Camping with an EV and a caravan

All information about camping holidays with an electric car

Not only are electric cars experiencing an upswing in recent years, traveling by caravan or camper van is also very popular, not least since Corona. Many are therefore asking themselves: Can I hang a caravan on my e-car? What impact does this have on outreach? How can I charge with a trailer at public charging stations? And: Are there also fully electric caravans? In this blog article, we'll tell you what you should know about “electric camping.”

Can you hang a caravan on an e-car?

That is probably the fundamental question. The answer: Yes! If your electric car has a trailer hitch and you keep an eye on other aspects.

ADAC tests Certify: An electric car is an excellent towing vehicle. Without engine vibrations and shift jerks, even overtaking manoeuvres with a caravan are light-footed and comfortable. When parking and maneuvering, an electric car can also be dosed very sensitively. Basically, nothing stands in the way of coupling up your caravan.

The traction of your electric car is decisive

Before you hang your caravan on your electric car, you should definitely know the pulling power of your electric vehicle. Larger e-car models in particular offer enough traction to attach a motorhome. With small cars, such as the Nissan Leaf, Renault ZOE or Opel Corsa electric, you should refrain from towing a caravan.

Which e-car models can tow a motorhome?

To attach a motorhome, you need an electric car with at least 750 kg of braked towing capacity (at 12% incline). Some models already offer this, such as the BMW iX3, Fiat E-Doblò and Kia Niro EV.

Depending on the version, the Audi Q4 e-tron offers a towing capacity of 1,000-1,800 kg and is therefore also ideally suited for use with a caravan.

• Hyundai Ioniq 6 Long Range 77.4 kWh (1600 kg)
• Kia EV6 77.4 kWh (1600 kg)
• Mercedes-Benz EQA 4matic (1800 kg)
• Nissan Ariya e-4orce (1.500 kg)
• Opel Zafira-e Life (1,000 kg)
• Polestar 2 (1,500 kg)
• Renault Kangoo E-Tech (1,500 kg)
• Skoda Enya iV 80/80x/RS iV (1,000 - 1,200 kg)
• Tesla Model 3 (1,000 kg)
• Tesla Model S (1600 kg)

The following models offer even more traction:

• Volvo EX90 (2,200 kg)
• Tesla Model X (2,250 kg)
• Polestar 3 (2,200 kg)
• BMW i7 (2,000 kg)
• BMW iX (2,500 kg)

As you can see, there is already a large selection of e-cars with which you can tow your trailer.

Which e-campers will be available in 2023?

If you would rather have an all-electric motorhome, there are already options here. We list a few of the current e-campervan models below:

• Citroen Spacetourer/Pössl E-Vanster: Camping bus specialist Pössl builds the E-Vanster based on the Citroen Spacetourer. With a range of approx. 360 km, the e-camper is definitely suitable for travel. The camping with pop-up roof is minimalistic here, but the concept is already practical and solid. With an original price of 58,499 euros, it is also available as part of camping buses with combustion engines.
• Mercedes EQV: Mercedes e-campervan with pop-up roof and Sortimo camping set, also offers a range of approx. 360 km (according to WLTP). EQV extensions are also already available from the brands Aktivcamper, Reimo and Tonke. There is no separate Mercedes camper version yet. At 71,388 euros base price, the EQV is, as usual from Mercedes, in the high-end range.
• Nissan NV200: Startup Lighstern and camping bus specialist Zooom have discovered the NV 200 model from Nissan for themselves. The NV 200 has a range (according to NEDC) of 275 km, but is already available from 42,605 euros and is therefore a good solution as an entry-level camping model.
• peugeot E-Rifter: The manufacturer Vanderer is upgrading the Peugeot E-Rifter into a mini camper with a high roof. With a range of 274 km, this takes you quite a long way. The Peugeot E-Rifter is available from 55,990 euros.
• VW iD.Buzz: The electrified VW van iD.buzz is new on the market. From 2024, there should be an ID.CALIFORNIA version, directly with camper extension. Until then, the iD.buzz with the furniture module from Ququq will become an e-camper. With a realistic range of 450 km, the iD.Buzz is absolutely suitable for travel and long distances. With a price (including Ququq expansion) of 64,581 euros, it is also not entirely cheap.

How does a motorhome trailer affect the range of my e-car?

We already know it: The range specified for your e-car model according to WLTP figures is not realistic. On average, the realistic range is approximately 15% below the WLTP figure. Of course, we also know that driving style, speed and environmental factors, such as temperature, incline and wind speed, influence the range.

