Dan Cartwright has over 12 years of experience in the caravan and motorhome industry. He is a judge for a number of prestigious leisure vehicle awards and regularly heads off in his motorhome with his family. Every week, Dan shares his insights with the community. Here’s what he has to say this week.
People within the leisure vehicle industry are divided about the possibility of an all-electric campervan. A lot of work has recently been done on battery technology that could transform small vans into highly capable off-grid machines.
But when will there be an electric powertrain campervan in the near future? The proliferation of EVs has been huge, but that of vans hasn’t been as significant. There are some self-converted – and very niche – ones out there, but not the kind that you or I could quickly pick up and start using. I think that’s going to change very, very soon.
Having recently driven the VW ID. Buzz during the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Towcar of the Year testing, it’s a vehicle that’s crying out to be converted into a campervan.
In my opinion, the race is going to be between whether we see a full-production campervan like the ID. California, or an innovative converter. Either way, I predict that we might even see one at the Motorhome and Caravan Show this October.
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz
Prior to the ID. Buzz, I thought it would be unlikely to see a mass-produced motorhome with an all-electric drivetrain and habitation within the next 12 months. However, I’ve since driven the vehicle and seen its range capabilities first-hand.
Yes, you’ll be adding a little bit of weight (although not a huge amount in comparison to its battery), but the prospect is very exciting for habitation and wild camping.
The giant engine – which will take you 258 miles – could run all of the internal features you need, making it the most capable off-grid camper available today. It could power habitation features such as heating, hotplates, lighting, sound and anything else you could want, for days and days.
Photo credit: Volkswagen
