Ventje turns VW’s ID Buzz into a really charming e-camper

Volkswagen’s ID Buzz now has a customized camper build-out that’s simply as intelligent and charming as the electrical microbus. It’s known as eVentje, and it’s now obtainable for common sale in Europe.

Designed and bought by Ventje, a small however quickly rising firm primarily based within the Netherlands, the eVentje conversion is pretty much as good because it will get till VW lastly releases a California version of the ID Buzz — which continues to be a couple of years away no less than. That lengthy delay since European gross sales started in 2022 has made room for a burgeoning aftermarket for ID Buzz camper merchandise, together with the wonderful and comparatively cheap Ququq tenting field I beforehand reviewed.

I first examined a Ventje camper constructed on prime of a VW Transporter T5 cargo van in 2022, earlier than dwelling and dealing from an ID Buzz for a couple of weeks in 2023. In 2024, I lastly received to check the union of the 2 for a weekend. And let me let you know, that is undoubtedly a case the place the entire is larger than the sum of its components. The ID Buzz has all the time been a showstopper when driving previous onlookers — now, the present continues when the doorways open to disclose that splendidly adaptive Ventje inside.

The general design of the Ventje camper nonetheless depends on greater than 100 magnets to maintain all these picket surfaces aligned and locked in place. There’s nonetheless a kitchen accessible from inside and outside, a pop-top tent, and a multipurpose inside that converts from a lounge to a mattress to an expensive outdoors furnishings set in minutes. Solely now, issues have been refined all through with one large addition: a folding desk and hidden stools to create an out of doors bar. Swoon.

The kitchen has seen a number of enhancements that present extra adaptable prep surfaces — all the time a problem in a small area — and smarter use of storage. Ventje additionally moved to not one however two induction cooktops due to the inclusion of a 2200W inverter and 2160Wh leisure battery that costs from the VW’s driving battery, a 350-watt photo voltaic panel, and a mini shore-power outlet situated on the decrease bottom of the van.

Ventje additionally makes it simpler to maintain all your personal gear powered with eight USB sockets (4x USB-A, 4x USB-C), a 12V automotive jack, 3x wi-fi charging surfaces, and 3x 230V AC sockets for anybody seeking to make the most of their firm’s hybrid workplace coverage. There are additionally extra lighting choices together with dimmable LED gentle strips and a closable sunroof within the pop-top tent.

VW’s poorly designed software program nonetheless frustrates the in any other case distinctive driving expertise, which stays rattle-free even with all of Ventje’s customizations. One would count on VW to ultimately allow a tenting mode on the ID Buzz, a function already discovered on its present California sequence campers. That may make heating and cooling the ID Buzz extra intuitive when parked and permit homeowners to extra simply disable the inside movement alarm when locking all of the doorways at evening. 

The eVentje can sleep 4 however is at the moment freeway authorized for less than two folks. It’s constructed across the regular-wheelbase ID Buzz, not the long-wheelbase mannequin coming to Europe and the US (lastly!) later this 12 months. Nonetheless, my spouse and I didn’t need for more room, even with the canine coming alongside on the journey. 

The eVentje, just like the ID Buzz, isn’t low cost, and shortly, in Europe, it should compete with VW’s new PHEV “T7” California camper occurring sale in June for what’s in all probability about the identical value. However that mannequin lacks the retrofuturistic attraction of the all-electric ID Buzz, and its inside is arguably much less versatile — and undoubtedly much less enjoyable — than Ventje’s heat customized design.

The modified eVentje ID Buzz begins at €95,000 (about $103,000) in Europe. An order positioned at the moment will ship in 9 months to prospects within the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Ventje says that it’s additionally planning to broaden to the UK and US in time.

Importantly, Ventje is doing what VW hasn’t since first teasing the ID Buzz all the best way again in 2017: ship a worthy all-electric successor to the long-lasting Kind 2 camper.

Images by Thomas Ricker / The Verge