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Steering wheel covers made from non-animal leather, seat finishes made from cellulose or recycled materials made from plastic bottles: to further advance the production of its vehicles when it comes to sustainability, Volkswagen is being both creative and innovative – particularly when it comes to the models in the all-electric ID. family. Aiming to further reduce their ecological footprint, VW is researching various promising approaches and implementing them in series production. One focus area here is using non-animal and recycled materials in the interior. The well-established and often only alternative to date was imitation leather, which is predominantly based on plastics made of mineral oil, such as polyurethane or PVC. So, during a brainstorming session held by the team for biomaterials at Volkswagen Group Innovation, the idea of coffee leather was formed, since when the beans are roasted, the silver skin surrounding the coffee bean ends up being a residual material. The silver skins are a perfect filler for imitation leather. The substance builds up dried, and in a format very well suited for further processing. The non-animal imitation leather with its high proportion of biological materials could soon be used for car seats and arm rests in prototypes. “There is huge potential, and this could be one of the next steps for further optimising the ecological footprint of our ID. electric fleet,” says Dr. Martina Gottschling, a Volkswagen Group Innovation researcher. ID. Buzz is a pioneer when it comes to sustainable materials Volkswagen already uses many innovative materials in the interior of the ID. Buzz, and now these will be gradually introduced to the other models in the ID. family.

A dream that is to become reality 50 years later with the ID. Buzz. We journey back to the van’s roots. Volkswagen laid the foundations for the all-electric ID. Buzz, which has multiple generations of Volkswagen vans in its genes, more than 50 years ago: In 1970, Adolf Kalberlah founded the “Future Research” development area, which designed the first Volkswagens with electric drive systems. Two years later, Volkswagen presented an electric van based on the T2 – initially as a test vehicle, then later as a very small batch, with various optional set-ups.The vision of the electric “Bulli” is born, but not yet practical. The first prototype of the T2 – a flatbed truck with an open loading area – weighs 2.2 tons and carries an 880-kilogramme battery with a capacity of 21.6 kWh. Compared to today’s battery systems, the cells are not only heavy, they also store significantly less energy. 50 years later, the batteries in the first generation of the ID. Buzz have a capacity of 77 kWh (net) and weigh in at 500 kilograms – the result of many years of research and development. Last but not least, technological progress has had a considerable effect on agility and range, allowing the all-electric ID. Buzz to do its thing in the high-volume market. Space-saving MEB concept for the ID.

Stefan Lutz, Project leader for the ID. Buzz at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles As well as the physical testing, many aspects were also tested digitally. The test experts were able to build on the extensive findings of digital testing with digital prototypes of the ID. Buzz. For each new model, the body, drive system, chassis, electrics and the complete vehicle are created on the computer and their functions simulated – even in combination. In total, virtual prototypes of the ID. Buzz have completed several million kilometres digitally.

The highlight is the new ID. BUZZ – the rebirth of the legendary Microbus as an electric van study with AI technology for the cockpit and autonomous driving. At CES, Volkswagen’s Audi brand also presents a virtual reality offering in 2019 that allows movies and video games to be experienced more realistically than ever before.With this technology, virtual content is adapted in real time to the car’s driving movements. If the car drives through a right-hand bend, for example, the spaceship in the virtual world also flies to the right. If the driver accelerates, the spaceship flies through space at increased speed. The haptic feedback of the real drive makes the virtual experience feel incredibly realistic and intense. The 2020s until today Volkswagen’s SEAT brand wins the 2020 Connected Car Award at CES. Over the past 50 years, CES has become the leading trade show for digitization, once covering classic automotive topics and increasingly accelerating their further development. The race is on. For more info on the Consumer Electronics Show 2021, January 11-14, 2021, visit. https://www.ces.tech/