The system will be perfect for camping.
The minds at ABT have come up with an incredible solar module system for the upcoming ID. Buzz long wheelbase. The system, which comes from the company’s electromobility arm ABT e-Line, worked to create a system that would work on the limited roof area and with the complex shapes of the solar modules. After much work, the company is pleased to announce a solar charging solution that can output 600 W into the vehicle's battery.
Since this solution is meant for the LWB models, we hope it will be available for the ID. Buzz that is going to debut here in the US this summer. The system is still in the early stages, but when it finally goes into production in 2024, the company even has plans to upgrade the output to 1,000W using the vehicle’s side panels.
Vehicles equipped with the system will be able to actively charge up with energy while stationary or while driving. The company says the system will be able to power the vehicle for up to 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles) per year, but doesn’t go on to say what kinds of conditions are needed to achieve this number. We assume people living in Nevada will probably get better use of this system than people living in Pennsylvania.
“BEV and PHEV vehicles, with their traction storage units, are the perfect platform for using solar energy for propulsion too,” explains Eric Plekkepoel, CEO of ABT e-Line GmbH.
While the added range is certainly good and useful, the company also says the system will really benefit the charging of items in the van. As we imagine many people will use the vans for outdoor excursions, the system will be very beneficial in charging interior lighting and things like refrigerators.
ABT says the conversions will be done at their factory in the name of logistics and greater sustainability. As of right now, there’s no word on if the system is coming to the US, but with how big overlanding and camping have gotten here over the years, we imagine it would be a very popular conversion.
With the proliferation of electric vehicles, there has been a lot of renewed interest in solar-powered solutions to extend the range or completely power a car. In an extreme example, recently a Nissan Ariya began a journey from the magnetic North Pole to the South Pole and will use a combination of wind turbine and solar panels to power the car along the way.
Many new automakers have also popped up hoping to be the first to be the one to bring a solar-powered car to market. Obviously, this is a monumental task, one that is continuing to see its fair share of setbacks. Focusing on the system as an extender is a much more viable option and one we imagine we’ll see a lot more of as time goes on.
We would love to see some solar-powered VW buses riding around here soon, and we imagine there will be lots of opportunities to use the system in a professional sense. VW showed off a bunch of different concepts for the van that highlighted how it could be refitted as a work vehicle, and we imagine many businesses that work out of their vans would be interested in an unlimited power source such as this.
Keyword: ABT Has Developed A Solar Module System To Extend The Range On The VW ID. Buzz