Two of Volkswagen’s most popular vans among campervan converters and manufacturers, the Multivan and the California, are about to benefit from a new plug-in hybrid all-wheel-drive system recently developed by the German automotive manufacturer.

The eHybrid 4MOTION system has been specially created by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VCV) with the company claiming it combines the best of electric driving, optimum long-distance suitability, and maximum traction.

VCV says that this is an unrivalled first for the van and camper segment, stating that: “Until now, there has been no drive system for vans and camper vans that combines these parameters without compromising on technical features and driving dynamics”.

One of the key features of the eHybrid 4MOTION system is that there is one electric motor per axle – one to drive the front, and one to drive the rear – which increases performance and traction.

This 180kW (245 PS) eHybrid 4MOTION system is the successor to the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle featuring only a front-wheel drive and a system output of 160kW (218 PS) introduced in the Multivan in 2021.

The 19.7kWh battery of the new system can offer up to 95km of purely electric driving, is fast-charging, and benefits from highly effective energy recovery.

VCV says this makes the Multivan and California plug-in hybrid electric vans for everyday life – it cited a study by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport that claims that 95 per cent of all vehicle journeys are shorter than 50km to prove this.

In electric mode, the Multivan and California can be driven at speeds of up to 130km/h (hybrid: up to 200km/h). The four driving profiles Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual are optionally available in the hybrid models. For efficiency reasons, the rear electric motor is only coupled when required above a speed of 65 km/h in the Eco and Comfort driving profiles; in the Sport driving profile, it is coupled up to 130 km/h, and also in the Individual profile, depending on the setting. Above 130 km/h, the rear axle always remains deactivated.

In the partial-load range, the petrol engine switches off as often as possible; the VW Bus then coasts either without any engine support or uses – up to 130 km/h – the electric drive alone. This interaction takes place fully automatically and almost imperceptibly (with the exception of full acceleration via kickdown, as the six-speed gearbox then shifts down and thus increases the engine speed of the TSI). In addition, the new hybrid models are remarkably economical: depending on equipment, the WLTP consumption values with a discharged battery are between 7.5 and 8.1 l/100 km.

Other key features of this new system include electric stationary air conditioning as standard – in addition to the air conditioning system for driving operation; and a high-tech TSI petrol engine, which makes both vans very capable towing vehicles.