Electric vehicle add-ons are essential when heading out as a car camper. Unlike a home, a car relies on battery power, so you need to think about what you will use and anything that can help. From roof-mounted solar panels to small electric appliances, here are some suggestions.
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Extra Power Supplies
One of the most surprising things about car camping to newcomers is just how much power you use! Unlike at home, you don’t have access to an unlimited supply for your needs. So what can you do? Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to make sure you have what you need for a good time when car camping. With something as simple as a spare leisure battery, you can take the strain off your car battery and use the extra one to run appliances and keep your vehicle well-lit.
Roof-Mounted Solar Panels
Do you like the idea of almost limitless and free power? Well, British Gas isn’t about to give you a massive discount. However, you can store power from the sun with roof-mounted solar panels. If your car can support them, solar panels can vastly reduce how much power is needed from the car or leisure batteries, or even store power you can use in an emergency. These will work better during longer road trips where they can soak up solar energy throughout the day.
Electric Vehicle Add-Ons for Lighting
In the UK, over 11 million campervans were registered in 2022 alone. That means there’s a lot of happy campers out there! Most people know what to pack for a road trip, but have you thought about lighting? Lighting is critical when car camping because you can’t see in the dark! If you’re worried about power, LED lighting such as headlamps, overheads and even strips will use much less and provide everything you need for a trip that’s as comfortable as it is safe.
Small Electric Appliances
Camping isn’t for everyone, and something like cooking on a camping stove can be challenging if you don’t have experience. However, we live in a world where almost anything is possible, and small appliances can be a game-changer when missing the comforts of home. Appliances like microwaves, mini fridges and even fans can elevate your comfort level when car camping. However, be sure to invest in modern energy-efficient devices to reduce the power impact.
Inverters and Power Outlets
If you are planning on a long trip, then you might want to consider the things you use the most, like your smartphone and laptop. These are some of the handiest devices to bring with you on a trip, as you can check the weather, buy tickets to attractions and find places to stay. However, they need power. Power inverters are excellent devices for camping since you can convert your car’s 12V power to 120V power to connect to power outlets to keep devices charged up.
Summary
Extra power supplies, such as leisure batteries, are some of the most useful electric vehicle add-ons to bring when car camping. You might also want to bring along some extra LED lighting for safety and comfort, and power inverters are very useful for keeping small devices charged.
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