Electric Motorhomes at Scale, Can't be Far Away Now.

[Jim]

FIAT Professional has started production of the all-electric E-Ducato at its Atessa plant in Italy, marking a significant step toward sustainable mobility in the light commercial vehicle (LCV) sector.

The Ducato leads Europe’s RV market, with 70% of motorhomes built on its platform and a 16-year streak as “Best Camper Base Vehicle” by Promobil readers. It holds strong market positions across Europe, with a 24% share in Italy and notable rankings in France, Poland, Spain, and Portugal.

The E-Ducato, designed in-house, features a 110-kWh battery delivering a range of up to 424 km (WLTP), rapid charging, and versatile configurations suited for logistics and service industries.

Atessa, Europe’s largest LCV facility, produces up to 1,200 vehicles daily, exporting 80% to 75 countries. This milestone underscores FIAT Professional's commitment to Italian manufacturing and the shift to electric mobility.

 

[The Wino]

2 months into owning our EV car it's great. As a motorhome base it would have a lot going for it especially if sorted for vehicle to load it would remove the need for any hab batteries inverter etc.

 

[Jabstatt]

Interested in payload. I wonder what the empty weight of an electric Ducato van is?

Tony

 

[Jim]

Interested in payload. I wonder what the empty weight of an electric Ducato van is?

Tony

Yes, I imagine the converters will be looking closely at the weight.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Weight/payload of motorhome has to be a primary concern.

Recharging has to also be a primary concern. Most public points in car parks, garages, service areas are accessible only by cars. Large vans let alone motorhomes will not get near.

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[BobJayne]

Most public points in car parks, garages, service areas are accessible only by cars. Large vans let alone motorhomes will not get near.

You can just use a diesel generator to charge it up surely?

 

[The Coops]

So fully loaded and at normal speeds it should have at least 200 miles between charges Sounds okay to me.

 

[TheMachMan]

The technology will improve, though wander what the fully loaded range is. EV’s play on my mind now as we would be looking to change in the next year or 2. My concern is if we splash out on another diesel what are successive governments going to do to force us to switch. Then rendering our very expensive van worthless!

 

[Coolcats]

Yes, I imagine the converters will be looking closely at the weight.

the converters will use sky hooks and air walls to save weight. Mind you saying this you only have to look at what Zeppelin did with thier old airships beautiful interiors (of the time) and light weight furniture

 

[nicholsong]

An Electric MH would not appeal much to thhose of us that like wildcamping.

If 90% of the MH became EV would the campsites want to fit charging installations and provide enough pitches with them to accommodate them all? And at what cost to the user?

Hopefully our diesel Arto will last me out.

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[Jabstatt]

So we’ve expended all this nervous energy making our vans self sufficient and viable off grid.

The next gen of campsites have an 80kw charger at every pitch???

I don’t think so!

Can’t even guess how they could find enough power!

Tony

 

[DavidG58]

As said on earlier threads of similar nature regarding charging , they will no more arrive needing fuel than an ICE equivalent, you don’t expect a diesel pump next to reception they will not expect charging on the pitch

I am hopeful this idea will become a reality in my lifetime , but I think the biggest issue will where will all the tanks go with the battery typically running the length of the underfloor , then the risk of any leaks then spilling over the battery

Still hopeful though

 

[LesW]

As said on earlier threads of similar nature regarding charging , they will no more arrive needing fuel than an ICE equivalent, you don’t expect a diesel pump next to reception they will not expect charging on the pitch

When I need to refuel, about every 350+ miles, I normally fill up when approaching my/our stop for the night, ready to go when leaving, this adds about 10mins to my ETA.

I certainly wouldn't be wanting to add a couple(?) of hours to my journey.

 

[Just smiffy]

Will charging points at car parks become the new overnight Aires….

 

[Orion]

Will charging points at car parks become the new overnight Aires….

Not with the typical 2m height restrictions on entry!

PS. I’ll let Ed Millband try one first before committing.

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[DavidG58]

certainly wouldn't be wanting to add a couple(?) of hours to my journey

This is typical of anti EV media talk

We can recharge at the equivalent of 1000 miles / hour, so 15 mins will add 250 miles on a good charging point

More than enough to get us on our way when ready

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

It's to be hoped that the Fiat design team have addressed some of the issues that have been the bane of the existing range, liquorice earth straps, screen to bodywork bonding that actually keeps the water out instead of funnelling it into vital on board components. Feel free to add to the list.
Mike.

 

[Tony and Andree]

Talking about weight the electric home shopper delivery vans based on a Maxus chassis of a certain supermarket weigh in at just over 4 tons and require a hgv mot at dvsa testing facility I cannot remember what the unladen weight is but is probably around 2.5 to 3 tons with a range of about 100/120 kms as opposed to the Merc sprinter which is just under 3.5 tons gross weight. Maxus are the biggest government owned producer of ev’s and own MG and BYD amongst others
Tony

 

[Gromett]

An Electric MH would not appeal much to thhose of us that like wildcamping.

