New Electric VW California - Is it coming?

Volkswagen recently announced the NEW VW California, called the ID California.

Volkswagen also released the new hybrid VW T7 Multivan, which many have been claiming the California will be based one. We're here with the facts as we know them, to let you know the scoop from someone inside the industry.

The new ID California will be based on what we believe will be the ID Buzz, specifically the ID Buzz Cargo. The new longer version of the iconic electric surf bus that has been doing the rounds on the web.

Either way, the new era of electric campervans is looking like it will produce some fantastic vehicles, that will be loaded with accessories and style in a new, fresh design. We're excited to see what is launched and what we will do our campervan conversions on here at Jerba.

Jerba Campervans is an official Volkswagen registered vehicle bodybuilder for the Transporter T6.1, focusing on the highest in quality, safety, and customer service.

Based in North Berwick Scotland we offer six different T6.1 conversion layouts and also fit our own Ventile canvas elevating roof to any T5, T6 or T6.1 transporters. Three of our layouts are available for hire.

[exploremoreoutdoors]

If the Buzz comes with a roof rack and can handle the static load, I intend to buy it and put a rooftop tent on it. Granted long distance road trips will be more challenging, but I am optimistic about EV range and the growing charging network. For camping trips, especially on the west coast of the USA, it will be easy to find charge stations and make for a great van to camp with.

[shefan]

looking forward to this one, where can I buy In Canada?

[Circamm]

Really useful update Steve. The combination of range and charging points (particularly more remote areas) will be a big factor.

[KennyTelfer]

Great update Steve, I'm glad I bought my van last year, no way electric is going to be a practical option for campers for a while. I've been reading that campsite electrics will need upgraded to cope too with vehicles and leisure charging....

[jordskates]

I've been looking forward to this since the ID buzz was first shown in 2017 so it's really disappointing to hear the camper might not be out until 2026-2030!

[kitbe]

I am so excitedly all ears for VW camper van either California version or ID Buzz 100% electric with right hand wheel for Thailand traffic. Please, please, please…..

[WestwoodLodge]

We bought our diesel California in 2009 based on 10-15 years before the electric version would replace it. Hopefully, we won’t have to keep our old Cali going until 2029 as electric is the future. Diesel will be history soon enough.

[Goku]

ID Buzz and ID Cargo will be released in Europ in ttwo versions. long and short, in US only long.
The ID California will be based on the long version of the ID BUZZ

[christianlewisphotography]

A friend of a friend purchased an electric Transporter van and for about £60k the range is under 100 miles. If it was converted to a campervan, the range would be even less.

[stefang]

A bus with a roof tent would be enough for me, even the small version would fit that perfectly, wouldn't it?

[peakproofuk]

Surely the buzz cargo is the same dimensions as the regular buzz. Vw have announced they’ll be two lengths - long wheel base for USA, an option elsewhere. Can’t imagine why the Cargo would be wider. Could be wrong obviously.

The other day I saw a pic of a Transporter Test vehicle on a german highway. It was a T6.1 with some fenders and front similar to the shown ID.Buzz concept and T7 Multivan.
Based on that I would say the ID.California will be a facelifted T6.1 body with electric/hybrid driveline.

[tedb.]

My mother owned three Westfalia campers in the 1960s through the 1980s. The extra weight of the camper fittings just-killed the air-cooled engines. Each one went through atleast one re-built or swapped engines...the last one ate 4 engines before it was scrapped. With all that weight they were pedal to the floor for hours and hours to maintain 65mph on the interstates and less in a headwind. The VW Bug's 1800cc engine just didn't have the power or torque to push a fully-laden camper through the air at interstate speeds. It really needed a 2400cc or even a 3-litre for long transcontinental road trips. We'd put 3000 miles on in just four days of driving. One trip we did over 5000 miles in two weeks; NJ to Yellowstone to Grand Teton and back...stopping in Minnesota to see the relatives. Another was NJ to Maine to Cape Gaspe Canada, then Quebec, Montreal to Sault St Marie to Minnesota, then back to NJ.

Fully loaded with full-length roof-rack and gear I think they were close to 3500-4000 lbs with passengers.

[ianross]

Can we really see an totally electric future for campervans with current battery and charging technology? It still appears that we are along way from being able to ditch ICE.

[ramman]

I honestly want a larger battery option especially for the camper equipment, us testing looks something like the t6 but this may be just a test mule as the bus is iconic in design

[juniper]

Well, now they’ve announced that the cargo van won’t be sold in North America at all (presumably because of the chicken tax; they can’t be assed to go through the two-step production workaround that Mercedes does for the Sprinter cargo). So, long wheel base passenger van only. So I think most of you who commented earlier are correct—this isn’t ready for camper van conversion in the very near term, We might have a different answer in 5 years.

[Steven-cxfh]

In your recent video comparing the current ICE California with the Jerba range it was clear to me that the Jerbas (especially the Sanna) were the better designed campervans on most features and functions (as well as the more bespoke). If Jerba can develop an all electric campervan on the ID Cargo base the long wait for the ID California would become irrelevant to me, unless it had something special to put it ahead in a future all-electric Jerba v ID California head to head. Also I think the comments are overly pessimistic about future EV range; if the Tesla Cybertruck were in production today (a big if obviously) there are already camper conversions (only concepts admittedly) that would only reduce the Cybertruck's 500 mile top range by about 5%. As an EV user and flat dweller unable to instal a home charger I think the biggest challenge for EV electrification (including campervans) is not the production of sufficient vehicles with sufficient range but the charging infrastructure, especially that outside the Tesla supercharger network

[vanmantalks]

Hopefully it will have better range than the 82miles on the VW Transporter

[brentweaver]

I can’t wait. I’m ordering a Ford Transit EV

[seanfallon]

I think the new T7 will become the next california as it comes in a short wheel and a long wheel variant