The Future of Campervans

Watch here or read below

This is the FIRST plug in hybrid campervan from Volkswagen and it raises some very important questions. Big changes are coming and I am going to explain.

This wont be the last AND I know some of the current Volkswagen Qualified Manufacturers also have models in development. With some very interesting features.

These are the types of Campervans we will be seeing more of in the near future.

Other brands are developing their plugin hybrid campers and no doubt more full electric ones too.

At the launch, some where disappointed when the new VW California launched without the hybrid option, as that was the one they wanted.

I will add here that the new California is built in the T7 Multivan platform and is a Volkswagen product. This ISNT part of the Ford and Volkswagen Collaboration.

The Camper itself has generated a lot of interest and it proved popular at the NEC Show in Feb when Campervantastic had one on their stand.

I haven’t seen any official numbers of sales, but Ive seen a number of them out an about in a variety of colours.

I personally really like the van and if I was buying one, it would most likely be the Hybrid I would opt for.

Prices for the hybrid are higher than the currently available diesel engine, starting at £71,295 for the Beach spec up to £85,395 for the Ocean, both prices before options.

They have opened the order book with a 0% finance offer.

Many will say the price is too much, however I’m not saying it isn’t, but have you seen the price of other campers, that are nowhere near the quality of these.

Everything has gone up in price, but if the previous variants are anything to go by, the residual values of these will be very good.

These will be out of reach for many including myself and the future videos I have over the next few months, will hopefully help many of you with that. Watch this space.

I’m not here to talk about how great or not this camper is and whether is big enough for you, that’s something for you to decide if it suits you and your lifestyle.

It does appear that the marketing for this has been aimed at general motorists, as opposed to us in the campervan world, existing owners and the like.

Perhaps aimed at families looking to begin the lifestyle for the first time.

Its another option for someone wanting a campervan or day van as some may say, but the main point is the fact that this is the first Hybrid Campervan from Volkswagen.

An just quickly about this, it’s a 1.5 litre petrol engine with a 19.7kwh battery. Which means its capable of being driven on battery power alone, for UPTO 54 miles. Real world mileage may differ.

Power wise its 245PS and is 4Motion, an often sort after model.

Regarding the campervan, it’s the same high levels of equipment that you find on the diesel powered derivative, meaning it’s very good, with the modern tech, what do Volkswagen call it, 3 zone living due to its twin sliding doors. It’s a good van, whether its for you or not, that’s down to you.

But back to the powertrain.

The goal posts may be currently floating in regards to what the long term future of the internal combustion engine is. But at present the current cut off for the sale of petrol and diesel is said to be 2030, with hybrids being able to be sold until 2035.

The small print and the detail will no doubt change, allowances made and criteria changed.  

2030 or 2035 will be here very soon and therefore market reaction and feedback from these new models will go along way to helping the manufacturers develop what’s next.

Whether we like it or not, it seems petrol and diesel are going. 

They won’t just disappear, but production of new ones will stop. 

I do still have chance to buy an older Porsche 911 to drive.

Well when I say old, I only mean something I could regularly use within reasonable money like a 997 4S or something, not a much older garage queen. 

One day, we can all dream.

Anyway, what does this all mean for the campervan industry and our Campervans?

For a start, how many of you have a diesel heater installed in your van? Well if there is no diesel engine, it wont have a diesel tank to supply the heater. You could have a separate tank suppose and I know some even do this on now.

Odd, but I guess its saves the budget converters looking for anyway to cut costs and time an easy way of doing it.

So what other options are there?

We have seen in an Ecowagon conversion an electric heated floor. Big battery bank to help facilitate this and the other electrical appliances within the camper.

A video will be coming soon discussing this in detail. Explaining some pro’s and con’s of different setups. Why one might suit you more than another.

Electric heaters will be more common, which is ok when you are hooked up, but when off grid, it will be more of a challenge,

What will be more crucial than ever going forward, is good insulation. If we are no longer using efficient heaters like the diesel or gas heater and are more reliant on electric heaters, then retaining the heat will be very important. The majority of converters insulate anyway, but not all, so that will be another reason to ensure your can is properly insulated.

In development at present are some alternative power systems for campers, which will be quite exciting. I’m not sure of timeline, but it wont be long before we see some innovative ideas.

We are already starting to see an increase in “gas free” conversions. Bodans have had theirs for a few years, which they run themselves. Off grid and off road. It’s a diesel powered van and portable power station for electrics.

Companies are offering bigger electric options and cooking facilities being offered with dual electric an gas options or even all electric.

Microwaves have been around for a while, but I know some are not often used. Whether that’s because, they have been implemented so they can only be used whilst on electric hook up OR people feel there are just better ways of cooking a nice meal in a campervan. I have to say, I think the space could be better utilised.

Perhaps for an air fryer, many are using air fryers now, because of the versatility of them and they cook food really well. Different foods in different ways and I would have one instead of a microwave everytime.

Lets also not forget the good old BBQ. I can even use the Pizza oven topper with this one. My Solo Stove is a few years old now and still going strong. https://www.solostove.com/en-gb

Hot water is now also being commonly fitted in Campervans.

Campervans. Like from Bespoke Leisure (https://bespokeleisure.co.uk), they have hot water AND lithium batteries as standard currently in their Transit and soon the New Transporter. Their Transporter being one of the very few VW qualified manufactured Transporters. Remember the VW Manufacturer list. https://www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk/en/finance-offers-and-fleet/conversions/motorhome-conversions.html

Without the diesel engine and possibly the gas, the greater reliance on electric power, generation and storage, will certainly be greater. Prices for lithium ion phosphate batteries are reducing, so that will become less of an issue, but there will still be storage aspect. Where to place multiple batteries, especially in a small van. I’m sure in my future chat with Ecowagon https://www.ecowagon.co.uk he will explain how he goes about it in his vans.

Getting power into the batteries can be pretty quick, with the modern chargers and solar panels are also increasing in efficiency.

Technology has improved and continues to improve, we know it doesn’t hang around, but when there is a real NEED for it to be developed further, then it will be and it is.

The new California is Hybrid with a petrol engine, but when we are all electric, with no combustion engine at all, things change again.

However, with all electric we will have a much bigger vehicle battery that could be used to power electric devices such as the mentioned cooking facilities, heater and so on,  then that would take pressure of the leisure batteries.

It’s going to be a case of adapting to new technologies as opposed to worrying about, oh no what will we do.

But what about charging an EV I hear you say?

Actually yes, I was saying this myself until I had the ID Buzz for 4 days, during which I realised how much improved the network was. I realised the availability of chargers was far greater than I expected. Yes I know the more people who have them, the less availability there will be, but this is a growing number, a number that will only increase.

Campsites? That is a good question. They all vary, as they do with everything else, but more and more are being installed. This will only improve, especially now we are seeing hybrid and electric Campervans in showrooms. The need will be there, campsites will have no choice but to adapt, just like they have over the years just adding normal electric hookup.

If your off grid, stealth camping, finding that secret location that nobody else knows about, then your just going to have to plan your trip to ensure you have enough charge.

The Motorhome and Caravan Show in October at the NEC will almost certainly feature more hybrids this year, even possibly full electric. There is no getting away from it, change is coming, BUT …. If your not ready for the electric era yet, have a look at what other people are camping in. They aren’t in brand new vans anyway, some are a few years old and some could be 10 15 20 years and more old. We will still beable to used our combustion engines for many years yet.

I will also add, before someone else does, yes there could be hydrogen, there could be something else, but for now and the near future, its hybrid and electric.

What do you think of the future?