Kyle of Out of Spec Motoring did a 70mph test and charged the Buzz to 98% and it was still pulling over 50kwh at 90% and over 100kwh at 50%. His test vehicle had 21 inch wheels plus it was cold. He ran it down to 1% and did 158 miles. I assume at 65 on 19 inch wheels one could improve the range, significantly in better weather. The charging curve makes covering distances easy and I was considering a Buzz, but not at £72k
I have a Buzz on order but I’m seriously considering cancelling. The range is really disappointing considering how much it costs. Thanks for your videos, they’re very informative real world data…
Range is always worse in winter, with wet and windy conditions compounding it in this example. The main thing here is the Buzz charges at 171 kW in this case and she is back on the road in minutes. I have a Model 3 and this would make me feel happy that a Buzz is an amazing proposition if you need all the space it has 🙂
@@jessonabike i cancelled my order this week after Tesla dropped there prices. I can pick up a model Y for nearly £20k less than a Buzz. It’s a nice car, but it’s no California and until I see more flexibility and a better pricing structure, I won’t be going near the Buzz.
Thanks for the honest and informative review. The biggest issue for me is advice to only charge up to 80% and let it run down to 20%. This is like buying a car with a 100 litre fuel tank that only holds 60! I also question why any owner on a lease would bother to follow this advice, I don’t think I would, that is the lease companies issue. It is a great car though, just not nearly as good as it should be, would have been much better as a hybrid in my opinion.
I see you have a "Home" location set for charging. Whatever settings are in that location (e.g. percent to charge to) will override the default setting on the charge screen. You didn't show it in the video, but I suspect a setting in there is what caused the overnight charge to terminate early. Well worth reading the manual to understand how the settings interact.
No I checked that as well, but thanks for the tip though. Another Buzz owner thinks that it might be doing it until the battery has been worn in a bit.
Great video Jen 👍 Is it possible your charge was set to “Charge at preferred times”, so only charged between those times? I’m assuming you’re on Octopus Go to get that cheap rate… Also, have you got the WeCharge card yet, as you might find Ionity rates are cheaper using that. It’s so different from my e-Niro, but I’m two weeks in now and loving it… learning more about it every week 😊
It wasn’t the charge times, that was set to finish at 4:30, the car stopped charging at 3:30. I thought that the wecharge card only gave you the cheap rate if you pay £12.99 a month.
@@RealBuzzLife Good point on the Ionity cost. It looks like you’d need add 400kWh’s per year before it starts to become cheaper. Strange one it stopping at 90%. I’ve not had it happen to me yet, but let us know if you figure out why it happened
Could it just be there wasn’t enough time overnight to charge the car to 100%. I might have missed what the starting percentage was, and I assume as you have a zappi you are charging at max of 7.4kW on a 32A supply (unless you are lucky enough to have 3 phase electricity and can get the Buzz’s max AC rate of 11kW or have a current that is restricting the power to the car so getting less than the 7.4kW of a single phase wallbox), so 0 to 100% would take 12:15 hours according to EV database. The 19% mentioned later to 100% would take 9ish hours
Good information thank you. The reality for fuel costs will always be a mix of home and public charging so will be different for nearly everyone. Still waiting for my Buzz. VW must rank as the worst for customer communication. No one has any idea what is happening 🤬Would be nice to receive my priority order (Joke) by the Spring 😄
I have a buzz too but only a few weeks in and was told the first few cycles of the battery would protect itself maybe that’s why it didn’t go 100%. Very interested in you range as I have a similar journey of 92 miles that I have not tried yet but am I little worried it won’t make it as in Scotland which is colder but do you think you could make it with 100% on a cold day?
For any EV, the realistic range is at least 25% off the advertised range, from the result you need to deduct heating use etc. The fact that any speed over 60mph absolutely drains the battery, this is a serious disadvantage. At the moment there are far too many compromises a driver has to make to have an EV as an everyday car.
Also, with any EV, as time goes on the battery WILL deteriorate - even if it is only gradually. Tesla I think, estimate 10% which if it was the same for the VW could be 20 miles less after a couple of years......possibly more if you often use rapid chargers. For an owner who does longer distances or lacks home charging, the EV world needs a breakthrough to gain universal acceptance.
My last car was a Niro and I loved it but it’s too small for us. The Buzz is a big van, so the range is to do with that annoying thing called physics. It’s also the longest range van on the market at the moment.
