Electric RVs & campervans to go off-grid in

Camping holidays are all about escaping from the cities and enjoying the Great Outdoors.

When heading into the wilderness we're often encouraged to 'leave no trace' - and if you want that to apply to emissions, then it's time to consider an electric camper or recreational vehicle (RV). 

We have good news: with an increasing number of electric vehicles on the road, there's a fast-growing list of EV campers – and conversions – coming onto the market, so that you can enjoy an escape to the country in silent style.

Airstream eStream

Okay, the Airstream eStream isn’t exactly an RV: you’ll need a car to haul it long distances. But since plenty of EVs can tow a caravan you can still haul this in zero-emission luxury – and when you reach your destination the eStream has plenty of really cool party tricks.

The eStream features built-in car batteries that mean the motors drive the wheels when it’s being towed, reducing the strain on the vehicle doing the towing and making the whole thing more efficient. That battery is kept topped up by solar power, and also powers all of the Airstream’s electric appliances, which include an air conditioner and kitchen unit.

Airstream eStream

The best party trick of the eStream comes when you reach your destination: it can power itself, so you can control it using an app to park it better when you reach a campsite, or to move it into a position to be hooked up to your tow vehicle.

And you get all the joy of a 22-foot Airstream trailer, with enough room to sleep four and kit including a bath, microwave, fridge, flat screen TV and a 5G wireless connection. Sadly it’s just a one-off for now.

Renault Hippie Caviar Motel

This is the second in a series of Renault ‘hippie camper’ concepts, and is based on the electric Kangoo L2 E-Tech Electric van. As the name suggests, this one is designed to offer a taste of luxurious electric camping, offering a “sprightly shelter for adventure and sports enthusiasts”.

This is more for single-person fun than family camping, though: the rear seats fold down to create a single bed, and much of the space is given over to offering storage solutions, such as a roof rack for skis built onto the top of the machine. 

There’s also plenty of use of recycled materials for the interior fittings, including shelving and flooring made from a mix of recycled tyres and cork.

Volkswagen ID Buzz California

The original Volkswagen T2 Transporter is arguably the most famous camper van of them all, with its classic design that fast achieved cult status in the 1960s – and is still a popular site on the roads today.

The new Volkswagen ID Buzz is an electric MPV and van that’s a spiritual successor to the T2, complete with retro-infused styled inspired by the classic machine. And the best news of all is that Volkswagen has confirmed a camper version will come – although sadly it might not appear until the end of the decade due to market demands. 

We don’t know much about the machine yet, other than it will take the ID Buzz California name. It will likely take much of the kit from the existing combustion-engined California camper, so expect a pop-up roof, kitchen, folding bed and all sorts of goodness – but with an added dose of oh-so-cool retro styling.

eDub Trips Volkswagen electric camper

Can't wait for the Volkswagen ID Buzz California to arrive? Then a few firms have produced full electric reworkings of the classic T2 (variously known as the Bus, Camper, Bulli and more, depending on where you grew up).

One of the best examples comes from British firm eDub Trips, which has a 1973 classic with a modern twist – no emissions, no fuel, just electrified fun and practicality. The bright green camper, created by the Yorkshire-based team at eDub, has a 65kW motor with a 26kWh battery, meaning you can go sightseeing during the day before charging up overnight at a local campsite ready to hit the road again. 

Bowlus Volterra

While the Airstream eStream is a concept for now, you can buy a retro-styled silver electric travel trailer: check out the Bowlus Volterra. Available to order now priced from $310,000, it had a built-on 17kWh ‘power bank’ battery, which is topped up by solar power and when it’s being towed. It can also be used to add 65 miles of charge to an EV.

Inside, the Volterra is luxuriously finished, with space to sleep four, a full bathroom and kitchen suite and the ability to carry up to 50 litres of fresh water so you can keep clean in the remotest of locations. There’s even a built-in Starlink satellite internet connection, so you can keep in touch wherever you are.

Xbus Camper

Here's one for fans of the Tiny House TV series: the Xbus Camper might be the smallest, cutest machine you could spend a weekend away in. Developed by German firm ElectricBrands, it's less than four metres long, and will be priced from around $40,000. 

The machine will feature two removable camper modules, which include a sofa, fridge, TV, water tank and sink. So while you might have to get cosy to spend time in it with your friends and family, you'll be comfortable while doing so.

It's also cleverly packaged, with a 15kWh permanent battery and the ability to add a removable 30kWh unit – which could allow you to swap batteries rather than having to wait to charge it up.

