Volkswagen ID. Buzz Completes World Tour with No Breakdowns
Rainer Zietlow has successfully completed a journey around the world in a Volkswagen ID. Buzz, covering 99,767 km across 92 countries over 445 days without any technical issues. The vehicle maintained 95.75% battery health after the extensive trip.
Successful World Tour
Rainer Zietlow, an experienced long-distance driver for Volkswagen, has achieved a remarkable feat by completing a world tour in a fully electric Volkswagen ID. Buzz. Starting on July 1, 2025, from Hannover, he traveled for 445 days and covered 99,767 km, culminating in a Guinness World Record for the most countries visited in a continuous electric car journey.
Journey Highlights
The ID. Buzz used for this adventure was a long-wheelbase model equipped with an 86 kWh battery, offering a WLTP range of approximately 483-498 kilometers. Charging was efficient, with the ability to go from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes at a maximum power of 200 kW. Zietlow visited 92 countries across six continents, including challenging regions in Africa, where he noted a lack of charging infrastructure in places like Tanzania and Zambia.
Battery Performance
Upon completion of the tour, TÜV Nord inspected the vehicle and confirmed that it had experienced no technical failures during the journey. Remarkably, the battery retained 95.75% of its capacity after over 300 charges, showcasing the durability of electric vehicle technology.
Future of Electric Vehicles
Reflecting on his experiences, Zietlow predicts a significant shift in the automotive industry. He believes electric vehicles will become increasingly suitable for extreme travel conditions, reducing reliance on combustion engines, which face challenges like fuel quality and maintenance issues. He emphasizes the importance of planning for charging during long trips, a process he meticulously arranged over six months. Zietlow concludes with optimism about future advancements in electric mobility, such as solid-state batteries and ultra-fast charging technologies, suggesting that combustion engines may soon become obsolete, akin to the horse-drawn carriage.