Volkswagen Group announced a new addition to its ID line of electric vehicles today, launching the ID.7 Tourer – a variant of the original fastback saloon with added cargo space and some enticing range. The estate car, better known in the States as a station wagon, arrives as one of the only all-electric options in the upper mid-size category in Europe.
It’s been just over a year since Volkswagen Group introduced a camouflaged version of the ID.7 – a five-door liftback EV designed with executives in mind. The EV made its official debut in April of last year as an all-electric alternative and, in the case of North America, a replacement to the mid-size Passat sedan. The original ID.7 is currently sold in North America, Europe, and China (as the ID.7 Vizzion).
Production began in Germany last summer, and we have since learned of VW’s plans also to deliver an estate version of the ID.7, specifically for Europe. Today, Volkswagen has officially launched the ID.7 Tourer, with pre-sales to follow soon. Check it out.
Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer offers up to 685km of EV range
Per Volkswagen Group’s press room, the ID.7 Tourer arrives as a new flagship to its all-electric lineup, joining the German automaker’s new Passat wagon variant in Europe. Designed specifically for families and drivers who take longer trips, the ID.7 is a well-rounded EV (especially with its larger rear end).
That’s where you’ll notice the most significant difference in the ID.7 Tourer compared to its fastback saloon counterpart – the station wagon features a longer roof line for added cargo space, described by Volkswagen as “a fusion of a classic estate in the format of the Passat, and a dynamic shooting brake such as the Arteon.”
With five passengers inside, the ID.7 Tourer boasts a cargo capacity of 605 liters (21.4 cubic feet). With the rear seats down and packed to its roof, the estate EV can offer 1,714 liters (60.5 ft³) of cargo space.
Spaciousness is always welcomed, but it may be the range promised by Volkswagen that ends up convincing would-be consumers to buy a new ID.7 Tourer. It will come available in two different battery sizes, which Volkswagen still needs to share. Still, the automaker says the larger option is expected to deliver a WLTP range of up to 685km (~426 miles).
Of course, it’s not an EPA range, but that’s still a competitive spec for its given EV segment. That larger battery pack will also enable charge rates up to 200 kW at a DC fast charger, replenishing from 10-80% in under 30 minutes.
Other features include an augmented-reality head-up display as standard on all trims, a panoramic sunroof with glass layers that can be switched between transparent and opaque, and a new wellness app to enhance comfort and relaxation during breaks or charge sessions.
Volkswagen states the ID.7 Touring will be built in Emden, Germany, alongside its ID.7 saloon sibling and the ID.4 SUV. Pre-orders are expected to begin in Europe in Q1 2024. There has yet to be a timetable for the first deliveries. See the estate EV in more detail in Volkswagen’s video below:
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DHL Express has more than 10,000 eSprinter vans in its global delivery fleet, but none of those have been deployed in North America – until now, that is! The company recently added 45 new Mercedes eSprinter panel vans, and they’ve got plans for plenty more!
While Mercedes offers its eSprinters with a promised 206 mile estimated range, DHL says it’s consistently seen them exceed 240 miles in stop-and-go delivery duty, making them the longest-range battery electric vehicles in DHL’s US fleet.
And, of course, the eSprinter will do all of that without the noise, vibration, and harmful carbon emissions of diesel.
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“Electrifying our fleet is one of the most visible and impactful ways we are moving toward a more sustainable future,” explains Greg Hewitt, CEO of DHL Express, US. “The Mercedes-Benz eSprinter brings an extended range and proven cargo capabilities that allow us to serve our customers with zero emissions, while also advancing our global goal of more sustainable logistics. These vehicles not only strengthen our operations in major US cities but also set the stage for future electric fleet growth across the Americas.”
The 45 eSprinters will see deployment in Chicago, Indiana, and Pittsburg, and will act as a first step DHL’s global Sustainability Roadmap, which will see the company electrify 66% of its last-mile US delivery fleet (and some of its long-haul fleet operations) by 2030.
In short, they’re doing the right thing – or seem to be, anyway. Whether or not that commitment to decarbonization will win them more American customers remains to be seen.
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Enphase Energy just launched a new off-grid system that lets homeowners power their homes without a utility connection – even for extended periods. The California-based Enphase says the off-grid setup delivers a seamless way to live independently from the grid while still using solar, batteries, and a standby AC generator.
A full off-grid setup
The new system combines Enphase’s IQ Battery 5P with embedded grid-forming microinverters, IQ8 Series Microinverters with Sunlight JumpStart, and a third-party standby AC generator. The components work together to supply power to a home and automatically manage energy sources to maximize efficiency and reliability.
If the batteries are drained and the generator runs out of fuel, the Sunlight JumpStart feature can automatically recharge the batteries the next morning once the sun comes up.
The IQ Battery 5P delivers 3.84 kVA of power per 5 kWh of capacity, and systems can be scaled up to 40 kWh and 15.4 kVA. That’s enough power to start big household appliances like HVAC systems or water pumps. The IQ System Controller 3G provides the backbone, managing solar, batteries, and generator inputs to deliver up to 46 kVA of off-grid power.
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Smarter control and connectivity
Each system connects to the cloud through Enphase’s IQ Combiner 5C HDK, which bundles solar interconnection, communications, and metering into one box. For homes without reliable broadband, the built-in 4G LTE Cat 4 modem keeps the system online for monitoring, firmware updates, and remote support.
Homeowners can manage everything from the Enphase App – from solar generation and battery status to generator integration and load control.
Why it matters
As grid outages become more common and homeowners look for ways to gain energy independence, off-grid systems like this are becoming more appealing.
“With the launch of our off-grid solution, we are giving homeowners a reliable path to complete energy independence,” said Nitish Mathur, Enphase’s SVP of customer experience. Enphase says over 100 homes are already operating entirely off-grid using its technology. The company plans to expand availability beyond the US in 2026.
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Global offshore wind targets are still strong enough to triple global capacity by 2030, despite the US’s offshore wind stagnation under Trump. A new analysis from energy think tank Ember and the Global Offshore Wind Alliance (GOWA) shows that the rest of the world is charging forward, underscoring confidence in offshore wind as a cornerstone of future clean energy systems.