Future of motorhomes

[rusted]

I have been trying to get my head around where motorhomes are going. If I understand correctly in 2030 there will be no new (non electric) motorhomes sold in the UK, so do all the UK motorhome manufactures move into electric, shut up shop or go into repairs/refurb and what happens to our spares/support for existing vehicles.
I'm also not clear if we can continue to import from out side the UK, I believe the EU will continue to manufacture until 2035, so can we import a new or 6 month old vehicle.
Or have I missed something thoughts ?

 

[Verteuil Man]

I think the date now might be 2035, but how many of us will be buying a new motorhome with all the bilt in issues of most thing run by a fragile computer. I was watching a Motorhome Matt podcast the other n8ght about BEV motorhomes/campers and 'the motorhome man' chap is very positive that BEV motorhomes will happen, but not with the usual platform we are used to. China is the place that is blazing the trail and 'leaving us all far behind'. Matt had returned from a trip to China where he says there is a charging point on every lamp post. The EV guru was extolling the virtue of a megawatt charger in Lambeth that charged the bin lorries in just 6 minutes. Sodium batteries are apparently the next big thing.
But. These are the positives which are a bit thin on the ground. An example I use when BEV motorhomes are brought up. I go to Spain in January driving through France staying overnight in aires. Those aires do not have anything other than a parking spot. No charging overnight, and it is very doubtful that every village and town will be putting charging points in on aires. There are charging points on car parks but they do not allow 'camping activities'. I have not yet seen, it does not mean there are none, campsites where you can charge on your pitch. If there are any it will be like trying to find a unicorn in January.
Our motorhome is 5,500kg. As a BEV that would be around 6,000kg. What on earth would one of them cost?
I reckon diesels will chug along a lot longer than Governments think. The vehicle manufacturers have not really started with the pressure yet.

 

[Freecloud]

These are the things you need to remember when you are putting an X in a box.

Net Zero is a total con, based on the Climate Change scam.... unless people vote with their feet, dont buy EV's, of any description , and hold the line, our travel will be restricted to how long your cable is, assuming you have been a good boy and are allowed to plug it in.

Future proof your fleet, i am looking at cars to get me through the next 15 years, which are already 8 years old now.

I totally agree with you Phil, climate change is a scam. As they say , it's all about the money !

 

[Tony50]

Don't worry about how a motorhome will be powered or which type of power we be banned, at the way things are going excessive cost of motorhomes, high cost of maintenance, high cost of campsites, including CL's, CS's, and in October he Chancellor will put up fuel tax.
Motorhoming may be only available for the rich. I'm enjoying it !!! At the moment.

 

[chaser]

Don't worry about how a motorhome will be powered or which type of power we be banned, at the way things are going excessive cost of motorhomes, high cost of maintenance, high cost of campsites, including CL's, CS's, and in October he Chancellor will put up fuel tax.
Motorhoming may be only available for the rich. I'm enjoying it !!! At the moment.

Exactly what I said.
For a lot of people on here the motorhome is the thing it's something they love and cherish and for them , yes it will still be a thing cost doesn't come into it, but for anyone who thinks it's cheap holidays are just going to think again, if they are banned from using cheap old diesel's that is the end.

 

[Brummie64]

Even if they stop producing new diesel vans in 2035, there will still be loads on the road 20 years later, and diesel and petrol still for sale on the forecourt. And if I’m still alive in 2055, I think my driving days will be over!
Also 2035 is 10 years away, and look how EV’s have come on in 10 years, imagine what will be available in another 10 years.
But most of all, DON’T worry! Just enjoy life while you can!

