Caravans reinvented for electric cars

On the highway, a caravan can turn an electric road trip into an exercise in patience. Caroline and Sébastien, who are used to long journeys in their Tesla Model Y, estimate their range at between 200 and 250 km. The problem comes less from towing itself than from the weight and, above all, air resistance. Six manufacturers are therefore trying to redesign the trailer around this constraint.

Polydrops has studied the P21 with a Tesla Model Y in digital wind-tunnel simulations. At 90 km/h, the manufacturer measures additional drag of 530 N, compared with 1,498 N for a conventional reference caravan. These figures come from Polydrops simulations, not an independent test. The P21 is announced at a starting price of $54,900 and remains available only in the United States.

Karoo is also focusing on shape rather than weight alone. In real-world testing with a Polestar 3, its Adventure Camper caravan consumed 29.3 kWh/100 km, compared with 40 kWh/100 km for the conventional model used for comparison. According to Karoo, the difference represented 101 km of additional range, even though its caravan weighed 120 kg more. The model starts at €36,700 and is sold in Europe, but it has no official network in France.

Other solutions focus on usage. Aero Cabin’s One caravan remains compact on the road and then expands at the campsite; it weighs around 900 kg empty. Knaus’ Yaseo 500 DK, sold in France and Europe from €31,950, does away with gas and can be powered by a car compatible with V2L — supplying an appliance from the vehicle’s battery. Lightship adds a 77 kWh battery to its AE.1, a system that drives its wheels to assist the car, as well as 1.8 kW of solar panels. Its announced price reaches $150,000, and availability remains limited to the United States.

So, what does this mean in practice? Electric-car drivers already have access to caravans designed to limit the penalty on long journeys, notably with the Yaseo in France. The most ambitious models remain further off: the AE.1 is American and very expensive, while Dethleffs’ c.fold — a concept with a lowering roof — is still only a study. The claimed gains should be interpreted according to the measurement methods used: some results come from simulations, while others come from real-world testing.