2023 Volkswagen ID Buzz Cargo
Campervan 1 trip United Kingdom, France, Spain +more
Brand-new ID Buzz electric campervan, wrapped by Yowzer Signs, converted by Knights Custom Conversions. Pop-top roof, bamboo floor, induction hob, 30L fridge. The van that drove to the Sahara and back on Tesla Superchargers, 3,917 miles.
At a glance
- Berths
- 2 berths
- Base vehicle
- VW ID Buzz Cargo
- Layout
- Pop-top roof · bamboo worktops · induction hob · 30L drawer fridge
- Fuel
- Electric
- Notable upgrade
- Knights Custom Conversions build · 330W solar · Starlink Mini
Honest review
Bought brand new as a Cargo, wrapped at work, then converted by Knights Custom Conversions, bamboo worktops, pistachio interior cabinets, 330W solar, Clayton LPS2 2kWh battery system with 3000W inverter, 30L drawer fridge, induction hob, pop-up toilet, Starlink Mini in the windscreen.
Bought brand new as a Cargo, wrapped at work, then converted by Knights Custom Conversions, bamboo worktops, pistachio interior cabinets, 330W solar, Clayton LPS2 2kWh battery system with 3000W inverter, 30L drawer fridge, induction hob, pop-up toilet, Starlink Mini in the windscreen. At 2,600 kg on the nose there was 400 kg payload remaining, tight but workable.
The headline trip is the UK-to-Sahara run in 2025: 3,917 miles round. Steve drove solo to Merzouga in the Sahara Desert, Lyndsay and the boys flew out to Essaouira to meet him for a family week, then flew home. Morocco has no VW charging network so the return leg ran entirely on Tesla Superchargers. The VW app loses connectivity once you are outside the VW telecom contract area, so remote air-con stops working. Cold-weather range dropped to around 170 miles at 90% charge in winter conditions on the way home.
On the NC500 in 2024, Steve ran the van solo for eight days, Inverness up and around, 1,200 miles, running heating overnight from the battery, ceramic-coated by PP Protect beforehand. On full charge in gentle conditions you see 200 miles range, and a bit more in summer.
The one honest limitation: rear-wheel drive only. In actual Saharan sand it is not suited to deep desert tracks. We worked around it, but it is worth knowing before you plan a similar trip.
For two people on a flexible schedule this van is a winner. For a family of five trying to use it as a motorhome replacement, it is not that vehicle.