Volkswagen’s electric version of its iconic microbus, the VW ID. Buzz has just gotten even more adventure-friendly. Custom German auto tuner ABT revealed today it has developed solar modules to fit on the roof of the ID. Buzz to add roughly 1,800 miles (3,000 km) per year to the vehicle’s battery or for off-grid power.
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz was officially unveiled last March after the German automaker teased the electric version of its famed minivan for several months. Volkswagen’s electric van (the first European version) is powered by an 82 kWh lithium-ion battery and an electric motor with 201 horsepower and 229 lb-ft of torque, allowing up to 258 miles of driving range.
The electric van has already “ignited a buzz” in Europe (see our review and test drive) after nearly selling out last summer and VW Commercial delivering 6,000 ID. Buzz models in 2022. Volkswagen did say the ID. Buzz would come to the US in 2024 but hasn’t announced the specs yet. More information is expected later this year.
Before it arrives in the States, the electric microvan is already gaining enthusiasm from the aftermarket.
Volkswagen ID. Buzz with solar roof panels (Source: ABT)
German auto tuner ABT announced in a press release on Thursday that its ABT E-Line has developed solar panels to fit on the top of the roof of the VW ID. Buzz.
The solar panels, mounted on the vehicle’s roof, can send up to 600 watts to the electric vans battery pack while driving or parked, with plans to expand output to over 1,000 W. Power from the solar roof panels can deliver an extra roughly 1,864 miles (3,000 km) range each year or deliver off-grid energy.
As ABT explains, the limited roof area of previous models and the complex shape of the solar modules made it too costly to install, but the new ID. Buzz, especially the long wheelbase version, makes the perfect fit.
The ID. Buzz can charge autonomously off-grid, as Eric Plekkepoel, CEO of ABT e-Line GmbH, explains:
BEV and PHEV vehicles, with their traction storage units, are the perfect platform for using solar energy for propulsion.
In addition to charging the vehicle’s battery, energy from the solar panels can be used to power other electronics like a refrigerator or interior lightning. ABT says it will begin series production of the new ID. Buzz solar roof at the beginning of 2024 with Volkswagen Group Service carrying out the conversion close to the factory.
Electrek’s Take
The ID. Buzz cannot arrive in the US soon enough. The electric microbus alone is a fun, functional vehicle that makes the perfect road tripper for adventures.
With added solar on the roof, the ID. Buzz becomes even more of a practical solution for adventure seekers and travel enthusiasts. I can’t wait to see what the ID. Buzz will look like in the US. Check back for more details, as they expected later this year.
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Anker kicks off 50% early-bird discounts on new SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 power station starting from $749
Anker has launched its early-bird savings promotion on its upcoming SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station which is offering up to 50% off the station and/or its bundle until its official launch on October 28. Subscribing on the page here before then gives you an emailed code to score this new power station at $749 shipped once it goes live on launch day, as well as its bundle options for either an expansion battery or a 400W solar panel at up to $1,249 off. This all-new second-generation model will carry a full $1,499 MSRP outside of sales, while the 400W solar bundle will go for $2,398 and the expansion battery bundle will go for $2,498 – and jumping on these savings now scores you 50% off all the options! Head below to get a rundown on what to expect, and be sure to make your decisions before this juicy deal ends.
Following the same trend as the C1000 Gen 2 model, the brand’s new SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 power station comes as a redesigned update to the brand’s popular F2000 legacy unit, with more power output and faster recharging times, all packed into a lighter and more compact unit. It starts with the same 2,048Wh LiFePO4 battery capacity that can expand up to 4,096Wh with the extra battery bundle. It boasts 11 output ports (five ACs, one TT-30R RV port, three USB-Cs, one USB-A, and a car port) through which it can produce up to 2,400W of steady power and surge as high as 4,000W (beating the F2000 by 400W).
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You’ll have six main ways to recharge the battery on the new SOLIX C2000 Gen 2, including an AC outlet, a gas generator, solar panels, AC and solar together for its fastest speeds (45 mins to 80%, 58 mins to 100%), your car’s auxiliary port, or by utilizing the brand’s new alternator charger that will launch next month. Some other notable features include its 9W idle power draw, which is quite impressive, as well as the brand’s claim that it can run an 190W refrigerator for up to 32 hours, and more.
Jackery’s latest HomePower 3600 Plus power station and bundles at new lows from $1,519 + FREE gifts
Jackery has changed up its Prime Day Sale into the renamed Fall into Power Sale for the last three days of the event, with continued low prices across many units, as well as two tiers of bonus savings and select free gifts. Among the lineup, you’ll find Jackery’s latest HomePower 3600 Plus Portable Power Station starting from $1,519.05 shipped, after using the code OFFER5 at checkout for an additional 5% savings, and you’ll even be getting a FREE refurbished Explorer 300 Plus power station (valued at $299). Last month, we saw it launch with early-bird savings from its $2,799 MSRP to $1,699, with these Prime Day savings promotions giving folks even greater savings of $1,280 ($1,579 with the free station) that lands it at a new all-time low price, which beats out Amazon’s pricing by $80.
