Volkswagen has yet to clean up the mess from its recent diesel emissions scandal, but the German automaker shouldn’t be dismissed just yet — especially when it comes to eco-friendly transport solutions. In the midst of all the finger-pointing and quick fixes comes the intriguing news that VW plans to build an electric version of its iconic Microbus, a vehicle powered by the same lithium-ion battery technology found in the Audi R8 E-Tron and Audi Q6 E-Tron Quattro concepts. It’s a set-up that’s said to be good for 250 to 310 miles on a full charge, which, for a vehicle as large as the Microbus, is quite an impressive stat.

Set to debut at next year’s Consumer Electronics Show alongside the turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline and diesel-powered versions of the Microbus, the electric camper van version will retain all the hallmarks of the original design: a wide, solid, D-pillar; boxy center section; and a front end with a very short overhang. According to Volkswagen president and chief executive, Gary Shapiro, the new Microbus was intended to be a “groundbreaking electric vehicle that will further illustrate the synergy between the Internet of Things and the automotive industry.” More importantly, it’s a sign that the automaker is returning to its iconic roots while still pushing the envelope in the realm of eco-friendly vehicle design — even in the middle of an epically embarrassing scandal.