Is the future of camping electric campervans, according to our authority on the subject? Views shared.
Revised Article:
Hey there! Let's dive into some electric campervan chat - no frills, just the good stuff. I know folks are scratching their heads, trying to figure out what this electric car business means for us campervan enthusiasts in the UK.
The waffling on zero emission vehicle deadlines by our politicians has left us all cringing. But hey, that's politics for ya.
At first, the plan was to ban the sale of new fossil fuel vehicles by 2030. In stride with the EU's goal to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
But it wasn't long until Rishi Sunak moved that deadline up to 2035. Keir Starmer later pledged to bring it back to 2030.
The hopes are to phase out new fossil fuel vehicles by 2030, with new hybrid fossil fuel vehicles allowed until 2035. But it's a dance. Manufacturers are grumbling about that 2030 deadline, so a consultation is underway to decide when the final date should be. As I write this, the deadline is set at 2035.
Now let's set the record straight on something. According to a recent AA survey, 7% of people believe this ban affects sales of used fossil fuel vehicles. That's a big nope! So there's no rush on selling your motorhome - used fossil fuel vehicles can still be bought and sold after the ban, and we can expect to see fossil fuel-powered vehicles on our roads for at least another 50 years or so. Fuel companies have promised to keep the fuel flowing.
So it's highly probable that new businesses popping up, offering to revamp fossil fuel vehicles so they're good as new, will become commonplace. Similar things are already happening with electric vehicle battery recycling firms. Replacing a battery pack is now just about as cheap as replacing an engine.
So are electric campervans the next big thing? Let's take a closer look.
What to Keep in Mind About Electric Campervans:
Green or Greener?
Despite what you might hear, electric vehicles aren't necessarily greener. Though they pump out no tailpipe emissions, the energy used to produce the electricity plays a huge role. Much debate revolves around the harmful materials harvested to create EV batteries - but most of these can be recycled, making the situation not quite as cut-and-dry as you'd think.
Looking ahead, the rise of solid-state batteries might offer a helping hand.
Resale Value
Just like any vehicle, electric campervans will depreciate over time. ButICKNOWLEDGE to be honest, we don't have enough data on electric campervan resale values compared to their fossil fuel counterparts yet, so it's a wait-and-see game.
Charging Up
To genuinely benefit from electric campervan advantages, you should install a home charger. For the past eight months, my wife and I have had a home charger, and it's been a game-changer. Without it, charging overnight on regular outlets isn't any better than trying to fill a bathtub with a thimble - super slow!
The installation can be a bit pricey, but it has its perks in the long run. You might find better deals and tariffs if you shop around. Rest easy, home surveys are usually free!
But remember, older homes might lack the electrical capacity for a home charger, making installation costly.
Range Anxiety: A Myth?
Some fear the limited range of electric vehicles will pose a problem for campervan trips. To put things into perspective, a full charge should easily get you around 200 miles. If you're cruising at 70mph, that translates to nearly three hours of non-stop driving. Plenty of breaks ought to do the trick.
Route planning is key for electric campervans, and vehicles with built-in navigation that automatically plot a route via charging stations make this process simple.
The Public Charging Network
The public charging network is growing, but hit-or-miss service is still a thing. Some campsites boast high-powered charging points, but they're not the norm just yet. Using a public charger might cost as much as refueling a fossil fuel vehicle, making home charging the way to go for savings.
Winter temperatures can reduce battery capacity, but pre-warming devices help combat this issue.
In terms of weight, motorhome brands are finding it tough to cram large battery banks into campervans without running afoul of driving license requirements. Smaller campervans (think VW Transporters) tend to handle the change better.
Lighter Packages for a Lighter Footprint
If you're looking to lighten your campervan's load and shrink your carbon footprint, checking out our tips for reducing motorhome weight is worth a read!
Routing Along the Right Lines
Electric vehicles prefer hillier routes to shorter high-speed stints on the highway. Lower speeds and hills can significantly boost an EV's range, thanks to regenerative braking.
