New electrified campervans: BEDEO helps campers tackle range anxiety

Looking for an eco-friendly campervan, but don’t fancy getting stranded off-grid? BEDEO and TRIGANO have teamed up to create a handful of electrified campers to answer your call. 

BEDEO has entered the campervan market, partnering up with TRIGANO to electrify not one, but four campers: with Chausson’s X550 and X650 ElectriX, and Challenger’s X150 and X250 ElectriX the first models to adopt BEDEO’s electrified powertrain systems. 

A collaboration ‘created in response to the increasing demand for sustainable travel’, can the emission-reducing innovations made within the commercial van sector make an impact in the world of campervans?

The pieces of the puzzle

First of all, who is BEDEO? It’s a British vehicle electrification specialist, with a focus on converting diesel vans to hybrid or electric power. This approach to decarbonisation has proved pretty popular, garnering approval from auto-giants Stellantis, and leading to partnerships with big-hitters including DHL, DPD, and FedEx, to name a few.

“BEDEO’s electrification technology empowers adventurers to explore nature responsibly, offering the perfect balance between eco-conscious travel and long-range performance.” — Osman Boyner, BEDEO Founder and CEO 

It seems BEDEO is being realistic as it moves into the campervan sector, acknowledging that range anxiety and heading off-grid make for an unpleasant combination, and that hybrid technology is the best fit — for now at least.

And who better to partner with for this new endeavor than the self-dubbed leader of the European motorhome market: TRIGANO. From within its portfolio of 27 campervan and caravan companies, sister brands Chausson and Challenger have been selected to receive BEDEO’s electrification units.

Electrified models

BEDEO has plenty of experience converting Fiat Ducatos — injecting sustainable tech into the commercial variant since 2019 — so it makes sense that its first steps into the campervan market also use this award-winning base. It does also currently convert vans including the Vauxhall Movano, and plans to add the Renault Master and the fan-favourite Mercedes Sprinter to its repertoire, so we’ll keep an eye out for future camper work.

The Ducato based Chausson X550 and X650, and Challenger X150 and X250, all fall within the same ‘X’ series, with the higher numbers in the latter models’ names representing the longer wheelbase versions. The cross-brand similarities are clear, and we’ll be the first to admit that these campers make for a tough game of spot the difference.

Each model features an airy, spacious, and modular living space capable of accommodating up to four camping enthusiasts. They pack fully equipped kitchens, shower toting bathrooms, and just about every comfort you’d expect from a contemporary campervan. Further model specifications include panoramic roof setups and fancier heating systems — ideal for van-lifers looking for a year-round camper.

And this is where BEDEO get involved, adding in its Range Extender (RE) Drive Electric system. This consists of a 37 kwh battery packaged neatly beneath the floor to avoid reducing the space in the living area, and 115 kw motors attached to the rear wheels. The result? Just over 62 miles of full-electric driving capabilities — letting campers plunge that little bit further into nature during camping trips, or to hop from campsite-to-campsite guilt free.

Now 62 miles might not sound like much — and frankly it isn’t. But as hybrid campers, the ElectriX models use this technology to supplement their ICE powertrains (options include 140 or 180 hp diesel engines), extending their range up to 560 miles. And that is quite impressive for a fully loaded campervan. And as a bonus, due to electrification being non-intrusive to the ICE, each can be used selectively at the push of a button. 

So, what do you think? Is there potential for this relatively unique approach to catch on in the campervan world as it has with commercial vans? Or are there better sustainable mobility solutions out there?

A range extended camper needs a tyre that can go the distance too. BEDEO and its collaborators seem to have opted for reliable and robust Continental Van Contact Camper tyres to ensure just that.

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