A Volkswagen ID. Buzz has completed a 99,767-kilometre journey through 92 countries after 445 days on the road. The expedition led by Rainer Zietlow was recognised in the category for “the most countries visited in a continuous journey with a battery-electric vehicle”.
From Hanover around the world
The van left the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles centre in Hanover on 1 July 2025 and returned to the same site at the beginning of this week. The route crossed six continents and included more than 300 charging sessions.
The total distance is equivalent to about 2.5 trips around the Earth at the Equator. This is not the range obtained on a single charge, but the kilometres covered over the whole expedition, with charging stops and sea crossings between some continents.
A nearly standard ID. Buzz
The vehicle used for the journey was a long-wheelbase ID. Buzz with an 86 kWh battery and Pro specification. Auto Express notes that the van was kept in series configuration, without major technical modifications, and ran on Giti tyres fitted to the standard wheels.
Depending on the version, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles quotes an official range of up to about 472 km for the ID. Buzz with the 86 kWh battery. Peak charging power can reach 200 kW, though real-world figures depend on battery temperature, state of charge and the station used.
The battery retained nearly 96% of its capacity
After the return to Hanover, the high-voltage battery was checked by TÜV Nord. Battery state of health was assessed at nearly 96%, according to information published about the expedition.
Rainer Zietlow said the van had no technical problems during the trip, even though the route included regions with very different charging infrastructure. In Zambia and Tanzania the team also used supervised national electric stations, while in other countries rapid charging was easier to find.
What the record shows
The expedition cannot be used as a comparative test of the model’s official range. It does show that a series-production electric vehicle can be used over very long distances when the route is planned around charging points, sea crossings and local conditions.
For the ID. Buzz, the record also provides a real-world check of the battery, the charging system and the components used on different roads and in different climates. Volkswagen has not announced series changes to the model as a result of this journey.
