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 recharge your battery very relaxed. The fact that the e-Peugeot also needs this is part of the new way of driving. How that is with a camper that doesn't like diesel, the e-Fixxter we get to take with us will show.
EV-Camper is an initiative of Audrey and Rutger who rent out 100% electric campers for a journey that is as carefree as it is sustainable. This activity has been taking place since 2020, stemming from the desire to bring camper rental as it was into the present day. Innovation naturally plays a leading role in this. With the e-Fixxter, EV Camper rental was one of the first to deploy this electric camper for rental. Later this year, this trick will be repeated with the introduction of the XBus, bringing the total to six EV campers driving around with a driver who is most likely converted. Electric driving is not only the future, it's also fun.
Peugeot e-Fixxter
The Fixxter originated in the Netherlands, based on the Peugeot Expert. The pop-top roof, the interior, and the technical installation are of Dutch manufacture. The bodywork is made camper-ready by VDL in Born and the interior by Camperfix. The interior of the Fixxter XXL consists of a cupboard, a compact pantry with two induction hobs, a pull-out table, an RDW-approved sofa bed, and a considerable 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-top roof
The sofa bed is movable, but without rails on the floor. The patented system transforms into a sofa bed with a width of 120 cm. With an extension mattress in the cupboard and kitchen, the total width of the bed is a generous 135 cm. In this camper class, 112.5 cm is common. The length of the bed is 200 cm and can be further extended to 210 cm.
Also very nice is that the bed is completely flat. No pre-formed lumbar supports that bother you when lying stretched out. The operation does require some getting used to. It also takes away some luggage space, but in return, you get a flat floor without rails. In the pop-top roof, a second double bed can also be realized. But without a couple of children, you will probably use this as an attic or, folded up, for a decent standing height. Another nice option is to zip away the canvas, 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 area of solar panels is on the pop-top roof, and there is an extra-large 200 Ah household battery on board. A porta-potti has found a place in a specially designed cabinet. Camping for about three days without further facilities poses no problem at all.
Important for every electric car is, of course, the range. With the interior, occupants, and some luggage, that comes out to about 250 km. A substantial 75 kW battery pack is responsible for this. Under the floor, this provides a low center of gravity and good road holding. Charging the batteries can be done via a regular wall socket, for example at a campsite, but that takes quite a long time.
Charging at a public fast-charging station is a different story. There are currently about 185,000 of these in Europe, and here a quick charge only takes half an hour. Then the batteries are 80% full, and you can continue for another 200 km. For a stressed courier, that's not ideal, but for its function as a camper, it actually works out well. Taking a half-hour break every 200 km is not a punishment. It's more relaxing, and that fits perfectly with the nature of a camper van.
Driving this e-bus also makes you calm. Dominating the dashboard is an econometer that makes you prefer not to go too fast because then kilometers are deducted from your range very quickly. The temperature also plays a role. In winter, at 0 degrees, about 10% of the capacity is lost. Apart from the range, which is three times greater for a diesel, there are no differences in use and driving behavior.
The e-Fixxter drives approximately the same as an Expert with a 1.5 HDI delivering 100HP. It's not a traffic light sprinter, but keeping up with traffic is never a problem. The top speed is above 130 km/h. Of course, the silence is striking. A modern diesel doesn't make much noise, but you do hear them. That drone is absent in 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. In addition, you can book some nice extras, such as a Segway-Ninebot Kickscooter Max G30. This makes you mobile for a few groceries. It has a range of up to 65 km and reaches a speed of up to 30 km/h. A canopy and outdoor furniture are standard, and a rug for under the canopy has also been considered.
XBus
Later this year, EV Camper will expand its offerings with a striking new electric design. The XBus is a modular van designed for passenger transport or as a commercial vehicle. A camper version has also been added. The modularity consists of changing the bodywork so that a camper can easily be transformed into, for example, a pick-up. You can also make the range almost as large 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. With solar panels on the roof, it charges itself. On a sunny day, this provides 200 kilometers of free electricity for you. With short stages, that results in a fuel bill of 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, which is always available. The top speed is above 100 km/h. Given its size, faster 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 manageable.
Slide-out
The interior, in addition to its VW T2-like appearance, is also extremely striking. In a length of less than 4m, the same has been achieved as in any other compact bus camper. The roof goes straight up for standing height inside. And at the rear, a substantial slide-out provides 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 a few buttons on the steering wheel keep it sleek and clear.
Compact Comfort
The e-Fixxter and the XBus form an interesting pair in EV Camper's offering. Apart from the range, the e-Fixxter does not differ in appearance and use from the same base equipped with an internal combustion engine. However, it is clear that this base was not designed from the ground up for an electric drive. Where previously the diesel was under a cover, the systems for the new propulsion are now located. This all fits perfectly, but it also means that space is used less efficiently. This is not the case with the XBus, which allows more camper to be realized on even more compact exterior dimensions.
In addition to the ideology of greening camper rentals with sustainable camping equipment, EV Camper has another good reason to rent out electric campers. Maintenance costs are low, and a bad driver, for example, cannot overload a cold diesel or abuse a gearbox. With few moving parts, little can break, something that has already been proven with the e-Fixxter. But although electric driving is not new at all, this applies to its application as a camper. The Fixxter is the first series-built electric camper. To experience for yourself how such a camping vehicle behaves, renting is a solution. From € 80,- per day you will find out, with a good chance that your first or next own camper will be allowed into the environmental zone emission-free.
For more information: ev-camper.eu