 

[PlacidoD]

I think the date now might be 2035, but how many of us will be buying a new motorhome with all the bilt in issues of most thing run by a fragile computer. I was watching a Motorhome Matt podcast the other n8ght about BEV motorhomes/campers and 'the motorhome man' chap is very positive that BEV motorhomes will happen, but not with the usual platform we are used to. China is the place that is blazing the trail and 'leaving us all far behind'. Matt had returned from a trip to China where he says there is a charging point on every lamp post. The EV guru was extolling the virtue of a megawatt charger in Lambeth that charged the bin lorries in just 6 minutes. Sodium batteries are apparently the next big thing.
But. These are the positives which are a bit thin on the ground. An example I use when BEV motorhomes are brought up. I go to Spain in January driving through France staying overnight in aires. Those aires do not have anything other than a parking spot. No charging overnight, and it is very doubtful that every village and town will be putting charging points in on aires. There are charging points on car parks but they do not allow 'camping activities'. I have not yet seen, it does not mean there are none, campsites where you can charge on your pitch. If there are any it will be like trying to find a unicorn in January.
Our motorhome is 5,500kg. As a BEV that would be around 6,000kg. What on earth would one of them cost?
I reckon diesels will chug along a lot longer than Governments think. The vehicle manufacturers have not really started with the pressure yet.

Re longer journeys I suggest that a marked divide is going to develop between campsites with EHU and aires where only a few of the more enterprising commercial sites will install metered EHUs. The ideal answer in the EU is probably for local communities to pool EV charging points and aires on one site. That could work though there is a danger that locals will hog spots overnight leaving EV motorhomes with nowhere to charge up. I cannot think of a simple solution to that problem without use of technology and cost. So free/low cost local aires will remain a haven for ICE MoHos but I predict gradual decline and disrepair over decades of the French village aire. I would like to be wrong!!

 

[DandJ]

We were one's that did 100s and 100s of miles/Ks a day. We classed it as touring. One is not touring stood still on a site. Just our way.

Completely agree (after just completing a 9000 mile trip) but when you look at classifieds on the likes of Autotrader (or look at certain facebook groups) there are a good number with 2-3k miles a year. (half of the 3 yr old ones on Autotrader currently, have fewer than 10k miles on the clock)
2 things spring to mind; 1. they'd be better off with a caravan ? and perhaps have a motorhome/campervan as they are 'on trend' at the moment
2. It's no wonder a good number have the engine issues they do...the must be stood idle for months on end.

 

[PlacidoD]

"It's no wonder a good number have the engine issues they do...the must be stood idle for months on end."

It is ironic that part of the reason that my van stands almost idle for months between uses is that I work fulltime and that enables me to indulge in luxuries like a MoHo. (It also does not help that I have singing commitments some weekends) However I travel long distances on my EU travels and believe in the "Italian tune up"! I also service the van regularly.

To get back on topic an EV will not work for me. Some additional thoughts about problems that need solving before I might be tempted down that route:

1. I travel 275 miles to Newhaven then board the ferry. I need to charge up somewhere before Dieppe and probably twice. How about EV EHUs at the ferry port or better still on the ferry and the same at Dieppe!!! I hope ferry ports/operators are examining this issue. EV cars will have the same need.
2. I would not be averse to booking campsites with EV EHUs when covering long distances to get to my ultimate destination where I could then "potter" from site to site using existing EV recharging infrastructure and then using aires/sostas/stellplatz overnight until my planned return journey.

 

[MrPeteUK]

"It's no wonder a good number have the engine issues they do...the must be stood idle for months on end."

It is ironic that part of the reason that my van stands almost idle for months between uses is that I work fulltime and that enables me to indulge in luxuries like a MoHo. (It also does not help that I have singing commitments some weekends) However I travel long distances on my EU travels and believe in the "Italian tune up"! I also service the van regularly.

To get back on topic an EV will not work for me. Some additional thoughts about problems that need solving before I might be tempted down that route:

1. I travel 275 miles to Newhaven then board the ferry. I need to charge up somewhere before Dieppe and probably twice. How about EV EHUs at the ferry port or better still on the ferry and the same at Dieppe!!! I hope ferry ports/operators are examining this issue. EV cars will have the same need.
2. I would not be averse to booking campsites with EV EHUs when covering long distances to get to my ultimate destination where I could then "potter" from site to site using existing EV recharging infrastructure and then using aires/sostas/stellplatz overnight until my planned return journey.