Topping Up at Campsites
Think you can power up at a campsite with easily accessible electric hook-ups? Think again! The number of hook-ups isn't enough to support a field full of charging campervans simultaneously. Some campsites won't even let you charge up on their premises, while others restrict charging to three-pin outlets. Charging a campervan on a regular 16A hook-up can be slower than molasses.
Hydrogen Cells: A Promising Approach
In 2021, there were only 11 hydrogen refueling stations, mainly centered in London. Fossil fuels still dominate hydrogen production, but scientists are hopeful that renewable energy sources will be used in the future. A distributed hydrogen network could serve as a convenient, sustainable way to store energy generated during peak renewable times for later use.
For larger vehicles like RVs, motorhomes, and trucks, hydrogen may well have a role to play. However, hydrogen fuel cells are essentially a hybrid version of electric vehicles, and newer, energy-dense battery technology (such as solid-state batteries) might ultimately render hydrogen obsolete.
Synthetic or Electrofuels: A Brighter Future
If reducing emissions from existing vehicles is of interest, synthetic or electrofuels (also known as e-fuels) could be an intriguing solution. Developed chemically, they resemble crop-based biofuels but produce fewer CO2 emissions during production, making them a sweeter deal for the environment.
But, the production cost is high, and availability is limited. With continued advancements in battery technology in China, the future of e-fuels remains uncertain.
The Bottom Line on Electric Campervans
The upfront costs, lacking subsidies, and expensive public charging make electric campervans less financially attractive, especially for those living in cities and parking on the street. Daily drivers do well with electric, but leisure vehicles tend to be driven less frequently and aren't always suited to an electric lifestyle.
The infrastructure and charging facilities at campsites play an essential role in electric campervan viability. For now, diesel still has an edge, particularly in larger motorhomes. And if you log under 5,000 miles annually, a diesel might even be the greener choice in terms of CO2 emissions.
So, should you motor across the countryside in an electric campervan? Absolutely! It's just a matter of weighing the options and making an informed decision that feels right for you.
Don't forget to sign up for our newsletter or subscribe to our magazine for regular updates on all things motorhome-related! Happy travels!
[1] GOV.UK (2022). How the UK's car emissions policies (best and worst) compare with the EU. https://fullfact.org/environment/uk-car-emissions-policies-eu/[2] GOV.UK (2021). Plug-in vehicle grant: find out if your vehicle is eligible. https://www.gov.uk/plug-in-car-van-grant/eligibility[3] smmt.co.uk (2021). New Car Market Rocked by Decline in Diesel Demand. https://www.sMMT.co.uk/2021/06/14/new-car-market-rocked-by-decline-in-diesel-demand/[4] Telegraph (2022). Diesel car sales plummet, highlighting ‘shaky foundations’ of UK’s electric vehicle future. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/carscooters/news/diesel-car-sales-plummet-highlighting-shaky-foundations-of-uks-electric-vehicle-future/[5] GOV.UK (2021). Electric vehicles: buying and using. https://www.gov.uk/electric-car-grants/eligibility
- Electric campervans, despite their environmental benefits, aren't always greener due to the energy used to produce their electricity and the debate about harmful materials in EV batteries.
- The resale value of electric campervans is uncertain, as there isn't enough data comparing them to fossil fuel counterparts yet.
- Installing a home charger is crucial for electric campervans to take advantage of their advantages, as charging overnight on regular outlets can be slow.
- The public charging network is growing but still has inconsistent service, and using it might cost as much as refueling a fossil fuel vehicle.
- Winter temperatures can reduce battery capacity, but pre-warming devices help combat this issue.
- Smaller campervans handle the transition to electric vehicles better than larger ones due to the difficulty of cramming large battery banks into campervans without violating driving license requirements.
- If you're looking to lighten your campervan's load and reduce your carbon footprint, check out tips for reducing motorhome weight.
- Electric vehicles prefer hillier routes and lower speeds to maximize range, thanks to regenerative braking.
- Charging a campervan on a regular electric hook-up at a campsite can be slower than molasses, and not all campsites allow charging or have enough hook-ups to support a field full of charging campervans.
- Hydrogen cells and synthetic or electrofuels could be potential solutions for reducing emissions from existing vehicles, but their production costs and availability are currently high.
