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

[Richard n Ann]

Imagine travelling to Spain in an electric van, would be a nightmare for us. We fill up with diesel every day so how many electric stops would that be? Don't think I'd bother.

 

[Jim]

Imagine travelling to Spain in an electric van, would be a nightmare for us. We fill up with diesel every day so how many electric stops would that be? Don't think I'd bother.

It would be a pain now as the technology and infrastructure isn't quite there, so I know it's something I'll never do. My kids though, I imagine electric motorhomes will be run-of-the-mill normal by the time they stop motorhoming.

 

[The Wino]

Why wouldn't they, they are supplying electricity anyway. If we are all in leccy vans they would be dumb not to Who wouldn't want to leave a site fully charged.

I wouldn't if I had enough range to get home and it cost more to charge there than at home or somewhere along the way. Just the same as I wouldn't refill with diesel if I stop on the motorway and pay more than somewhere else. There's no benefit in having more charge than you need plus a reserve when you're going home as unlike a diesel vehicle you can fill very easily and very cheaply at home

 

[Lenny HB]

My last trip was 3,350 miles about 1½ hours spent filling with diesel over 6½ weeks.

How many hours would I have to waste charging an EV?

 

[The Wino]

I didn’t know they went up that high on AC.

On our Peugeot e208 the on board charger is max 7KW though I have heard others with bigger chargers.

It’s a fascinating subject the way different manufacturers are sorting it.

The MG is 7 KW max on AC although the original ones went up to 22 KW . I suspect that the manufacturers are now geared up for any faster charging to be on DC chargers.

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[Jim]

I wouldn't if I had enough range to get home and it cost more to charge there than at home or somewhere along the way.

Well, if everyone had enough to get home, why would anyone bother to build charging points anywhere? So we are all in leccy vans. Parked up, hooked up, and you don't see the advantage of offering people the opportunity to top up. Very entrepreneurial aren't we

 

[autorouter]

The MG is 7 KW max on AC although the original ones went up to 22 KW . I suspect that the manufacturers are now geared up for any faster charging to be on DC chargers.

Many cars like the BMW I3 have a 'CCS' (= Combined Charging System) connector. The top part is the same as a Type 2 connector. The lower part is two big power pins that take DC charging. It can charge at 22kW AC plus the DC. That can be 40kW, or over 80kW depending on what the car is built to take. It can use a Type 2 if that's the only one available, such as a home charge point, or a CCS when available.

I have seen EV chargers up to 350kW, and 150kW is quite common now. It's complicated, there are lots of connectors and charger combinations. If you want more detail, try here:

Charging Point Connector Types

Confused by all the electric car charging point connectors? Read our handy guide explaining plugs and sockets for home and rapid charging...

electriccarhome.co.uk

 

[Whippet93]

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.

View attachment 990001

Are all Fiat based motorhomes produced by Fiat Professional, or do they have an amateur division that turns out the problem vehicles?

 

[Jim]

Are all Fiat based motorhomes produced by Fiat Professional, or do they have an amateur division that turns out the problem vehicles?

Maybe, and I'm guessing, but the miles to breakdowns ratio must make the Ducato, one of the most reliable van of recent times.

 

[PaulW2]

Maybe, and I'm guessing, but the miles to breakdowns ratio must make the Ducato, one of the most reliable van of recent times.

I'm not sure. I enjoy mine but Parkers doesn't have Fiat in the top 10 most reliable van manufacturers in 2024. It was 10th in 2022 and 2023.

Their top 10 are VW, Ford, Mercedes, Vauxhall, Peugeot, Renault, Toyota, Citroen, Nissan, Maxus.

UK’s best van? These are the most reliable vans to buy right now

Which is the most reliable van? Whether buying new or used, find out from the FN50 fleet reliability survey on Parkers Vans and Pickups

www.parkers.co.uk

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[busby]

If of course they do any charging at the campsite. Not many campsites sell diesel but it doesn't put people off. People have a funny idea that everywhere and EV stays overnight has to have a charger why?

