Dethleffs cross Alps without recharging

German manufacturer hails landmark achievement for its new electrically driven concept caravan

DETHLEFFS HAS REACHED a milestone in the development of its electrically driven e.home concept caravan, by demonstrating that it can be driven 240 miles across the

Alps by an electric car in just one charge.

The Erwin Hymer Group subsidiary says it believes the caravan – which has its own electric drive and was unveiled in 2018 – is now ready for the market, after it was towed by a fully electric SUV from Dethleffs’ headquarters in Isny-im-allgäu, southern Germany, through Austria and on to Lake Garda in Italy.

Part of the route is a very popular one for caravanners on the Continent, but has proved a problem for electric tow cars in the past. Even at the famous Brenner Pass into Italy, the batteries in both car and caravan still had 50% of charge, and there was some remaining energy by the time the outfit reached the town centre of Riva on Lake Garda, six hours and 12 minutes after it had set off.

Dethleffs managing director Alexander Leopold said, “Although there are still a few hurdles to overcome before we reach production maturity and approval capability, the e.home is already a practical, future-proof solution for environmentally friendly and ecologically sensible caravanning for all.”

The company has been working with the wider Erwin Hymer Group and specialist automotive company ZF, also based in Germany, on the e.home project.

‘Even at the Brenner Pass, the batteries in both car and caravan had 50% of charge’