Roev EV camper set to transform camping with all-electric 4WD

May 17, 2023May 17, 2023 Toby Hagon 4487 Views Roev

EVs are set to transform the camp ground – and here’s the proof.

Australian EV start-up Roev is set to supply west coast campervan supplier RedSands with all-electric vehicles.

The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding to “jointly develop Australia’s first fully electrified 4WD Camper for the recreational hire market”.

The EV camper will be based on the upcoming Roev electric conversion of a Toyota Hilux.

It will include a four-wheel drive system for serious off-roading but get a bigger battery than those initially planned for the converted electric utes.

For the broader fleet market Roev has promised two battery capacities, with the largest providing up to 360km of claimed EV range.

RedSands Campers managing director Adam Sands says he wants a fully loaded campervan to cover at least 400km between charges.

“It’s going to happen. We’ve just got to get the kilometres right,” Sands told EV Central.

Clearly that circa-400km range will still limit where an EV camper can go, especially in the more remote areas of Western Australia where it will initially be available. Sands sees them being used on “a highly curated itinerary”, whereby renters would stick to a schedule and pre-planned charging locations.

Sands has already spoken to the G’Day Group – which runs the vast Discovery Group camp grounds – about ensuring charging at two of its most iconic destinations in the East Kimberley, El Questro and the Lake Argyle Resort.

The imminent expansion of charging networks would also expand the potential routes an EV camper could take.

The RedSands EV camper will be kitted out with various camping accessories, including an awning, roof top tent and exterior ambient lighting that still allows easy viewing of the stars.

The sole image of the four-door five-seat electric Hilux released in announcing the MOU also shows a unique canopy setup with a fridge, kitchenette and storage.

2023 Roev electric Toyota HiLux — Roev EV ute conversions replace the engine and gearbox of a Hilux and replace it with an electric motor and batteries to provide up to 360km of all-electric range

The company says the electricity supply allows the company to transform camping. There’s no need for gas bottles, for example, with the car instead supplying electricity for cooktops and other cooking appliances.

“It will be the new age of remote camping,” says Adam Sands. “It brings about so many possibilities.”

Sands sees the EV camper itineraries as having people at a charging location each night, therefore allowing easy access to electricity.

The Roev EVs will provide vehicle-to-load capabilities, able to supply up to 4.8kW of electricity.

While cooking is likely to be fairly energy intensive – albeit likely used for a short time – running things such as camp lights and a sound system would draw very little power from a battery pack set to be well over 100kWh in capacity.

Pointing to the planned installation of EV charging stations at El Questro and Lake Argyle Resort in the Kimberley, Sands said there were plenty of opportunities for the EV campers.

“Partnering with Roev, we see huge benefits with not just the recreational hire market, but to dispel myths around the requirement for internal combustion engines to be the only way that more remote locations can be explored.”

Sands sees the electric campers as being a niche within the RedSands business initially, but with plenty of potential for expansion.

“We’ll probably get five [Roev campers] in the first year,” he says.

There will also likely be a higher cost for renting an EV campervan.

“We expect the EV camper to be the premium compared to our existing daily rental rate.”