From a Volkswagen T5, the company Flowcamper Frieda Volt has created a fully electric camper, and we have already tested it
The campervan industry is still struggling with the issue of electromobility. The Flowcamper company has taken the initiative and has now developed a completely new concept for an e-camper that is truly sustainable.
Flowcamper CEO Martin Hemp from Hagen is not afraid of electrification. On the contrary: he turns to her to build a sustainable motorhome.
Together with the electric conversion company Naext near Hamburg, it builds new electric vans under the pretty name Frieda Volt from used Volkswagen T5s.
The idea: Instead of building new electric vehicles, which cost a lot of energy and resources to produce, existing bodies are recycled, i.e. processed and reused (including chassis, bearings, seat covers and brakes).
The Frieda Volt is much more than an electric ‘van’
It would be too reductionist to define it as “an electrified Bulli”, and it is really a holistically sustainable van concept. This also applies to its production. For all models, Flowcamper relies on regional suppliers and sustainable materials such as fir wood for the construction of furniture, eco-tex fabrics, felt panels for the walls or artificial leather covers made from apple remains.
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The only thing that Frieda Volt still burns is cooking gas. Upon request, you can paint the Bulli with ecological paint to your liking and the toilet is dry composting.
This is how the Frieda Volt is driven: up to 320 kilometers without refueling
It takes getting used to, but it’s not bad at all. The engine is quiet and does not use the clutch to start, only when shifting to the next gear.
You read that right: it’s coupled. Because the (revised) gearbox of the T5 is also preserved during the conversion. According to the manufacturer, the autonomy of the battery is 300 to 320 kilometers.
The charging concept is exceptional, as the Frieda Volt should be able to be charged at all common sockets, and therefore also at a campsite.
To ensure that the network is not overloaded when camping, the bus has a charging current limiter. On our ride, the prototype unfortunately revealed some teething problems, which Naext is still working on fixing.
The idea behind the Frieda Volt
It’s as simple as it is clever: the tank, the combustion engine and the exhaust are gone. The new electric motor is installed in the same place and is coupled to the transmission.
The 70 kWh battery pack is now hidden where the depot used to be, for example. The Naext company has specifically developed a modular system.
Are you considering traveling to Germany and converting your T5? For this, all basic vehicles must have exactly the same technical requirements in terms of traction, transmission, connections, etc. So, better, check before if yours meets them.
Factors to decide the purchase
The Frieda Volt concept is ingenious and saves a lot of raw materials and CO2. It remains to be seen how well the “old new” e-camper works in everyday life and when camping. Because that is always the sticking point when it comes to electric mobility.