Volkswagen Buzz embarks on global tour, makes Ireland a stopover destination.
Rainer Zietlow, an intrepid adventurer, has embarked on an epic journey in a fully electric Volkswagen ID. Buzz, aiming to break a Guinness World Record by travelling through more than 75 countries in a continuous zero-emission vehicle journey[1][2][3]. The 80,000-kilometer trip, which began at the Volkswagen factory in Hanover, Germany, is expected to take over eight months[2].
Zietlow's itinerary includes a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean to South America, followed by a journey up the Pacific coast of both South and North America, finishing in Canada[1]. Along the way, he will visit Scandinavia, north-west Europe, Ireland, and various countries in Asia, the Middle East, and Australia[2].
The ID.Buzz, equipped with an 86 kWh battery, is suitable for sparsely populated areas, with a driving range of over 400 kilometers per charge[1]. In remote areas like Kyrgyzstan, Zietlow may have to rely on begging and borrowing energy from factories and large commercial operations[4].
Zietlow's journey is supported by partners such as Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Maxion Wheels, and Giti Tire, demonstrating the vehicle's performance and the expanding infrastructure for electric vehicles[2][3]. Indonesia, a potential EV charging black-spot, is not a concern for Zietlow, thanks to his sponsorship by Singapore-based tyre company Giti, which has massive factories in Indonesia and is ready to assist with charging needs[3].
Ireland was a significant stop for Zietlow, marking one of the stops in his European leg. During his visit, he gave a talk, highlighting the capabilities of electric vehicles and the challenges of long-distance EV travel[4]. This stop underscores Zietlow's mission to prove that electric cars can travel worldwide.
Zietlow's previous journeys have taken him deep into the Arctic in a specially-modified VW Amarok pickup, and from one end of the Panamerican Highway, from the tip of Chile to the edge of Alaska, in a Touareg 4x4[5]. The Darien Gap, a supposedly impassable swamp that cuts through Panama and Colombia, required the Touareg to be airlifted over[5].
Zietlow believes that his journey with the ID.Buzz will demonstrate to a global car-buying public that EVs can cover long distances, and may also convince people about their reliability[6]. His first priority in Ireland was to get a signature for the official paperwork that certifies for the Guinness Book Of Records, which countries he has visited[3].
As of now, Zietlow has covered 5,789 kilometers in just seven days, having nosed the Buzz off the ferry in Dublin[3]. He found Garda Georgia Foley and another Garda who played football in Germany during his stay[3]. Zietlow is looking forward to driving in Indonesia due to its nice roads, lovely people, and a unique sweet smell that greets visitors[1].
References: [1] https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/rainer-zietlow-takes-volkswagen-id-buzz-around-world-prove-electric-cars-viable-transport [2] https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/news/volkswagen-id-buzz-takes-on-world-record-journey [3] https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/rainer-zietlow-takes-volkswagen-id-buzz-around-world-prove-electric-cars-viable-transport [4] https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/electric-vehicle-expert-rainer-zietlow-discusses-dublin-visit-and-global-journey-1.4882345 [5] https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/rainer-zietlow-takes-volkswagen-id-buzz-around-world-prove-electric-cars-viable-transport [6] https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/news/volkswagen-id-buzz-takes-on-world-record-journey
- Rainer Zietlow's global journey with the electric Volkswagen ID. Buzz is not only showcasing the vehicle's zero-emission capabilities, but also the expanding infrastructure for electric vehicles, as he travels through different continents including Asia, the Middle East, and Australia.
- Adapting to various lifestyles, Zietlow may rely on solar technology to recharge the ID. Buzz's battery when energy sources are scarce, like in countries such as Kyrgyzstan, or partner with companies like Giti Tire for service and charging needs in regions with less developed electric-vehicle infrastructure.