I'm not saying this is a bad car but it does illustrate why it isn't the car for all people. Certainly it wouldn't suit my usage. The networks seriously need to think hard about their charging facilities - a few winters standing out in the cold rain and sleet, plugging your car in without cover is going to be tedious. There is also the spectre of the overnight power cut - what then? With 210 miles range in cold weather, you are looking for a charge as you get down to say 30 miles - i.e. you only have 180 miles range between stops. For a £72,000 car, in this case, that doesn't make a strong case for an EV.
I agree, it is very expensive, but it’s a luxury vehicle and some people will buy it. But cheaper options are coming from Maxus, Hyundai, BYD, etc. European manufacturers will have a challenging time ahead. But if they continue to create cool iconic vehicles then they’ll probably still sell.
It looks a nice car but you know are they so green these EV contraptions? Kids mining for Cobalt in Africa is not mine idea of the green deal.Sorry put me off like the smarty phone we are all conned.
OK even if that were true what about the oil spills, choking smogs, climate change disaster and countless wars for oil power all killing millions of animals and people, especially children, over the past 100 years? Stop being brainwashed by the oil industry please.
@foppo More Cobalt is used for refining fossil fuels, that's something else the oil industry and other anti ev people conveniently forget to mention when they play the cobalt card....
Kyle of Out of Spec Motoring did a 70mph test and charged the Buzz to 98% and it was still pulling over 50kwh at 90% and over 100kwh at 50%. His test vehicle had 21 inch wheels plus it was cold. He ran it down to 1% and did 158 miles. I assume at 65 on 19 inch wheels one could improve the range, significantly in better weather. The charging curve makes covering distances easy and I was considering a Buzz, but not at £72k
I have had a EV for a few years, its good to see and hear of your experiences. Great content!
My buzz is on order so I'm enjoying and learning from your posts. Thank you. One question. Would you buy it again now you have had it for a while
I have a Buzz on order but I’m seriously considering cancelling. The range is really disappointing considering how much it costs. Thanks for your videos, they’re very informative real world data…
Range is always worse in winter, with wet and windy conditions compounding it in this example. The main thing here is the Buzz charges at 171 kW in this case and she is back on the road in minutes. I have a Model 3 and this would make me feel happy that a Buzz is an amazing proposition if you need all the space it has 🙂
@@jessonabike i cancelled my order this week after Tesla dropped there prices. I can pick up a model Y for nearly £20k less than a Buzz.
It’s a nice car, but it’s no California and until I see more flexibility and a better pricing structure, I won’t be going near the Buzz.
Thanks for the honest and informative review. The biggest issue for me is advice to only charge up to 80% and let it run down to 20%. This is like buying a car with a 100 litre fuel tank that only holds 60! I also question why any owner on a lease would bother to follow this advice, I don’t think I would, that is the lease companies issue. It is a great car though, just not nearly as good as it should be, would have been much better as a hybrid in my opinion.
Petrol forecourts are generally covered why aren't charging points, abit strange.
That is better than any Electrify America site in the entire USA.
I see you have a "Home" location set for charging. Whatever settings are in that location (e.g. percent to charge to) will override the default setting on the charge screen. You didn't show it in the video, but I suspect a setting in there is what caused the overnight charge to terminate early. Well worth reading the manual to understand how the settings interact.
No I checked that as well, but thanks for the tip though. Another Buzz owner thinks that it might be doing it until the battery has been worn in a bit.
Great video Jen 👍 Is it possible your charge was set to “Charge at preferred times”, so only charged between those times? I’m assuming you’re on Octopus Go to get that cheap rate… Also, have you got the WeCharge card yet, as you might find Ionity rates are cheaper using that. It’s so different from my e-Niro, but I’m two weeks in now and loving it… learning more about it every week 😊
It wasn’t the charge times, that was set to finish at 4:30, the car stopped charging at 3:30.
I thought that the wecharge card only gave you the cheap rate if you pay £12.99 a month.
@@RealBuzzLife Good point on the Ionity cost. It looks like you’d need add 400kWh’s per year before it starts to become cheaper. Strange one it stopping at 90%. I’ve not had it happen to me yet, but let us know if you figure out why it happened
Interesting video, isn’t there a VW We Charge Tarife with reduced rates at Ionity? I’m „only“ paying 30-35 € Cent in Germany with the Plus tarif.
Yes but is a subscription service at £12.99 a month. I don’t use public charging often enough to make it worth it.