And this is going to be the potential problem. If everyone has an EV, how on earth would a ferry be able to charge all those vehicles on a crossing lasting 4 and a half hours? The power output required would be immense. The ferry has to propel itself as well as run electrical systems for heat, light and air circulation so anything else on top of that is going to require serious engineering to prevent overload on circuits.

I don't believe EV is going to be a viable route for vehicle propulsion, it's going to be hydrogen fuel cell technology which takes less than 20 minutes to refuel and gives far better range.

 

[hja]

Completely agree (after just completing a 9000 mile trip) but when you look at classifieds on the likes of Autotrader (or look at certain facebook groups) there are a good number with 2-3k miles a year. (half of the 3 yr old ones on Autotrader currently, have fewer than 10k miles on the clock)
2 things spring to mind; 1. they'd be better off with a caravan ? and perhaps have a motorhome/campervan as they are 'on trend' at the moment
2. It's no wonder a good number have the engine issues they do...the must be stood idle for months on end.

It depends where you tour. We toured a part of Scotland in April/May this year for eleven days, ten nights, stopping at seven CL, CS, sites or Aires. We clocked up just over 1000 miles. Whilst when we were working full time and only could get three week holiday in the summer that was, with the then caravan, TOURING around different parts of Europe. We no longer want to be away for that length of time, and in any case medical appointments and other commitments would make it difficult. We are away for a few days every month, March to October, sometimes one site sometimes two but we won’t do lots of miles. Three to four hours travelling would only take us 150 to 200 miles away. Consequently our four year old van has just over 9000 miles on the clock. But wouldn’t want to go back to a caravan!

 

[steve69]

New diesel and petrol car sales will be banned from 2030, I think vans are still ok until 2035.

You won't need a crystal ball to see what will happen then. The rush for vans will be phenomenal - along with demand for conversions.....

 

[PlacidoD]

And this is going to be the potential problem. If everyone has an EV, how on earth would a ferry be able to charge all those vehicles on a crossing lasting 4 and a half hours? The power output required would be immense. The ferry has to propel itself as well as run electrical systems for heat, light and air circulation so anything else on top of that is going to require serious engineering to prevent overload on circuits.

I don't believe EV is going to be a viable route for vehicle propulsion, it's going to be hydrogen fuel cell technology which takes less than 20 minutes to refuel and gives far better range.

Point taken. Maybe a just few onboard EHUs at massive premium ferry rates. But many of us sit in ferry queues for hours. It should be perfectly possible to have a priority boarding lane with EHU so that you are not first to arrive at the port but last to board. No need even maybe to pre-book. If you arrive early and there is a space just pull up and pay the premium rate of charge. That should insure that some others hunt out cheaper charging points nearby.

 

[Tim P]

As mentioned but Virteuil man earlier, give "motorhom matt" s podcast a watch on u-tube. They discuss some very interesting points about this subject...Electric motorhomes are coming, quicker than you think, with the current battery development the range will soon not be a problem. The Chinese are all over this like a rash, the new technology is here.......BYD ( build your dreams) built and sold more cars than Tesla last year but next to none of them being in Europe (or America). Watch out! here they come! Driverless trucks and taxi's are up and running, just not here.......yet! 50 years ago we thought a Ford Capri was the dogs dangly bits, look at what we have now. Hold on tight this is going to be the ride of our lives!

 

[bobnick]

Completely agree (after just completing a 9000 mile trip) but when you look at classifieds on the likes of Autotrader (or look at certain facebook groups) there are a good number with 2-3k miles a year. (half of the 3 yr old ones on Autotrader currently, have fewer than 10k miles on the clock)
2 things spring to mind; 1. they'd be better off with a caravan ? and perhaps have a motorhome/campervan as they are 'on trend' at the moment
2. It's no wonder a good number have the engine issues they do...the must be stood idle for months on end.

