What will the caravan industry become when only electric cars will be around in 30 years? Caravan manufacturer Dethleffs from Isny im Allgäu is already looking for a solution and last week presented its E.Home prototype, which comes in the shell of the small, single-axle Coco-Camper.
The chassis, however, is a completely new development, with wheel hub motors with 30 kW (41 hp) each, which together can provide a peak output of 180 kW (245 hp). Theoretically, the 2.1 ton caravan – 600 kilos of which is accounted for by the lithium-ion batteries with their 80 kWh capacity – could accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in 6.0 seconds. But of course the own drive is intended to relieve an electric car when pulling it so that the range with attachments does not go too much into the cellar.
The experts from Dethleffs say that the range is halved when driving a trailer. The editorial team had the same experience when pulling a caravan with a Polestar 2. Dethleffs believes that this can no longer be a question of its own drive, and the E.Home prototype with an Audi e-tron with a 95 kWh battery as a towing vehicle from Isny across the Alps to Riva on Lake Garda is being put to the test hazards.
Moderate average consumption
After 386 kilometers with an average speed of 62.3 km / h, the destination was reached after a good six hours, the batteries were not even completely empty. The Audi had consumed 82 kWh, the E. Home 74. Together, this makes an average consumption of a moderate 40.4 kWh per 100 kilometers. This is a remarkable result, as the Polestar 2 had consumed 45 kWh per 100 kilometers on a flat stretch with a caravan half as heavy. This leads to the thesis that two electrically powered vehicles consume no more than one that only pulls a passive trailer.
Inconspicuous: From the outside you can’t see the caravan its own PS.
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Image: Dethleffs
Both the Erwin Hymer Group and, on the technical side, the drive specialists from ZF in Friedrichshafen are involved in the development of the E.Home. The E. Home has been in the works for three years, and it should take another three years before the vehicle is ready for series production.
The batteries could provide electricity for cooking and heating
This is new legal territory, a trailer with its own independent drive is not even intended, rules must first be created in order to achieve general approval for the EU. The prototype has an individual approval. But maybe you will start with a small series of 1500 pieces, that is easier to realize. In terms of price, a salable E.Home will certainly be more expensive than a conventional caravan, but it should be taken into account that a mover function, which means maneuvering alone, is included. Otherwise this costs a good 3,000 euros. Dethleffs also believes that a production-ready E.Home can do without gas, simply because the batteries have so much capacity that they can also be used for cooking, heating and cooling.
Power pack: The lithium-ion batteries can hold 80 kWh and are located on the floor of the trailer.
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Image: Dethleffs
The prototype can charge alternating current with up to 7.2 kW and direct current with a maximum of 50 kW. This means that an empty battery is full in around an hour and a half. A higher charging capacity is also possible in the future, and smaller batteries could also be used to reduce costs. Dethleffs is also thinking of equipping the E.Home with solar cells so that it can generate additional electricity when it is idle.
A first test drive with the e-tron and the E-Home as a team was impressive. When switched to passive, the Audi has to haul heavily on the 2.1 ton E.Home despite its high torque. But if it is driven, the Audi e-tron drives as if the caravan was practically not there. And of course a conventional car would also benefit from the drive of the caravan. It’s more comfortable to drive and the towing vehicle consumes around 30 percent less. In the long term, Dethleffs sees its own electric drive not only in caravans, but in all trailers.
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