Tag Archives: electric camper

The Next Step in Reinventing the Van: First Mercedes-Benz VAN.EA Prototypes Hit the Road

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Mercedes-Benz is gearing up for a new era in electric mobility with its VAN.EA platform, set to power all newly developed vans by 2026. This strategic shift marks a pivotal moment for the brand as it moves towards a fully electric future for its van lineup. With public road tests for prototypes already underway, Mercedes is offering a first glimpse at its next generation of electric vans—an evolution that promises to reshape the market.

Designer: Mercedes-Benz

What is VAN.EA?

VAN.EA, short for Van Electric Architecture, is Mercedes-Benz’s flexible new platform specifically built for electric vans of all sizes and purposes. Be it a midsize camper for weekend adventures, a delivery vehicle for urban logistics, or a full-size work van, VAN.EA’s modular framework makes it adaptable to a wide range of needs. The platform’s divided into three main parts: the front houses the electric motor and drive system, the middle contains the configurable battery pack with options for different capacities, and the rear can be adapted for front-wheel or all-wheel drive. This design reduces the number of components needed, streamlining production and allowing Mercedes to efficiently produce various van models without compromising on performance or utility.

The VAN.EA platform goes beyond versatility, incorporating a scalable design focused on meeting diverse needs with innovative solutions. Mercedes has designed the platform to be scalable, allowing for easy modifications based on the specific requirements of different models. This means that if you’re seeking a luxury camper van or a dependable workhorse, the VAN.EA platform can deliver. The electric drive system and advanced battery technology ensure that these vans provide the range and reliability customers expect from Mercedes-Benz. Using lightweight materials and optimized aerodynamics further enhances efficiency, resulting in a more capable and environmentally friendly lineup.

For Camper Van Enthusiasts or Van Life

Mercedes hasn’t forgotten the thrill of open roads for camper enthusiasts. The upcoming electric camper vans are designed to offer more than 310 miles (500 kilometers) of range—perfect for extended journeys without the constant need to recharge. Since these vans are battery-powered, you can leave them running without any environmental impact compared to traditional models, providing additional convenience for extended stops or when using onboard amenities.

These vans come with Mercedes’ new MB.OS system, an advanced infotainment and operating platform that provides an integrated driving experience. MB.OS combines entertainment, navigation, and digital services in a seamless package while also offering semi-autonomous driving features to make long road trips or navigating urban environments easier and more enjoyable. The spacious interior can be customized with various amenities, making these camper vans ideal for those who want the freedom to explore without limits.

Commercial Vans Get Serious Upgrades

For commercial users, VAN.EA brings a robust electric alternative to traditional work vans. Mercedes-Benz has focused on creating a platform that caters to industries like delivery, logistics, and emergency services.

These electric workhorses provide ample cargo space and can be configured to meet specific industry needs. Additionally, options such as all-wheel drive ensure that these vans are capable of operating in various environments, from city streets to rural roads.

Advanced digital systems allow fleet operators to manage their vehicles more effectively, providing insights into vehicle status, maintenance schedules, and route optimization. By transitioning to electric power, businesses can also benefit from lower fuel costs, reduced maintenance, and a smaller environmental footprint. This shift is a clear advantage for companies looking to modernize their fleets while contributing to sustainability goals.

A Greener Approach

Sustainability is a core aspect of the VAN.EA initiative and Mercedes-Benz is committed to reducing its environmental impact beyond its vehicle emissions.

The production of VAN.EA models will take place in carbon-neutral factories powered by renewable energy sources like wind and solar. This approach ensures that a greener manufacturing process complements the environmental benefits of electric vehicles.

Mercedes is also reducing the number of van variants in its lineup, simplifying production, and minimizing waste. This eco-friendly approach aims to create a more sustainable future in which the entire lifecycle of a vehicle—from production to end-of-life—has a reduced environmental footprint.

What’s Next?

