The hot topic at the Düsseldorf Caravan Salons in recent years has been zero emissions campers, and this year was no exception, with Dethleffs bringing a highly competitive offering to the table for their third year running. This time it was the Globevan e.Hybrid, a Ford Transit Custom PHEV-based camper van using an e.Hybrid drive system that hasn’t even been released onto the market by Ford themselves yet.
The Globevan’s hybrid system is based on a 13.6kWh lithium ion battery, giving the van a range of 50km (31 miles) without emitting a single emission, but the 1.0L EcoBoost petrol engine extends that range up to 500km (310 miles) by charging the battery while driving. The wheels are driven exclusively by the electric motor, so the petrol engine merely acts as a recharger for the battery, as opposed to driving the van itself.
The engine can deliver 355Nm of torque and 92kW or 126bhp of power, although you won’t be getting a great deal of speed up in the Globevan as it’s limited to 120km/h (75mph). There are also four electric driving modes to choose from depending on whether you want to drive on pure electricity or whether you want to charge or maintain the charge on the battery. The van battery can be charged via an external power source either via fast charge on the road or at home, which takes 3 and 5.5 hours respectively.
The Globevan also comes with a host of safety and entertainment systems, including cruise control, crosswind assist, a front and rear Park Pilot system, heated seats and a 4” multifunction display with DAB radio. It also comes with LED daytime running lights with fog and cornering lights, wheel trims, thermal insulation glazing and a rear swing door with heated rear window.
This rather small looking camper surprisingly has seating and sleeping arrangements for four people; two in the pop top roof, and two on the adjustable rear bench seat which folds out into a bed. The seat is mounted on rails to allow it to be slid forward to create additional cargo space.
A small and clean-looking kitchen is situated along one side of the van, containing a dual burner stove and sink hidden beneath glass lids powered by a 2.8kg gas bottle. A compressor coolbox can also be added in to keep food chilled, for an extra €699 ($765).
The two front seats swivel round and a removable dining table attaches to the kitchen unit to create a dining area which includes the rear bench seat. There’s no bathroom, but a 95Ah leisure battery powers the living area of the van and charges your devices.
Dethleffs do include a range of optional extras to choose from, including an audio package (add €952 [$1,042]), auxiliary heating with hot air blower (add €2,199 [$2,406]) and gooseneck lights with USB connections in the pop top roof for an additional €159 ($174). If you want to customize the exterior of your Globevan you can get the pop-top roof painted the same color as the vehicle’s bodywork for a charge of €999 ($1,093), or Polar Silver metallic paint or Ford Tourneo Custom Titanium paint for €939 and €8,000 respectively ($1,027 and $8,753).
While this van may be a little out of its own league in terms of size with a price tag of €74,990 ($82,300) attached to it, it’s certainly making moves in the right direction in the fields of sustainability and environmentalism.
“At the 2019 Caravan Salon, we are showcasing new approaches such as the Globevan e.Hybrid from Dethleffs, the first production-ready plug-in hybrid motorhome, as well as the VisionVenture concept study by our core brand Hymer,” explained Martin Brandt, CEO of Erwin Hymer Group. “In so doing, we are responding to a trend that is seeing more and more customers striving for a sustainable caravanning lifestyle – and wanting to distance themselves from mass tourism.”
Source and image credits: Dethleffs
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