Ours bought new 0 miles did 24k miles in a little over two years.

 

[68c]

As mentioned but Virteuil man earlier, give "motorhom matt" s podcast a watch on u-tube. They discuss some very interesting points about this subject...Electric motorhomes are coming, quicker than you think, with the current battery development the range will soon not be a problem. The Chinese are all over this like a rash, the new technology is here.......BYD ( build your dreams) built and sold more cars than Tesla last year but next to none of them being in Europe (or America). Watch out! here they come! Driverless trucks and taxi's are up and running, just not here.......yet! 50 years ago we thought a Ford Capri was the dogs dangly bits, look at what we have now. Hold on tight this is going to be the ride of our lives!

I agree the future is brighter than many think. Normally drive around in my 06 Astra, my wife's 04 Beetle Cabrio and our 01 Pilote A Class. Just had a couple of weeks in America, the hire cars were an eye opener for me. Keyless start, lane control, distance from traffic control etc. The most useful for me was the sideways looking radar that warned if there was a car alongside by flashing a light in the relevant mirror and then squaked if you indicated in that direction.
Probably very common in the UK now but was a surprise to me.

 

[Hawkstone]

These are the things you need to remember when you are putting an X in a box.

Net Zero is a total con, based on the Climate Change scam.... unless people vote with their feet, dont buy EV's, of any description , and hold the line, our travel will be restricted to how long your cable is, assuming you have been a good boy and are allowed to plug it in.

Future proof your fleet, i am looking at cars to get me through the next 15 years, which are already 8 years old now.

Totally agree with you.
Also I missed your comeback this year . Hope all is good with you ?

 

[hja]

I agree the future is brighter than many think. Normally drive around in my 06 Astra, my wife's 04 Beetle Cabrio and our 01 Pilote A Class. Just had a couple of weeks in America, the hire cars were an eye opener for me. Keyless start, lane control, distance from traffic control etc. The most useful for me was the sideways looking radar that warned if there was a car alongside by flashing a light in the relevant mirror and then squaked if you indicated in that direction.
Probably very common in the UK now but was a surprise to me.

Yes got all those and more on our 2025 Kia ev3, and a range of well over 300 miles.

 

[PaulyP]

And all the camp sites will rush out to install them things where you charge leccy vehicles up AND normal EHU........not.

In which case they will lose lots of customers.

 

[BeeHappy]

Completely agree (after just completing a 9000 mile trip) but when you look at classifieds on the likes of Autotrader (or look at certain facebook groups) there are a good number with 2-3k miles a year. (half of the 3 yr old ones on Autotrader currently, have fewer than 10k miles on the clock)
2 things spring to mind; 1. they'd be better off with a caravan ? and perhaps have a motorhome/campervan as they are 'on trend' at the moment
2. It's no wonder a good number have the engine issues they do...the must be stood idle for months on end.

I’m in that category, bought a second hand van in Nov 2022 with 1600 miles on the clock. Under 3 years later it has 10.7k miles on the clock. So just over 3k per year. I personally wouldn’t be better off with a caravan for how we use it. I’d need to drive about in a much bigger vehicle day to day to be able to tow a caravan.

We didn’t get it because it’s on trend, we have hired a few times and then having sold my wife’s flat we’re fortunate enough to have the money to buy our own and with two young girls it was an ideal time to get one.

We both work and have limited annual leave to go travelling for months, clocking up thousands of miles on 4 month trips, it’s not just retired people who use motorhomes. But we do lots of weekend trips, not going a million miles from home, but using it both to go to campsite, towns/vilages, pub stops. We have done approx 100 nights away and use it pretty much once a month as a minimum with the odd exception now and then. So it’s rarely stood idle for much more than a month. We have done the west coast, north west and north east coast in Northern Ireland on 3 separate trips. Aiming to head to France for the first time this summer. So maybe this summer will boost this years annual mileage.

