The world’s largest fleet handover of the ID. Buzz Cargo to the Swiss solar industry leader Helion took place at the Attisholz site in Switzerland. Helion now operates one of the largest fleets of electric commercial vehicles in Switzerland with 100 all-electric vans from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV).
The world’s largest handover of ID. Buzz Cargo to around 100 Helion technicians – known as Helionauts – took place near the town of Solothurn in Switzerland on Monday morning. The Helionauts had previously handed back their conventionally powered service vehicles – they are now on the road under purely electric power.
“We are delighted that Helion is committed to the ID. Buzz Cargo as a service vehicle and will also use self-generated solar power for carbon-neutral operation of its fleet,” said Lars Krause, member of the Board of Management responsible for Sales and Marketing at VWCV. “The ID. Buzz stands for sustainable mobility like no other commercial vehicle. Together with our partners, we are driving forward the energy transition in the commercial vehicle sector.”
To ensure that day-to-day operations run smoothly from the outset, Helion set up an operational support group before the changeover to test the vehicles and identify possible challenges. Helion has invested in its charging infrastructure and expanded it massively at all its branches. The required infrastructure was also financed for Helionauts who have the option of charging at home. With an operating radius of usually around 100 kilometres, the public charging network is only used in exceptional cases – also thanks to the good range of the ID. Buzz Cargo.
“With the conversion of our commercial vehicle fleet to electric power, we are also driving forward the energy transition within the company,” said Noah Heynen, CEO of Helion. “We Helionauts will tackle the corresponding challenges together. As of today, around 100 of our technicians from all over Switzerland are on the road electrically and are therefore also ambassadors for our vision and the energy transition.”
Due to the short distances between the metropolitan areas and the dense fast charging network, electric vehicles are ideally suited for company fleets. Modern vehicles like the ID. Buzz Cargo also have a long range – the ID. Buzz Cargo has a range of up to 427 kilometres according to the WLTP standard.