Toyota Proace Eco Revolution

Produced by Scottish firm Campervan Co, this conversion kit turns the popular Toyota Proace EV into a four-seat camper with a full kitchen. There’s a pop-up roof that gives access to a bed, and the machine features 930 watts of solar panels, which can power the induction hob, fridge, lights and heater while you’re parked up.

Notably, all of the camper units are removable, so you can turn the machine back into a regular seven-seat Proace MPV if you ever need to drive a lot of people around.
 

Winnebago e-RV concept

Minnesota-based Winnebago has become synonymous with Recreational Vehicles (RVs) since it launched in 1957, and continued to produce a line of hugely popular machines based on various manufacturer vans.

The new Winnebago e-RV concept is based on the Ford Transit van, although instead of taking an electric E-Transit the firm has chosen to fit a third-party electric powertrain developed by Lightning eMotors. It offers a range of 125 miles, which might make that coast-to-coast journey difficult but should, Winnebago claims, meet the needs of more than half of all RV buyers.

The battery of the e-RV also powered all the camper features, which include a ‘marine-grade’ fridge, a water heater and roof-mounted air conditioning. There’s even a built-in bathroom featuring a toilet and shower.

Mercedes-Benz EQV eCamper

While officially supported by Mercedes-Benz, the EQV eCamper is created by Sortimo Walter Rüegg. Basically you take a regular Mercedes EQV large electric van, and the Swiss firm will install a number of modular options depending on your needs. They include a pop-up roof and a built-in kitchen with a sink, gas cooker and fridge. The units are designed to be lightweight to minimise the impact on the machine's range.

There's even the option of fitting solar panels, which have an output of 400 watts and can keep  the battery topped up while you're parked up in a field.

Mercedes-Benz EQT Marco Polo Concept

One camper just isn't enough for Mercedes-Benz: the firm has also unveiled a concept version of a smaller EQT Marco Polo Concept. Based on the EQT people carrier, the production version of the camper version is due to arrive later this year – and it's already got us very excited.

There's a pop-up roof with a roof bed, and a kitchen unit that includes a sink, oven hob, gas cartridge cooker and a 16-liter fridge. That whole unit can also be removed, allowing owners to turn their EQT camper back into an MPV.

There's also a fold-out table with an electronically adjustable height, and a sun canopy to keep you from baking – while solar panels will use that bright light to top up your camper's battery. Oh, and to make sure you accessorise perfectly, there's also two matching camping chairs.

Skoda Enyaq 80 FestEVal

This is a one-off concept created to showcase just how spacious the Enyaq SUV is. Spoiler alert: it's really very spacious.

Czech firm Enge has developed a special boot-based camping unit, which slides out and is equipped with a cooker and collapsible sink (remember to drain out the water before you collapse it

Skoda Enyaq 80 FestEVal

Another neat party trick on the Skoda Enyaq FestEVal: the rear seats can be converted into a flat double bed, while a roof tent can be unfolded to add a second sleeping area. You also get a ladder, so you can clamber up easily.

Okay, so it's still an SUV and not a full-size camper, but we reckon you could happily spend a weekend in one. And to make sure the FestEVal camper lives up to its name, there’s an eight-speaker sound system, so you can stage your own festivals wherever you park up.

Airstream and Studio Porsche EV travel trailer concept

This isn't technically an electric camper – it's actually a travel trailer. But it's been optimised for use by electric vehicles and it's really cool, so we're including it here. The concept has been jointly developed by two firms that should know what they're doing: RV experts Airstream and Studio Porsche, the design arm of the firm that produces the excellent Taycan EV.

Strictly a concept for now, the new travel trailer features a reworked design to improve the aerodynamic efficiency, with a flat underside, a reworked rear end, automatically lowering suspension and an insulated pop-up interior. Airstream claims that makes it the most efficient trailer it has produced, and ideal for use by EVs. Even better, it's low enough to fit in a garage. So if the weather is really bad, you can always camp indoors..

SpaceCamper Bike

Thought that electric campers were limited to four wheels? Well, here’s a cargo e-bike that you can use for weekends away in the wilderness. It’s been developed by German firm SpaceCamper, which specialises in producing camper conversions – although usually working on a van, rather than an e-bike.

The firm has taken a Riese&Muller Load cargo e-bike and added all the kit needed to make it a two-wheeled camping machine, including a built-in bed, table and a canvas roof. It’s very much a lean-to style off covering, mind, so don’t expect fully enclosed luxury.

Still, there’s a special reclining chair built-in when you need a break from pedalling, which can even function as a bed if the ground is a little too cold or messy to sleep on. Sales are due to begin this summer.