Range anxiety, getting out in the wet and wind. Not for me.
Could it just be there wasn’t enough time overnight to charge the car to 100%. I might have missed what the starting percentage was, and I assume as you have a zappi you are charging at max of 7.4kW on a 32A supply (unless you are lucky enough to have 3 phase electricity and can get the Buzz’s max AC rate of 11kW or have a current that is restricting the power to the car so getting less than the 7.4kW of a single phase wallbox), so 0 to 100% would take 12:15 hours according to EV database. The 19% mentioned later to 100% would take 9ish hours
The car stopped charging at 03:30, but could have charged until 0430, which is when the cheap rate ends and my charger would cut the power.
@@RealBuzzLife supicious it was exactly an hour early, the car or charger working on BST instead of GMT?
I'm watching since you bought and didn't realize i wasn't subed.I am now
Good information thank you. The reality for fuel costs will always be a mix of home and public charging so will be different for nearly everyone. Still waiting for my Buzz. VW must rank as the worst for customer communication. No one has any idea what is happening 🤬Would be nice to receive my priority order (Joke) by the Spring 😄
Hired one, get no more charge than 69kw at temperatures around zero. Several different charges, very disappointed
I have a buzz too but only a few weeks in and was told the first few cycles of the battery would protect itself maybe that’s why it didn’t go 100%.
Very interested in you range as I have a similar journey of 92 miles that I have not tried yet but am I little worried it won’t make it as in Scotland which is colder but do you think you could make it with 100% on a cold day?
I think I’d only make it if I drafted behind a lorry for some of the way, which is not a pleasant way to travel! and don’t go about 65mph.
Do you get cheap rate electric all night or just 4 hours like octopus go, surely the car will not fully charge in 4 hours.
Yes, Just 4 hours. So it takes 3 nights to charge back up. But don’t do 200 miles a day, only once a week, very few people do.
For any EV, the realistic range is at least 25% off the advertised range, from the result you need to deduct heating use etc. The fact that any speed over 60mph absolutely drains the battery, this is a serious disadvantage. At the moment there are far too many compromises a driver has to make to have an EV as an everyday car.
Also, with any EV, as time goes on the battery WILL deteriorate - even if it is only gradually. Tesla I think, estimate 10% which if it was the same for the VW could be 20 miles less after a couple of years......possibly more if you often use rapid chargers. For an owner who does longer distances or lacks home charging, the EV world needs a breakthrough to gain universal acceptance.
It's so terrible that she did it twice (at least)!
The range is quite rubbish compared to other cars. The new KIA Niro has increased its range on the MK2 from the Mk 1 ( just saying).
My last car was a Niro and I loved it but it’s too small for us. The Buzz is a big van, so the range is to do with that annoying thing called physics. It’s also the longest range van on the market at the moment.
I'm not saying this is a bad car but it does illustrate why it isn't the car for all people. Certainly it wouldn't suit my usage. The networks seriously need to think hard about their charging facilities - a few winters standing out in the cold rain and sleet, plugging your car in without cover is going to be tedious. There is also the spectre of the overnight power cut - what then? With 210 miles range in cold weather, you are looking for a charge as you get down to say 30 miles - i.e. you only have 180 miles range between stops. For a £72,000 car, in this case, that doesn't make a strong case for an EV.
God didn’t invent property he produced a garden for everyone to enjoy not just for a certain greedy few to manipulate the garden to feed their avarice
The price too much, too expensive, not for average income people , not worth it !
I agree, it is very expensive, but it’s a luxury vehicle and some people will buy it. But cheaper options are coming from Maxus, Hyundai, BYD, etc. European manufacturers will have a challenging time ahead. But if they continue to create cool iconic vehicles then they’ll probably still sell.
It looks a nice car but you know are they so green these EV contraptions? Kids mining for Cobalt in Africa is not mine idea of the green deal.Sorry put me off like the smarty phone we are all conned.
Hard working kids. Hats off to them. Just like hard working paper boys.
OK even if that were true what about the oil spills, choking smogs, climate change disaster and countless wars for oil power all killing millions of animals and people, especially children, over the past 100 years? Stop being brainwashed by the oil industry please.
@foppo More Cobalt is used for refining fossil fuels, that's something else the oil industry and other anti ev people conveniently forget to mention when they play the cobalt card....
These cars are not environmentally friendly at all, you’ve been conned into buying this rubbish, I’m all for cleaner transport, this is not the way