Never a panic in my van as it has a 400 mile range...BUSBY

 

[busby]

It would be a pain now as the technology and infrastructure isn't quite there, so I know it's something I'll never do. My kids though, I imagine electric motorhomes will be run-of-the-mill normal by the time they stop motorhoming.

Don't think so....BUSBY.

 

[nicholsong]

In the meantime ......

Only a decade, or so. now.

And then 6 years to get one on the S/H market. I could give myself a 100th birthday present

 

[busby]

Maybe, and I'm guessing, but the miles to breakdowns ratio must make the Ducato, one of the most reliable van of recent times.

My Peugeot has now done 82000...Never ever broken down..Minor repairs..drive shaft gaiter.. wheel bearings..discs and pads and that's all..BUSBY

 

[Jim]

I'm not sure. I enjoy mine but Parkers doesn't have Fiat in the top 10 most reliable van manufacturers in 2024. It was 10th in 2022 and 2023.

Their top 10 are VW, Ford, Mercedes, Vauxhall, Peugeot, Renault, Toyota, Citroen, Nissan, Maxus.

UK’s best van? These are the most reliable vans to buy right now

Which is the most reliable van? Whether buying new or used, find out from the FN50 fleet reliability survey on Parkers Vans and Pickups

www.parkers.co.uk

How do the numbers on the road compare in the last 15 years. There appears to be a lot of Ducato's out there. I've owned 6 or 7 of them, and they haven't put a foot wrong, really.

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[DangerMousy]

I didn’t know they went up that high on AC.

On our Peugeot e208 the on board charger is max 7KW though I have heard others with bigger chargers.

It’s a fascinating subject the way different manufacturers are sorting it.

I thought 7kW for AC sounded quite low, didn't realise it was that common. Both our EQC and Fiat 500e can charge upto 11kW on AC.

I know of several campsites in France that have had EV chargers for a few years now. They're mostly 22kW and aren't directly on the pitches (so are probably more useful for cars than vans), but I expect we'll see more if them in the future. The chargers can be used by anyone at the standard rates, but the campsites offer preferential prices for their customers. Must be a good extra income stream for them.

 

[PaulW2]

How do the numbers on the road compare in the last 15 years. There appears to be a lot of Ducato's out there. I've owned 6 or 7 of them, and they haven't put a foot wrong, really.

Early days but mine hasn't either. I think now that vehicles have become so much more reliable generally the 'most reliable' rankings often have a range where even the ones that are measured as less reliable still have most owners not experiencing problems.

 

[Lenny HB]

I'm not sure. I enjoy mine but Parkers doesn't have Fiat in the top 10 most reliable van manufacturers in 2024. It was 10th in 2022 and 2023.

Their top 10 are VW, Ford, Mercedes, Vauxhall, Peugeot, Renault, Toyota, Citroen, Nissan, Maxus.

UK’s best van? These are the most reliable vans to buy right now

Which is the most reliable van? Whether buying new or used, find out from the FN50 fleet reliability survey on Parkers Vans and Pickups

www.parkers.co.uk

Severral of those are Ducato's with a different badge.

 

[Jim]

Sevel of those are Ducato's with a different badge.

I saw what you did there. '

 

[Lenny HB]

I saw what you did there. '

Breaking your own rules Jim

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[Jim]

Breaking your own rules Jim

To those who thought I was correcting spelling. Sevel

 

[LittleGreyCat]

A quick note on units:

There is a lot of quoting of "KWH" or Kilo Watt Hours.

I note that a reasonable lithium habitation battery is around 100 KwH.
And praised for lightness.
Also a top range eVehicle has a 100 KwH battery which is very heavy.

School physics (long time ago) tells me volts * amps = watts.
So a kilowatt hour is very dependent on the voltage (or the amperage, obviously).