Having got my first EV a couple of years ago, we do a lot of short journeys day to day and I can charge for free in work, plus it has a lot of tax advantages… once you get past the range anxiety it has a lot of advantages as a means to propel a vehicle. The power on tap is far in excess of any ICE I have ever had, it accelerates like a motorbike, which is fun, but also make it easy to drive as it’s so responsive. If the charging network and provision for bigger vehicles with bigger batteries improves in line with greater uptake of EVs then I would have no issue considering an EV MH. But currently I can see why a lot of MH users couldnt contemplate an EV version of what they have as it wouldn’t work for them with the current charge network.

 

[Bill-H]

There is a thread on here about the amount paid to wind farm owners because the energy they could generate is not able to be used as the national grid is not able to move the generated power around the country. The national infrastructure is abysmal and would need billions spent to make it more efficient, then of course there's the NIMBY problem 'we don't want those ugly pylons on view around here'.
How many years into the future would it be before the used motorhome ev market came within the budget of the many members here who would be able to afford to buy a used one for say £30-40,000 and what condition would batteries be in in a 10 or 15 year old electric motorhome ?

 

[Brooster]

Ev’s are not the future in my opinion.
Logistically even for personal cars, functionality and longevity don’t exist and with age will get worse.
Hydrogen or other gasses are sustainable and practically.
For MoHo’s these problems are exacerbated.
While electric vehicles (EVs) dominate the current narrative around green transportation, hydrogen and other gas-fueled vehicles offer compelling advantages that make them a viable, and in many cases superior, alternative. One of the key limitations of EVs is charging time and infrastructure. Even with fast charging, most EVs take at least 30 minutes to recharge, whereas hydrogen vehicles can refuel in under five minutes—similar to traditional gasoline vehicles. This makes hydrogen particularly attractive for long-haul transport, commercial fleets, and remote areas where EV charging infrastructure is limited or unreliable.
Hydrogen fuel cells also offer superior energy density compared to current battery technology. This means hydrogen vehicles can often travel farther on a single tank than an EV can on a full charge, particularly under heavy loads. Additionally, battery production for EVs is resource-intensive, requiring rare earth metals like lithium and cobalt, which are environmentally damaging to mine and often sourced under ethically questionable conditions. Hydrogen, on the other hand, can be produced from a variety of sources, including water via electrolysis powered by renewable energy, offering a more sustainable and decentralized model.
Furthermore, the push toward electric vehicles risks overloading existing electrical grids, especially in regions with outdated infrastructure. Hydrogen-powered systems offer a complementary energy pathway that can reduce this burden and enhance overall energy resilience. In short, hydrogen and gas-fueled vehicles are not just an alternative—they are an essential part of a diversified and sustainable transportation future.

Anyway as said already, enjoy today.

 

[Oldmanwood]

Why do people think climate change is a fallacy?

 

[DandJ]

Logistically personal cars, are not the future in my opinion.

Re-jigged Broosters words a bit.....in reality, us all owning a £10k, £20k, £50k+ vehicle that, on average, we drive for about 4hrs a week (out of 168hrs) is a daft. A well set up car-share would suit many of us nearly as well and be far cheaper......

 

[Ejaydee]