I think exactly the opposite. The traction battery can be used to power the hab area.
So you lose things like leisure batteries, gas cylinders etc etc.

Having 120KWh available to the leisure side would make long stays off grid much easier.

Finding a charger these days is no longer an issue.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

I think exactly the opposite. The traction battery can be used to power the hab area.
So you lose things like leisure batteries, gas cylinders etc etc.

Having 120KWh available to the leisure side would make long stays off grid much easier.

Finding a charger these days is no longer an issue.

Is that enough for say 2-3 days in one location running heating?

See post above re accessibility of charging locations for motorhome size vehicles i.e. few and far between.

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[Verteuil Man]

Will the extra 750 kg allowance for an EV drive train and battery weight be carried over into a motorhome? And from what I have seen the extra 750 kg allowance is only for the battery and drive train and not for any extra payload, so I would imagine the payload will be the same as the current 3,500 kg models.

 

[royandsharont]

Re the charging points being suitable for a Motorhome I can say that I have travelled between Hull and Henley on Thames a lot in last 2/3 years, in car & our Motorhome, and whilst doing so have always looked at charging facilities everywhere we stop.

I can say I have not seen any personally that could accommodate a Motorhome size vehicle in length really.

Some at certain services on the M1 we often stop at have not been working, ever, during this time too

It has caused me concerns about changing to EV car let alone a van

 

[Gromett]

Is that enough for say 2-3 days in one location running heating?

See post above re accessibility of charging locations for motorhome size vehicles i.e. few and far between.

Depends I would guess. I had a brain fart and forgot about heating. Probably still want a diesel heater

 

[funflair]

I think exactly the opposite. The traction battery can be used to power the hab area.
So you lose things like leisure batteries, gas cylinders etc etc.

Having 120KWh available to the leisure side would make long stays off grid much easier.

Finding a charger these days is no longer an issue.

I can't imagine many manufacturers doing that though, for a start I doubt the base chassis manufacturers would allow it and secondly the habitation manufacturer won't risk you running down the traction battery to the point you can't get to a charge point, or even move off your wild camping spot.

 

[Gromett]

I can't imagine many manufacturers doing that though, for a start I doubt the base chassis manufacturers would allow it and secondly the habitation manufacturer won't risk you running down the traction battery to the point you can't get to a charge point, or even move off your wild camping spot.

Quite a few manufacturers provide a 240V inverted supply from the battery. This could be utilised fairly trivially.

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[funflair]

Quite a few manufacturers provide a 240V inverted supply from the battery. This could be utilised fairly trivially.

I imagine there are safeguards in place to prevent deep discharge, I'm still not convinced they will allow secondary connections to the battery that they provide a warranty for although I suppose if the camper builder used the chassis 240v inverter it should be OK time will tell no doubt.

 

[The Wino]

An Electric MH would not appeal much to thhose of us that like wildcamping.

If 90% of the MH became EV would the campsites want to fit charging installations and provide enough pitches with them to accommodate them all? And at what cost to the user?

Hopefully our diesel Arto will last me out.

Why do people assume that anywhere EVs park would require charging points! I had someone last week who said to me what would you do if you stopped at a bed and breakfast and it didn't have a charger do you know I've yet to see one with a petrol pump! Likewise campsites I can't recall visiting one with a diesel pump or any with an LPG pump! The advantage with an EV motorhome would be you could stop at a fast charger en route and arrive with a huge hab battery.

 

[dna]

How much does a typical off grid capable electric installation weigh?

A couple of lithium batteries, all the various controllers/charging systems and solar panels must add up to a significant weight.
I assume most of that would become redundant although some kit would be needed to provide 12v DC and possibly 230v AC.

Very interesting to see how this evolves.

 

[nicholsong]

I think exactly the opposite. The traction battery can be used to power the hab area.
So you lose things like leisure batteries, gas cylinders etc etc.

Having 120KWh available to the leisure side would make long stays off grid much easier.

Finding a charger these days is no longer an issue.

I think it might be in parts of Greece, especially islands and more especially my favourite one, where we have twice spent a month.

 

[The Wino]

Depends I would guess. I had a brain fart and forgot about heating. Probably still want a diesel heater

Nothing wrong with that. I reckon we used 5% at most of our diesel running the heater if you reduce your diesel usage by 95% isn't that a win. Even better have a refillable LPG tank near enough zero pollution compared to a diesel motorhome and drastically reduced carbon.
On all the gumf about charging points on pitches and time spent recharging just think of the number of hours most motorhomes spend parked on sites and at home and the average number of miles covered per year! Why would you need fast chargers on pitches we haven't got a proper home charger fitted yet and have covered 2000 miles charging on a 3 pin plug! Don't believe those doom and gloom stories in the torygraph!

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