Camplux’s 8-gallon mini under-sink electric water heater back at $208 low, more from $136
Looking in on its official Amazon storefront, Camplux is offering some good savings on under-sink and floor/wall mountable electric water heaters, with the 8-Gallon Mini Electric Water Heater standing atop the hill at $207.99 shipped. Normally $260 at full price, discounts before July regularly brought the costs down to $225, with a fall to $212 in late March. We first saw things drop lower to this rate during July’s Prime Day event, with that deal having repeated a few times in the months since. You’re getting another chance at this all-time low price again today, with $52 cut from the going rate.
BougeRV’s 2-bike carrier for SUVs and trucks boasts a tilting feature and 150-pound payload for a $180 low
Through its official Amazon storefront, BougeRV is offering its Lockable Hitch Mount 2-Bike Carrier for SUVs & Trucks at $179.99 shipped. Normally going for $260 at full price, this bike mount was mostly seen dropping as low as $200 until mid-September, when this lower rate first appeared. Now it’s coming back for a second time, giving you a 31% markdown that saves you $80 from the full rate, landing it back at its all-time lowest price.
The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.
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Thousands of Tesla owners have reportedly joined a class action lawsuit against the automaker in Australia over false claims about its ‘Full Self-Driving’ (FSD) package.
Tesla is facing mounting legal pressure over its advanced driver assistance (ADAS) features: Autopilot and Full Self-Driving.
In 2016, Tesla claimed that all vehicles produced from this point forward would have “all the hardware for full self-driving” and the company described full self-driving as level 4-5 fully autonomous driving.
Musk initially claimed that Tesla would retrofit vehicles with new hardware capable of full self-driving, but it has been 10 months, and there’s been no word about an upgrade or even a significant software update for HW3 owners.
In February, shortly after Musk admitted that HW3 won’t support autonomous driving, a class action was launched in Australia related to the matter and other allegations of problems with Tesla’s ADAS features not delivering the promised capabilities.
Now, Rebecca Jancauskas, a director at the firm leading the class action, told News Corp Australia “thousands of Australians” have joined the lawsuit.
She said:
“Tesla made promises about their vehicles’ safety, performance and features such as their ‘Full Self-Driving,’ but we have found a lot of these promises are falling flat.”
The lawsuit seeks “a financial settlement that adequately compensates Australian consumers for what they thought they were getting, but haven’t, in fact, received”.
Unlike Musk’s claim that only Tesla owners who bought the FSD package would get an upgrade, the class action in Australia covers Tesla Model 3 and Model Y owners who purchased or leased their vehicles between May 2021 and February 2025.
Electrek’s Take
The sharks are circling. Lawyers are all over this because, at least in my opinion, it is a fairly straightforward case.
Tesla claimed vehicles had capabilities that it didn’t have. Period.
It is dragging its feet to make things right, and I have no hope that it will unless forced to.
It also affects not only people who bought FSD. Tesla claimed that all cars were equipped with the hardware capable of full self-driving.
Even if the software package had not been purchased, it would affect the value and, therefore, all owners.
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Lucid Motors (LCID) took a jab at Tesla (TSLA), asking Elon Musk’s own AI to confirm which brand really has the best luxury EV.
Lucid or Tesla: Which has the best luxury EV?
Although Lucid has insisted for years that Tesla is not its main competition, the two still compete for buyers and are often pitted against one another in the luxury market.
Like former CEO Peter Rawlinson, Lucid’s interim chief, Marc Winterhoff, has said multiple times this year that the company is seeing an influx of buyers flocking from the Tesla brand.
In an interview in late September, Winterhoff told the Financial Times that the company is now seeing Tesla customers trade in their vehicles for the Lucid Air and new Gravity SUV. Lucid’s interim CEO said, “We have seen an uptick, that’s definitely the case, in Europe and also here in the US. The Model S, nothing has changed in 12 years now.” Winterhoff added that buyers are “actively looking for other options.”
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Is Lucid the best option? According to Grok, Elon Musk’s own AI, Lucid does have the best luxury electric vehicle. Lucid posted a video on social media asking Grok, ChatGPT, and Copilot, “What’s the best luxury EV?”
All of them agreed: the 2025 Lucid Air is considered the best luxury EV option. Musk’s Grok said: “The 2025 Lucid Air emerges as the overall leader. It excels in efficiency and acceleration, with a serene, high-end cabin.”
Even AI agrees, but does that make it true? The 2025 Lucid Air Pure is the world’s most efficient car with an EPA-estimated 5 miles per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
Lucid’s vehicles also feature a curved 34″ Glass Cockpit display, while Tesla offers a 17″ infotainment for the Model S and X. The Model 3 and Model Y feature a 15.4″ display, with the newer models gaining an 8″ rear display. Most Lucid vehicles also include a 12.5″ Pilot Panel climate control touchscreen.
Electrek’s Take
Tesla had the first mover advantage, but others, like Lucid, are closing the gap, offering more advanced tech, features, and better performance.
The Lucid Air surpassed the Tesla Model Y to become the best-selling luxury electric sedan in the US this year. With Gravity production now ramping up, Lucid expects the SUV to account for the majority of output and sales in the second half of the year.