I assume habitation batteries are rated for delivering 12 volts.
Charging points are rated for delivering 220V at home.

How many volts does an eVehicle battery deliver?
Or amps, for that matter.

 

[The Wino]

Many cars like the BMW I3 have a 'CCS' (= Combined Charging System) connector. The top part is the same as a Type 2 connector. The lower part is two big power pins that take DC charging. It can charge at 22kW AC plus the DC. That can be 40kW, or over 80kW depending on what the car is built to take. It can use a Type 2 if that's the only one available, such as a home charge point, or a CCS when available.

I have seen EV chargers up to 350kW, and 150kW is quite common now. It's complicated, there are lots of connectors and charger combinations. If you want more detail, try here:

Charging Point Connector Types

Confused by all the electric car charging point connectors? Read our handy guide explaining plugs and sockets for home and rapid charging...

electriccarhome.co.uk

Yes ours has CCS for high speed charging the power is scary when you think about it.

 

[PaulW2]

A quick note on units:

There is a lot of quoting of "KWH" or Kilo Watt Hours.

I note that a reasonable lithium habitation battery is around 100 KwH.
And praised for lightness.
Also a top range eVehicle has a 100 KwH battery which is very heavy.

School physics (long time ago) tells me volts * amps = watts.
So a kilowatt hour is very dependent on the voltage (or the amperage, obviously).

I assume habitation batteries are rated for delivering 12 volts.
Charging points are rated for delivering 220V at home.

How many volts does an eVehicle battery deliver?
Or amps, for that matter.

I think a 100Ah leisure battery is only about 1.2 kWh

 

[The Wino]

A quick note on units:

There is a lot of quoting of "KWH" or Kilo Watt Hours.

I note that a reasonable lithium habitation battery is around 100 KwH.
And praised for lightness.
Also a top range eVehicle has a 100 KwH battery which is very heavy.

School physics (long time ago) tells me volts * amps = watts.
So a kilowatt hour is very dependent on the voltage (or the amperage, obviously).

I assume habitation batteries are rated for delivering 12 volts.
Charging points are rated for delivering 220V at home.

How many volts does an eVehicle battery deliver?
Or amps, for that matter.

You won't get a 100 kWh hab battery I don't think. Maybe a 100ah at 12 v

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[Lenny HB]

I note that a reasonable lithium habitation battery is around 100 KwH.

Nope, a 12v 200ah batteries at a nominal 12.8v is 2.56kwh

 

[GoCoeGo]

Have to say, I do love our small EV car for the nursery run, but between the technology moving at pace, depreciation is terrible. The weight being the next point. Haulage seem to be looking at moving to hydrogen, along with heavy plant machinery. I would have though that would be a better solution. Or synthetic fuels. I do think there's a place for EV, but just not everywhere. Until the price per KW comes down (not likely), charging on the public is more expensive than combustion. That's from our EV experience anyway.

 

[PaulW2]

Have to say, I do love our small EV car for the nursery run, but between the technology moving at pace, depreciation is terrible. The weight being the next point. Haulage seem to be looking at moving to hydrogen, along with heavy plant machinery. I would have though that would be a better solution. Or synthetic fuels. I do think there's a place for EV, but just not everywhere. Until the price per KW comes down (not likely), charging on the public is more expensive than combustion. That's from our EV experience anyway.

In order to keep the tax take the same the price per kwh will necessarily increase to compensate for the loss of tax on fossil fuels.

 

[GoCoeGo]

In order to keep the tax take the same the price per kwh will necessarily increase to compensate for the loss of tax on fossil fuels.

Yeqh, I'd assume the same.
This year they have announced that EV cars are no longer tax exempt as it is. Not unexpected, but not helping any transition.

 

[Jon Stewart]

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

On a trailer.

Just check your towing weight and gross train weight.

Hold on a sec.... Why not just build the diesel generator into the front of the van, maybe even connect output to the wheels for when your battery develops a fault...

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