Volkswagen ID. Buzz Cargo gets a stretched version starting at about $60,000

This one is about vehicles, not home energy upgrades, but here's what happened: Volkswagen just launched a longer, stretched version of its electric ID. Buzz Cargo van, aimed at businesses rather than homeowners. It's built on a longer wheelbase, has extra storage space, wider sliding doors, and comes with a bigger 86 kWh battery for a WLTP-rated range of nearly 300 miles.

One detail worth noting for anyone thinking about home backup power: the new van includes vehicle-to-load (V2L) capability, meaning it can act as a mobile power source, similar to what some other EVs offer for running appliances or tools off the vehicle's battery. That's a feature increasingly showing up in electric vehicles and can be relevant if you're considering an EV as backup power during an outage, though this specific van is a commercial cargo model, not a passenger vehicle for typical household use.

Pricing starts at about €48,490 (roughly $55,000) for the rear-wheel-drive version, with the all-wheel-drive model starting around €50,630 (about $58,000). These are European prices, and the vehicle is being sold as a work van rather than a family or personal EV. There's no indication yet of US availability, and the UK launch isn't planned until spring 2027. For homeowners, this news doesn't directly affect efficiency upgrades or rebates, but it's a sign that V2L power-sharing features are becoming more common across EV lineups.