Ev’s are not the future in my opinion.
Logistically even for personal cars, functionality and longevity don’t exist and with age will get worse.
Hydrogen or other gasses are sustainable and practically.
For MoHo’s these problems are exacerbated.
While electric vehicles (EVs) dominate the current narrative around green transportation, hydrogen and other gas-fueled vehicles offer compelling advantages that make them a viable, and in many cases superior, alternative. One of the key limitations of EVs is charging time and infrastructure. Even with fast charging, most EVs take at least 30 minutes to recharge, whereas hydrogen vehicles can refuel in under five minutes—similar to traditional gasoline vehicles. This makes hydrogen particularly attractive for long-haul transport, commercial fleets, and remote areas where EV charging infrastructure is limited or unreliable.
Hydrogen fuel cells also offer superior energy density compared to current battery technology. This means hydrogen vehicles can often travel farther on a single tank than an EV can on a full charge, particularly under heavy loads. Additionally, battery production for EVs is resource-intensive, requiring rare earth metals like lithium and cobalt, which are environmentally damaging to mine and often sourced under ethically questionable conditions. Hydrogen, on the other hand, can be produced from a variety of sources, including water via electrolysis powered by renewable energy, offering a more sustainable and decentralized model.
Furthermore, the push toward electric vehicles risks overloading existing electrical grids, especially in regions with outdated infrastructure. Hydrogen-powered systems offer a complementary energy pathway that can reduce this burden and enhance overall energy resilience. In short, hydrogen and gas-fueled vehicles are not just an alternative—they are an essential part of a diversified and sustainable transportation future.

Anyway as said already, enjoy today.

Unless you can magically change the law of physics, you are very, very wrong! I will not go into the details here, because the subject of why hydrogen will never be a miracle energy source for personal vehicles despite all the hype, has been done to death on other threads.

As regards charging times, for my EV (MG4), a 20 mins charge when I stop for a comfort break and a coffee, allows me to do 450 mile trips to Lowestoft and back to Cornwall with absolutely no bother. In February, I did a 1000 round mile trip to East Anglia where it was me needing to stop each time after 3 hours driving, not the car, so I took the opportunity to charge while I was stopped.

Yup, already enjoying today thanks!!

 

[AllesP]

These are the things you need to remember when you are putting an X in a box.

Net Zero is a total con, based on the Climate Change scam.... unless people vote with their feet, dont buy EV's, of any description , and hold the line, our travel will be restricted to how long your cable is, assuming you have been a good boy and are allowed to plug it in.

Future proof your fleet, i am looking at cars to get me through the next 15 years, which are already 8 years old now.

I'll never buy an electric vehicle unless I'm forced to be law. The concept is so flawed and not green.

 

[Snapper]

Don't worry about it. Just enjoy what you have at present.

 

[Miggs]

The Chinese are all over this like a rash, the new technology is here.......BYD ( build your dreams) built and sold more cars than Tesla last year but next to none of them being in Europe (or America).

Yes we could be just as technologically advanced as the Chinese if we also adopted slavery. How backward are we?

 

[Jonno1103]

I have been trying to get my head around where motorhomes are going. If I understand correctly in 2030 there will be no new (non electric) motorhomes sold in the UK, so do all the UK motorhome manufactures move into electric, shut up shop or go into repairs/refurb and what happens to our spares/support for existing vehicles.
I'm also not clear if we can continue to import from out side the UK, I believe the EU will continue to manufacture until 2035, so can we import a new or 6 month old vehicle.
Or have I missed something thoughts ?

The ban on the sale of NEW diesel powered motorhomes is as you state 2035, the same for Hybrids. The sale of pre registered and older motorhomes will continue as normal. Euro7 emission regs begin this month.

 

[Garfields]

In my opinion, I know others will disagree , so no need to start an argument,
Motorhomeing is going from a poor man's holiday to the most expensive you can go on.
Just my view.

But I do want to argue
I know it can still be done cheaply but for most that has been an elusion for a long time.
If anyone frequents a camp site a quick walk around and guessing the value of vehicles on site soon gets to a big figure. Anything less younger than 2015 is at least £30'000 worth ov van
As garry55 not as bonkers as a walk around a marina but not far off.
There are exceptions but not that many.

 

[Kups]

Motorhomeing is going from a poor man's holiday to the most expensive you can go on.

Yes with new integrated mhs starting at £100K, those owners will be the ones paying exorbitant overnight fees. Mind you on the other hand many dealers seem to be stuck with the £150k+ vans at the moment.