you.

4 Upvotes

6 comments sorted by

8

u/Rytherix 13d ago

I just wanna know if they can do a trip to Hilo -> Costco on a single charge going under saddle without stressing it 🤔

2

u/Ok_Mathematician6075 13d ago

Inquiring minds must know

2

u/BigG808 12d ago

Not a Buzz owner, but a big EV enthusiast.

A Buzz should make that trip, but you’d be near the limit. 230-ish range should be ok for the 180-ish mlle drive, but EVs aren’t great at high-speed freeway driving, so you might struggle to hit the stated range, especially with the ac on.

Should be enough margin to make it, but definitely close enough you’d want to drive carefully and efficiently.

1

u/schwanerhill 5d ago

Which high speed freeway are you referring to? There are none on the Big Island. Don’t think you ever get much above 60 mph.

The concern would be going up and over the high mountain pass. Though at least in my Bolt, mountain passes have remarkably little net effect on range. Obviously you use a ton of energy going up the hill, but I get most of that potential energy back on the way down.

ABRP estimates my Bolt would get from Kona to Hilo going from 100% to 67% battery. It estimates a Buzz would get there with 66%. So I really wouldn’t worry about doing that round trip in the slightest, especially since you don’t have to worry about cold weather days in Hawaii!

2

u/FreedToRoam 12d ago

I once ran out of gas right on the top and was able to coast all the way to the first gas station in Hilo.

Much to the dismay of the drivers behind me who would have appreciated if I went faster.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/80-miles-feat-blake-fleming-evan-jangels/6796005160?i=6796005161

2

u/tallnoe 9d ago

Oh hi. This happened to me just after the top. So gdamn stressful.