OUR TAKE ON THE ELECTRIC CAMPER INDUSTRY
Photo: Swansway Motor Group
The truth is, electric campers are pretty far out.
In 2024, the automotive industry is witnessing many developments in the electric vehicle space. Players like Tesla and Rivian offer unique cars that capture the eye of many. We’ve also seen teases from Winnebago and other large OEMs for all electric campers. This wave of innovation has sparked interest among outdoor enthusiasts intrigued by the concept of an electric camper. We get it–the allure of a silent, emissions-free adventure vehicle is definitely appealing.
However, when it comes to deciding which camper you should buy, it's important to weigh the practical aspects and timelines associated with the electric camper van market. At Peace Vans, we would love a small electric van to build campers on, but unfortunately, we don’t expect one to hit the United States market (with realistic range) until at least 2027 or 2028. In this blog, we’ll explore the current state and the foreseeable future of the electric camper market.
Is it worth waiting for an electric camper as opposed to buying a gas one now?
The short answer is no. Trust us; we are just as excited about the idea of an electric camper van as you. However, there is a lot of uncertainty in the market right now. It could be years before a prospect worth purchasing is available. There is no 100% guarantee regarding the timely availability of the ideal electric camper van–just discussions and speculation at the moment.
If you are okay with putting off your adventures for a few years, then you can wait to see what evolves in the market. But if you want to start van life now, then we recommend purchasing something that is available and reliable, like the Mercedes Metris camper. These are leaving the United States market soon, so we recommend ordering one as soon as possible.
Is Peace Vans planning on building campers on the ID. Buzz?
For our VW-loving followers, the introduction of ID. Buzz likely caught your attention, making its first debut in the United States last June and delivery to customers to start around February of 2025. We love the idea of building on this van, but it’s not something that will happen overnight. The van is expected to hit U.S. markets in 2025, and creating the ideal camper will take time as we work with Volkswagen to ensure it's done thoughtfully and safely (if it’s even possible).
Having said that, we do talk with VW quite a bit, along with other significant players in the electric industry, to explore potential avenues for participation. Even if we don’t end up building electric camper vans, it’s a goal of ours to be involved in the space in some capacity, which is currently in the works–so stay tuned.
Photo: Robert Starnes
Say I do wait for an electric camper–are there any foreseeable downsides?
A significant drawback of traveling in an electric vehicle is the challenging landscape of charging stations. While this infrastructure is abundant in cities, it is much harder to find in popular road trip destinations (Olympic Peninsula, North Cascades, and more). Who wants to buy a camper van just to be confined to the city?!
Here, you can view a map of the electric charging stations in and around North Cascades National Park. While there’s enough to make it through the park, they remain very limited. There are no charging stations between Nehalem and Mazama, meaning you won’t have much opportunity to drive off the beaten path before heading to charge your electric van.
We remain optimistic that the electric charging infrastructure will see improvements in the coming years. However, much like electric camper vans, the future remains uncertain.
I want a small camper van now. What’s the best option?
We build small, reliable, pop-top camper vans using the Mercedes Metris chassis. This is the perfect choice for solo travelers, couples, and families (it sleeps up to four people!).
The Mercedes Metris was pulled from the United States market, but it will still be serviced for years to come. Learn more about this here. We offer two distinct conversion styles: the Weekender and the Full Camper.
If you want to purchase a Metris camper van, you must act fast. We have less than 40 left in stock. If you place an order this week, your van will be delivered in time for epic summer road trips.
I have a classic VW Camper and want to convert it to Electric–can you help?
If you’ve been following Peace Vans for some time, you’ll know that we are now converting older VWs to electric. While this path is becoming more and more popular, most of our EV conversion customers are using their converted vehicles as daily drivers and not taking them on longer road trips. Our EV conversion depends on battery technology and prices to evolve to a point where the range exceeds 200 miles, which is what we think is the minimum for real road trips and having to avoid charging 2-3 times per day.
But…if you have a classic VW you want to convert and are content with range limits, contact our EV conversion team here to learn more.
