The well-known motorhome manufacturer Dethleffs from the Allgäu would like to become a pioneer for electric mobility in the travel sector. As part of the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf, the "e.home" was the first electric motorhome to be presented that is supposed to be capable of self-sufficient electricity production.
The e.home has a fully electric drive train and all functions in the living area are operated with electricity instead of, for example, gas. The drive is a liquid-cooled three-phase asynchronous three-phase motor with an output of 80 kW. The rechargeable batteries are FIAMM sodium nickel chloride batteries with a capacity of 3 x 76 Ah at 400 V (3 x 30 kWh). Unlike lithium-ion batteries, the batteries are completely recyclable and have a service life of around 1.500 charges. This corresponds to a mileage of 250.000 kilometers. Thanks to high-performance capacitors, so-called "supercaps", the performance of the vehicle and the service life of the batteries should be increased, since the supercaps can absorb and release electrical energy more quickly than other batteries.
e.home by Dethleffs - Copyright Dethleffs
In order to operate the vehicle fully electrically (driving and living), the electricity itself must also be produced. In the case of the e.home, the photovoltaics should ensure efficient power generation: the mobile home is equipped with large areas of thin-film solar cells optimized for mobile use. 31 m² of the special solar film with a possible output of approx. 3.000 W were therefore installed. Heating in particular is probably the most energy-intensive long-term application in a mobile home and so the developers had to look for unconventional solutions for purely electrical heating. These were found in the form of latent heat storage plates that were installed in several places on the motorhome. The plates can absorb energy at temperatures above 26 ° C and release it again at cooler temperatures. Infrared heating elements were installed in the floor, in the walls and in the furniture in the form of surface heating elements, since infrared heat does not warm up the air, but only the objects in a room - much more efficiently than conventional heating elements.
The topic of connectivity was also very important in the development of the electrical study. All components in the motorhome have been digitized and networked so that they can be controlled via an app.
The e.home electric motorhome study is to be further developed in the coming years in order to also lead motorhomes on the path to electromobility.
Addendum:
Article from the green car magazine VI / 2017.
Sources and images: Dethleffs
More information and new projects in the green car magazine. Subscription under:
Manufacturer homepage:
Questions and suggestions under 01575/287 3616 or by email to leser@greencarmagazine.de.
Comments are welcome to be entered. They are activated after a content check.
- Light vehicles - mega trend for 2024 - September 21, 2023
- Portrait of the Mazda CX-60 Homura e-SKYACTIV PHEV - September 21, 2023
- The 5 most important tips for traveling with an electric car - September 20, 2023