With prototypes already on the road, the VAN.EA platform is quickly becoming a reality. By 2026, Mercedes-Benz plans to launch a full lineup of electric vans for private and commercial users. Whether you’re in the market for a luxury camper for long road trips or a reliable van for business, VAN.EA is ready to change the game with cleaner and smarter options.

Mercedes-Benz is applying its legacy of innovation to the future of electric vans, ensuring it meets modern mobility’s needs.

The future of vans is electric, and Mercedes-Benz is at the forefront of this transformation. Expect to see these electric vans on the road soon, delivering a smarter, cleaner, and more efficient way to travel and transport goods while maintaining the quality and performance that Mercedes-Benz is known for.

The post The Next Step in Reinventing the Van: First Mercedes-Benz VAN.EA Prototypes Hit the Road first appeared on Yanko Design.

The future of EV camping gets a reboot with Camp365’s Model T, your ultimate electric pickup camper

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Camping enthusiasts who have been taking their electric pickups for day outs with the family will draw enthusiasm from the Camp365 Model T camper – truck bed collapsible camper. Tailor-made for the modern family that wants to explore nature without sacrificing comfort, the pickup camper brings together the convenience of electric vehicles and the joy of camping in one sleek package.

The lightweight, collapsible camper that seamlessly fits into your electric pickup truck, providing you with a slim, eco-friendly ride is what Camp365’s Model T is all about. This 4-foot-wide pod effortlessly slots between the bed walls of a truck bed, to become a prism-shaped structure with wings spread out to comfortably accommodate a family of five.

Designer: Camp365

The Model T isn’t your typical tent – soft walls feature a dual-layer construction, keeping you cozy in any weather. With 63 square feet of floor space, it can comfortably sleep up to four adults and a child, thanks to its modular bedding system. Choose between a queen-sized bed, a twin bed, or a pair of single bunk beds, all designed for a restful night’s sleep. Alongside you’ll get a workstation, bathroom, and a slide-out dual-induction cooker kitchen, ensuring that you have all the comforts of home while living in the truck bed.

This spacious pickup camper measures 7.3 feet in length and it has 6.7 feet of headroom and ample space to move around and relax. The underfloor cubbies and hanging shelves keep your space organized, while two side awnings enhance the camper’s functionality. Model T’s modular floor plan allows campers to customize their space for different trips, whether it’s a solo overnight adventure or a family vacation, in just 10 to 15 minutes.

While the Model T is currently under development, it’s expected to weigh between 700 and 800 pounds, making it suitable for midsize or small trucks. When it comes to bathroom amenities, the Model T offers a portable toilet, a stowable sink that connects fresh water tank, and an indoor/outdoor shower system hooked up to a 12-V water heater.

Camp365 has also considered the adventurer’s gear, with the Model T designed to carry items like bicycles and kayaks using compatible racks. Plus, it features hanging points for setting up hammocks outside, allowing you to truly immerse yourself in nature. If it sounds interesting, stay tuned for the arrival of this groundbreaking camper, and get ready to embark on an unforgettable camping adventure with family in your electric pickup.

The post The future of EV camping gets a reboot with Camp365’s Model T, your ultimate electric pickup camper first appeared on Yanko Design.

This all-electric off-road teardrop trailer redefines the luxury of your camping experience!

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Ones who like to camp, spending an outdoorsy life for the majority of their time – a comfy camping trailer is a way to go. But when a caravan is heightened to an improved level of comfortable and convenient supremacy, the experience is elevated to a whole new level. Of all the campers we’ve seen thus far, the Colorado Campworks NS-1 is a complete package for digital nomads who settle for nothing but the best. Their design philosophy reflects their motives and aims to make camping better to a degree where it is reinvented.

