Hacker News Reader

Comment by samstave | Hacker News Reader

I literally want a large Tesla Camper Van.

Or at least one of these in Tesla:

https://www.mercedes-benz-vans.ca/en/sprinter-4x4/cargo-van

EDIT:

To further this thought, what I would truly wish would happen would be that A Tesla-like "drivetrain platform" were available to boutique shops who could build whatever type of cab they wanted onto a standardized system.

I worked with a guy in the 90s that took a Corvette Z base and put a 1938 ford on top of it.

I'd like to have the same be done with Tesla drive train bases - where you can have an upper made to fit the lower. Clearly, there would have to be safety standards to be met, so don't waste time arguing that point...

View on HN

How about an electric VW van? https://www.caranddriver.com/news/volkswagen-id-buzz-ev-conc...

Supposedly goes into production in 2022, and I can't imagine they won't kit some kind of camper version. If not, Sportsmobile or someone, and worst case is you build it out yourself. We're seriously thinking about one to replace what will be an old first-year Leaf and a 2005 Scion xB. Combine DogMobile and electric into one vehicle. :-)

Here's a non-tracking article on (presumably) the same car accessible to EU visitors: https://eu.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2017/08/19/volkswag...

If that picture is correct, though, it doesn't seem to resemble the old van enough to be appealing, IMHO. Like many pre-Tesla electric cars, it seems like it's going for that "futuristic" look...

I think there's a market for something like it, but I'd argue the Buzz's success hinges more on whether the market is big enough, and whether the car is capable of long trips - they're associated with road trips as far as I know, and no one wants a car for trips that doesn't get you there and back without worry. (I suppose there are a few years for the charging situation to improve, but I'm not counting on it.)

Supposed to go into production 4 years from now? That's pure marketing at this point.

It's a car not a web app.... 4 years is a very short time for commercial scale manufacturing...

New Beetle introduced as a concept car in 1994 at the Geneva show, New Beetle rolls off the production line for sale as a 1998 model. You were saying?

I'm saying don't plan on concept cars making it to production. It's nice when they do, but plenty more fail to materialize.

Concept cars are mostly marketing.

I hear what you're saying; I've poo-pooed my share of concepts over the years. But I wouldn't have posted it if VW themselves hadn't come out and said, "we're making them in 2022." And the New Beetle is precedent for VW following through in four years, so I don't know what else you want. To be fair, VW's reputation for honesty has take a bit of a hit lately.

It's certainly not impossible that they follow through, but that's the kind of prediction I'd take a with a huge grain of salt.

The New Beetle was basically a bodykit for a Jetta, and it still took them 4 years to get it into production.

Electric camper van concept from Nissan, based on the e-NV200 / Leaf. https://newsroom.nissan-global.com/releases/nissan-unveils-t...

But I also second the idea of having a "sled" available as a kit car. I'm thinking the same concept as how the Lotus 7 is delivered. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_Seven

Likewise. I've been considering converting my 1998 diesel Mitsubishi Delica to electric, but something fully intended to be electric from the ground up would be much nicer. Also feels weird putting a new electric drivetrain into such an old vehicle, although overall it's still in great shape.

I can't imagine buying a sedan or SUV though. The Delica is incredible for so many things - the utility and comfort is unmatched. Plus it has a cool glass roof! I hope to keep that thing running for a long time, and new fancy cars look great but they're functionally lacking in a big way to me.

Me too. The idea of being able to sneak in and out of a campsite with no ICE noises appeals as does the ability to make use of the electrics for HVAC/cooking/watching TV etc.

Have you seen any worthwhile NV200 conversions? Nope! The NV200 was designed for ICE and it still has the old fashioned bonnet out the front, and it isn't a 'frunk'. The space of a camper van only really worked in the VW bus format with the engine at the back, everything subsequent is a bit small due to the bonnet.

If you go large with the camper van then you can't park so easily hence the original VW bus form factor makes sense, particularly if there is no roof extension as then you can park in multi-storey car parks.

My ideal Tesla based camper van also has structural elements so rather than 'bits of wood' attached to the vehicle the framework for the internal bits is also there to strengthen the vehicle.

I really want everyone else to sneak in and out of campsites with no ICE noises. I usually hike or bike in.

Hmm. Aside from the occasional, excessively-loud diesel truck I don't find the engine to be the problem with late arrivals and departures. Of course, that one truck will always find it necessary to idle for about 20 minutes and perhaps perform a 63-point turn rather than just continuing down the loop to a suitable campsite.

More often for me, it's the modern headlights giving us x-ray vision through the tent walls, followed by all the LED flashlights and headlamps lighting up four adjacent campsites like Cape Caneveral. It's the excitable new arrivals, talking really loud and starting their drinking party at midnight after the rest of the campground has already gone to sleep. It's the repeated slamming of car doors every 15 seconds. It's that one person who keeps setting off his own car's alarm for some reason, and all the others who have their car set to beep or chirp at about 90 decibels every time they look at it...

You could buy a Tesla semi and throw away the trailer. Or better yet - use the trailer as a garage to drive around your black model S.

If the Tesla pickup makes it to market, I imagine you could build something pretty nice on the back.

Perhaps but then the added weight may kill the range. I imagine it'd be better if Tesla designed the vehicle specifically for that purpose.

What would you do with one?

Be happy that i have a vehicle that meets any and all needs that i have and ill never have to buy gas.

I hate gas companies with a passion. Having a cargo van based on tesla, id have all the utility i would ever want, and not worry about gas costs if i want to take a week long road trip, slowly crawl through traffic or haul heavy big things.

The problem is with ICE campers, you can throw some extra cans on the back and double or triple your range. Doing so with an EV is impossible. The best you could do is carry solar panels which may take multiple days to get your battery to a point where you can carry on.

While that sounds really cool, it would also be a very expensive vehicle. Paying two strong men and renting a uhaul is usually how I handle moving big heavy things for the occasional time I need to.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com