EV Camper: the e-Fixxter in practice
Recharge your battery is the spin-off under the EV Camper logo. That is a double truth. With an electric Fixxter camper you can indeed charge your battery very relaxed. The fact that the e-Peugeot also needs this is part of the new way of driving. The e-Fixxter that we received shows what it's like with a camper that doesn't use diesel.
EV-Camper is an initiative of Audrey and Rutger who rent out 100% electric campers for a carefree and sustainable trip. This activity has been taking place since 2020, arising from the desire to bring camper rental as it was into the present day. Innovation naturally predominates. With the e-Fixxter, EV Camper Rental was one of the first to use this electric camper for rental. This trick will be repeated later this year with the introduction of the XBus, with which six EV campers will drive around with a driver who is most likely dead. Electric driving is not only the future, it is also fun.
Peugeot e-Fixxter
The Fixxter was created in the Netherlands based on the Peugeot Expert. The pop-up roof, the interior and the technical installation are made in the Netherlands. The bodywork is made camper-ready by VDL in Born and the furnishings are made by Camperfix. The interior of the Fixxter XXL consists of a cupboard, a compact pantry with two induction burners, an extendable table, RDW-approved sofa bed and a large number of storage spaces. The interior of the XXL version has more cupboard space, a larger kitchen and a larger refrigerator than the regular version.
pop-up roof
The sofa bed is sliding, but without rails on the floor. The patented system transforms into a sofa bed with a width of 120 cm. Thanks to an extension mattress in the cupboard and kitchen, the total width of the bed is a spacious 135 cm. In this camper class, 112,5 cm is common. The length of the bed is 200 cm and can be further increased to 210 cm.
It is also very nice that the bed is completely flat. No preformed lumbar supports that bother you when lying down. The operation does take some getting used to. It also takes away some of the luggage space, but in return you get a flat floor without rails. A second double bed can also be created in the pop-up roof. But without a bunch of children, you are more likely to use this as an attic or, folded up, for an orderly headroom. Another nice option is to zip away the cloth, creating a convertible or your own roof terrace.
Fully Electric
100% electric has been the starting point, so cooking or heating is done via the battery or the mains. A large panel of solar panels is located on the lifting roof, and there is an extra large 200 Ah household battery on board. A porta-potti has found a place in a cupboard specially made for it. Camping for about three days without further facilities does not pose any problems.
The range is of course important for any electric car. With the interior, occupants and some luggage, that comes to about 250 km. A large battery pack of 75 kW is responsible for this. Under the floor, this ensures a low center of gravity and good road holding. Charging the batteries can be done via a normal socket at the campsite, for example, but that does take a bit of time.
Charging at a public fast charging point is a different story. There are now around 185.000 of them in Europe and here an e-fuelling only takes half an hour. Then the batteries are 80% full and you can continue for another 200 km. This is not great for a stressed courier, but it actually works out well for the job as a camper. Taking a half-hour break every 200km is no punishment. It has a rather relaxing effect and that fits perfectly with the nature of a camper.
Driving this e-bus also calms you down. Dominating the dashboard is an econometer that means you'd rather not go too fast because it will eat away at miles from your range very quickly. The temperature also plays a role. In winter, at 0 degrees, about 10% of the capacity is reduced. Apart from the range, which is three times greater than a diesel, there are no differences in use and driving behavior.
The e-Fixxter drives about the same as an Expert with a 1.5 HDI that delivers 100 HP. It's not a traffic light sprinter, but keeping up with traffic is never a problem. The top speed is over 130 km. Of course the silence is striking. A modern diesel does not make much noise, but you can hear it. That thump is missing from the e-Fixxter, what remains is the sound of the tires on the asphalt.
The equipment provided by EV Camper is complete for four people. You can also book a few nice extras, such as a Segway-Ninebot Kickscooter Max G30. This makes you mobile for a few errands. It has a range of up to 65 km and a speed of up to 30 km/h. An awning and outdoor furniture are also standard, and a rug for under the awning has also been considered.
XBus
Over the course of this year, EV Camper will expand its range with a striking new electrical design. The XBus is a modular van that is designed for passenger transport or can be used as a commercial vehicle. A camper version has also been added. The modular consists of changing the structure so that a camper can easily be transformed into, for example, a pick-up. You can also increase the range almost as much as you wish with additional battery modules.
The XBus as a camper comes with a 30-kWh battery, good for about 600 kilometers of range. It charges itself with solar panels on the roof. On a sunny day this packs 200 kilometers of free electricity for you. With short stages, this results in a fuel bill that shows 0, the dream of every fossil driver.
The XBus drives four wheels as standard with 75 hp, but even more important is the torque of over 1.000 Nm that is always available. The top speed is over 100 km/h. Considering the dimensions, harder is not necessary. Charging takes about three hours. Fast charging along the highway is not (yet) possible. But with a 600 km range that is surmountable.
slide out
In addition to the VW T2-like appearance, the interior is also extremely striking. With a length of less than 4 m, the same thing has been achieved as in any other compact bus camper. The roof goes up vertically to provide headroom inside. And at the rear a large slide-out creates a spacious bed. A refrigerator, TV, hob, water tank and sink are also provided. Driving the XBus is like driving my first Tesla. A large screen on the center console and some buttons on the steering wheel keep things sleek and clear.
Compact Comfort
The e-Fixxter and the XBus form an interesting couple in the EV Camper offering. Apart from the range, the e-Fixxter does not differ in appearance and use with the same base equipped with a combustion engine. It is visible that this base was not designed from the ground up for an electric drive. Where the diesel used to be under a cover, the systems for the new propulsion have now been installed. That all fits fine, but there is also space that is used less efficiently. This is not the case with the XBus, as more campers can be realized on even more compact exterior dimensions.
In addition to the ideology of making camper rental greener with sustainable camping equipment, EV Camper has another good reason to rent out electric campers. Maintenance costs are low and a bad driver cannot, for example, overload cold diesel or abuse a gearbox. With only a few moving parts, very little can break, something that has already proven itself with the e-Fixxter. But although electric driving is not new at all, this applies to the application as a camper. The Fixxter is the first series-built electric camper. To experience for yourself how such camping equipment behaves, renting it is a solution. From €80 per day you will find out with a good chance that your first or next camper will be allowed to enter the environmental zone emission-free.
For more information: ev-camper.eu