Thomas Hoffman, a design student at the University of Colorado, managed to work at EarthRoamer (famous overland camper builder) as part of his senior design project after graduation. This polished his overlander skills, and he finally had the confidence to create something of his own – in the process, creating a teardrop trailer startup that now can be deemed as the best camper trailer out there money can buy. The NS-1 (Nomadic Systems 1) was in the works ever since his design project at the university, and once Hoffman was confident about his skills, the project finally saw fruition. This all-electric rugged camper runs solely on solar power with the ability to power the onboard electronics and appliances, including cabin heater, kitchen, lights, and more. That’s achieved with the roof-mounted 200-W solar cells, 200-Ah lithium-iron-phosphate battery, and 3,000-W inverter. Although the teardrop camper is very compact, the occupants won’t find anything missing on the inside.

The trailer on top of the all-terrain wheels is made out of a mono composite shell with insulation from the inside. Keeping in mind the needs of Overlanding adventures, NS-1 can carry anything that’s required – shovel, canisters, surfboard mounts, or bike racks. There’s space for overhead storage and a queen-size mattress that can be rolled up to convert the bed with storage into a dining room for two. For water needs, the trailer comes with a Front Runner awning, a 20-gallon water tank, a water heater, and the convenience of an outdoor shower supplying hot water for a relaxing bath in the serene natural settings.

The electric kitchen can be beefed-up to a chef-level kitchen (for an additional $3,250) that comes with a Traeger smoker, Breville Smart Oven, SnoMaster cooler, and other goodies, along with the basic slide-out kitchen having storage drawers, sink, and electric cooktop. The trailer can also be upgraded with three options – a $2,500 Digital Nomad addition (adding Wi-Fi and charging station), a $6,000 Supercharged package (doubling the battery power), or the $3,000 Four Season package (adding insulation, heated water tank, and the water recirculation capability).

That is on top of the $36,000 price tag of the trailer that sure sounds expensive, but the options it brings to the basic package are also worth noting – not to forget the powder-coated tubular frame and the off-roading capability honed by the Timbren 3500 HD Axle-less suspension, electric drum brakes, and the 15-in wheels are centered inside 285/70R15 BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires. For someone already liking the Colorado Campworks NS-1 camper’s prospect, there is also a base model in works that’ll be offered at $20,000.

Designer: Colorado Campworks

This futuristic luxury camper comes with HEPA filters + pet bed for a unique glamping experience!

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Whenever I go camping, usually on the walk over from my tent to the campsite’s outhouse, all it takes is the sight of a luxe RV trailer to convince me of investing in one for my next trip. While the unique, sweaty joy that follows waking up in a cozy – if not sweltering hot – tent is irreplaceable, there’s a regal comfort to an RV’s rugged and homelike nature that always seems to outshine the old camping tent. There’s a new RV pulling into the campsite from the team behind Bowlus Road Chief, known as the world’s first aluminum travel trailer, and it’s the debut of their latest luxury RV, the Terra Firma.

For most, RVs are so beloved because they offer the thrill of traveling off-the-grid while catering to the convenience of modern-day amenities like running water and filtered air. Boasting that and so much more, the Terra Firma tailgates Bowlus Road Chief’s Endless Highways Performance Edition, complete with the same 26-foot length body, reflective chrome exterior, in-floor heating system, and large lithium iron phosphate battery pack that allows for a week’s worth of off-grid traveling. On the inside, Terra Firma brings the elegance equal to that found in private jets and newer Tesla models equipped with plenty of high-tech features that meet the needs of even your furry travel companions.

In addition to smart technology that takes care of your doggo, Terra Firma features HEPA Air Filters with UVC to ensure you and your party are always breathing clean air no matter where the road takes you. The team at Bowlus Road Chief was sure to also include an embedded water filtration system that utilizes carbon filters through a two-stage filtration process, assuring travelers that they can look forward to clean, fresh drinking water after each hike. GPS tracking also runs through Terra Firma, allowing travelers to share their RV’s location and trip status with chosen users for an extra sense of security.

Lastly, whether you’d like to bring your cat or dog along for the trip, Terra Firma includes a built-in, personalized pet bed, along with pull-out food and water bowls. If your pup is ever too tired to join you at your side for a good hike, with Pet-Flex remote temperature monitoring, you can head up the mountain assured that sure your pets are safe and happy. Terra Firma is spacious enough to provide plenty of storage options, a tuckaway dog bed, and a master bedroom situated in the iconic curved end of the cabin, so let’s just ditch the tent already.

