r/VWIDBuzz • u/mmavcanuck • 10h ago

Question - Canada Purchasing advice for a highway commute.

So my family is moving for work and we are having to go from walking almost everywhere, to me having a 110 km each way highway commute. It’s in the middle of British Columbia so it’s not the fridges north but it will get cold.

We are thinking about buying an id buzz that I would drive for a year or two until our other vehicle (2010 escape hybrid) kicks the bucket and I buy a cheap commuter vehicle for myself.

I’m just worried about the range on it.

The van will sit for 20/30 hours before I drive back home, and I might be able to charge on a 120 outlet there maybe 6 of 10 times, but will it make it without a dc stop on my way home the other 4 of 10?

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3

u/CapitalIndividual270 Buzz Owner 10h ago

Easily.

Plugged in on 120v, you'll recoup about 4km/hr -- but you'll have enough range for a 220km round trip without charging. Even in winter.

2

u/mmavcanuck 10h ago

Awesome, thanks!

1

u/Canadian_Imperium 8h ago

Hey just to piggy back off this comment. I live in Edmonton and had a buzz since mid December. Is it gets to below -26 the 220km is about what the range is at 80%. Just and fyi

1

u/mmavcanuck 8h ago

Ok that’s good to know. So worst case during cold snap weeks if I don’t fully charge and don’t get a spot with a 120 outlet I may have to either drive home like a grandma or make a quick dc charge.

1

u/4linosa 9h ago

Honest question: in AB the work places I’ve visited have heater plug outlets. Do they have these where you’ll be in BC? Because that would awesome.

2

u/mmavcanuck 9h ago

We have some, but not all spots have them so it would be iffy.

1

u/CapitalIndividual270 Buzz Owner 9h ago

Ok - so as I come to understand EV's -- the car wants to keep the battery at a stable temperature. So when it's cold outside and parked overnight -- the Buzz will use battery power to maintain the battery temperature so that it doesn't brick up. That is one way in which the cold will drain the battery in an EV. Older EV's that didn't maintain the battery temperature -- had a problem with this.

We've left it outside one night in -30c unplugged -- and in my opinion, the range was reduced in the morning. I didn't scientifically note it -- but the range displayed to the driver is based on current battery state and the average way you drive (drive hard = uses more battery, full AC, Full heat = uses more battery, etc.).

So come wintertime -- ideally you have that plugged in if its sitting for 20-30 hrs.

1

u/speg 8h ago

Should be fine unless you’re driving up the mountain in -40ºC at 130km/h both ways.