It is therefore also logical that towing a trailer influences the range of your electric car. You'll probably have to test for yourself how exactly it affects your vehicle. As a rule, it can be assumed that the realistic range will be reduced by around 30-50% on one battery charge when towing a caravan. So plan regular charging breaks.

Good to know: Camping specialists have recognized the issue and are already working on solutions that should reduce the impact on range. With Fibre Frame technology, for example, the weight of the trailer can be significantly reduced - less weight also means: less consumption, more range. Knaus started with the Travelino, which was based on this technology. Travelino was discontinued in 2021, but the company continues to work on the technology with the Deseo model.

Manufacturer Dethleffs is currently building a prototype of a caravan with its own electric drive. This electrically powered trailer acts as a type of range extender and thus relieves the load on the e-car. The realistic goal is to completely compensate for the loss of range. Dethleffs has already proven that it is possible with a team of Audi e-tron and Dethleffs e.Home Coco crossing the Alps: From Isny in the Allgäu region, it went to Riva on Lake Garda. A distance of 386 kilometers - completely without a charging stop.

Where can I charge my e-camping team?

Charging with trailers can be a challenge. Due to the increased consumption, not only do you have to plan for significantly more charging stops, it is also sometimes quite difficult to get to the charging station, because you usually drive backwards at the charging station. With a trailer, however, you are usually standing too far away from the charging station so that the cable is not enough or you get in the way due to the trailer length. There is still no proper way to find charging stations that are caravan or trailer friendly. Unfortunately, when in doubt, it means uncoupling the caravan to charge the car. There is definitely still some catching up to do on this aspect.

However, many charging station operators have already identified this problem and are actively tackling it:

• Fastned says it focuses on providing charging facilities for a combination in charging parks. For example, the charging park in Hilden already offers the option of charging with a camper. If you look at other charging parks offered by the provider, you can see that the charging stations can often be approached sideways and have enough space for a trailer.
• In March 2022, EnBW opened a large charging park on the A9 near Petersberg, which also offers the option of charging with caravans and trailers without having to uncouple the trailers.
• On the A3 near Höchststadt Ost, ARAL offers a charging park with charging stations for campers and trailers.

Camping with an e-car: It's worth the trip to these European countries

Europe offers a variety of countries that are particularly suitable for campers. Here are a few of them:

1. germany: With its excellent infrastructure, well-equipped campsites and scenic routes, Germany is a popular destination for campers.
2. france: The country is known for its diverse landscapes and offers numerous campsites along the coast, in the mountains and in rural areas.
3. spain: Spain not only offers sunny weather, but also a large number of campsites with various amenities.
4. italy: With its rich culture, picturesque coasts and spectacular landscapes, Italy attracts many campers.
5. norway: Norway impresses with its breathtaking nature, including the majestic fjords, and offers numerous camping options.

In some European countries, you will find a particularly high number of camping sites. The top 10 are:

1. france
2. germany
3. italy
4. spain
5. netherlands
6. swedes
7. croatia
8. norway
9. greece
10. uk

Wild camping with an e-camper: Where do you go?

Sometimes you don't want to head to a camping spot - for example when you've found a wonderful place that you don't want to leave or simply want to escape the hustle and bustle. But be careful: So-called “wild camping” is strictly prohibited in some countries and results in fines.

If you don't want to spend the night on camping sites with your e-campervan or caravan, but simply on the spot, you can do so in the following countries.

1. swedes: Everyone's law allows you to camp in nature as long as you respect the environment and follow certain rules.
2. norway: Similar to Sweden, Norway also has everyone's right to camp in nature.
3. iceland: Wild camping is allowed in Iceland as long as you respect the environment and follow the rules.
4. scotland: The “Right to Roam” allows camping in nature, provided you respect the environment and follow the guidelines.
5. finland: Everyone's law allows camping in nature as long as you follow certain rules.

When camping outside camping sites, it is important to comply with the applicable laws and regulations of the respective country in order to protect nature and avoid conflicts.

conclusion

You can also easily go on vacation with a combination of e-car and caravan or your e-camper. However, a bit of advance planning is definitely necessary, as the higher load reduces the range of your vehicle. Regular charging breaks should therefore be planned. You should be prepared for the fact that driving to a charging station with a trailer can be challenging. E-camping is still in its infancy, but we are confident that there will be solutions very soon that will make electrified camping much more comfortable.