Designer: Bowlus Road Chief

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A luxury electric RV that was designed by an aircraft engineer for a zero-emissions trip!

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The pandemic has made many of us skeptical about air travel and has made road trips a more popular choice! People are more open to taking campers and exploring less crowded spots for a change of place after being cooped up in their homes for weeks. Those with an itch to travel have found quarantine difficult but the Bowlus Road Chief (Performance Edition) is here to give them the luxury trip of their dreams – yes, it probably costs as much as an international trip with first-class tickets with a price tag of $225,000. But current times, you are better off buying a luxury camper than a private jet, especially one that reduces your carbon footprint!

The Bowlus Road Chief is truly the chief of luxury campers with its high-end features that enable a zero-emissions trip. The 26 feet long camper can house four people with sleepings and dining zones. It is no less than a hotel room with huge skylights in the main cabin crafted by the company’s best artisans to bring the outdoors inside and are optimized for stargazing. The skylights are made in the iconic the Bowlus Road Chief shape which allows for full tensile strength to transmit along the Road Chief exterior armor-like shell. The expensive RV is complete with an outdoor kitchen equipped with a 110V outlet and propane outlet. The set up lets each owner customize the fittings to their needs like induction cooktops, propane BBQ’s, or even a margarita blender are ready to plug and play. “The Bowlus Road Chief is as exquisite as it is distinctive. Like any fine work of art, the Road Chief is the result of spectacular design and meticulous craft. There is nothing in the world like a Bowlus Road Chief adventure,” says Geneva Long, CEO.

Originally conceived by aircraft builder, designer, and engineer Hawley Bowlus in 1934, the RV still shows its history in its aerodynamic, almost space shuttle-like shape which makes it stand apart from the usual breadbox-shaped trailers. The electrical power system is designed to make sustainable travel effortless and hassle-free. The yacht quality pure sine inverter has been upgraded from the previous models to 3,000W for the Performance Edition. The lithium iron phosphate system’s capacity is doubled to 600 Ah/7680Wh for up to two weeks of off-grid battery use which makes long road trips possible without comprising the comfort of luxury facilities. A super impressive feature is that the system charges just in 3-4 hours for an RV that size and the entire power management system is connected via Bluetooth + the internet so that all critical data is easily accessible on your smartphone. Luxurious but also smart, energy-efficient, and safe in a pandemic for you to travel while being socially distant!

Designer: Bowlus Road Chief

This electric tiny camper is a houseboat and trike designed to travel on land and water!

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Just to be fully prepared for all possibilities 2020 can bring, Zeltini has designed Z-Triton – an electric houseboat that does it all! The concept of having a vehicle that is a house, boat, and trike combined that travels over land and water is something straight out of a Spy Kids movie but Zeltini really came through with a real one!

The Z-Triton Electric Houseboat was created as a vehicle that could serve as an alternative to the traditional camper. It is comfortable enough to house two adults for a weekend getaway and the choice of land or water is up to the travelers. The amphibious nature of the modern camper fits into the flexible lifestyle we lead today, especially since air travel is not on the cards anytime soon it is opening up a lot of avenues for local trips in less popular/offbeat locations. The durable houseboat measures 3.6 meters in length, 1.2 meters in width, and 1.55 meters in height.

The team is testing the prototype by driving it around in different weather conditions to see if this tiny electric camper can be an all-terrain travel vehicle. It uses electric assistance that lets the users control power, lighting, temperature, and more. Simply fold up the seat and it unveils the floor space for two people to lay down. This quirky blue and orange vehicle has a tricycle mounted on one side that conveniently folds up or down to transition from land to water. Z-Triton will encourage more sustainable tourism and will allow people to travel spontaneously. It is scheduled to hit the market in 2021 and I am already making a list of places I want to take it to!

Designer: Zeltini