While most manufacturers at the Caravan Salon were still hesitant, a demonstrator from CityFreighter and Vöhringer showed that electric motorhomes are already much more than a distant vision. Sebastian met up with Michael Schöning from CityFreighter at the last Caravan Salon and took a closer look at a fully integrated e-motorhome whose specs are turning heads.
The key takeaway: electromobility in the motorhome sector is doable, and it could become reality faster than most people think.
Why the industry has been hesitant so far
For decades, the motorhome industry had to work with whatever the big vehicle manufacturers gave them. Chassis from the Mercedes Sprinter or Ford Transit formed the base on which coachbuilders constructed their motorhomes. These combustion-engine chassis could be modified however you liked: drilling, sawing, welding – none of it was a problem.
With electromobility, all of that changes. High-voltage tech, cybersecurity, and functional safety bring entirely new requirements. According to Michael Schöning, several manufacturers had already gone to Mercedes with their plans. The answer was sobering: it's a niche market, and customers would need to be re-educated. That attitude is exactly what pushed Schöning and his team to take matters into their own hands.
The demonstrator: impressive specs
The vehicle shown at the Caravan Salon has the dimensions of a classic fully integrated motorhome: 6.95 m in length. But it's what's inside that surprises. The combination of Vöhringer's lightweight-construction expertise and clever aerodynamics makes the difference.
The aerodynamics are especially interesting. The vehicle is shaped like a teardrop: 2 m wide at the front, 2.35 m in the middle, and back down to 2 m at the rear. Even details like the size of the wing mirrors or a future seamless integration of the awning play a crucial role in reducing drag.
The complete interior fit-out, including heat pump and fridge, weighs just around 600 kg. Combined with the large 128-kWh battery, the ready-to-drive vehicle comes in at a total weight of about 3.5 t. With the planned driving-license extension allowing a maximum permitted weight of 4.25 t for electric vehicles, that leaves a practical payload of around 750 kg.
The real-world test: 430 kilometers are possible
Theoretical figures are one thing, real-world performance another. When a development lead at a manufacturer in southern Germany claimed that more than 260 to 270 km of range simply wasn't achievable, CityFreighter's team set out to prove otherwise. They loaded the demonstrator with boxes of screws up to its maximum weight of 4.25 t and ran an extensive test around Aachen – uphill, downhill, and on the highway.
The result: 430 km of real-world range. According to Michael Schöning, you don't need 600 or 700 km, as some manufacturers claim. What really matters is the combination of a practical range (around 400 km) and fast-charging capability of at least 200 kilowatts.
The low-floor platform as the key
A major difference from conventional motorhomes lies in how the chassis is built. While traditional platforms like the Fiat Ducato have a floor height of 600 to 700 mm, CityFreighter uses a special low-floor platform. This sits at just 350 to 400 mm above the ground.
The advantage: the battery can be housed safely and completely within the vehicle floor, which also gives it a low center of gravity. On top of that, the design is flexible: depending on the intended use – say, for an urban delivery vehicle – the battery size can be adjusted.
Built to last thanks to a modular design
For many people, a motorhome is a long-term investment they'll use for ten, fifteen, or even twenty years. At the same time, battery technology keeps evolving fast. CityFreighter has a smart answer to that: the battery compartment is designed so future battery generations can be retrofitted every four to five years without changing the chassis.
As Michael Schöning knows from his own experience with his Tesla, modern batteries last a lot longer than people used to think. Vehicles with 300,000 to 500,000 km on the clock often still have 80% of their original capacity. Current manufacturer standards are around 3,000 charge cycles.
Fast charging keeps getting more efficient
Schöning regularly drives from Aachen to Vöhringer in Reutlingen, so he sees the charging progress firsthand. At modern fast-charging stations, the vehicle is often ready to go again before he's even placed his burger order. This trend is only going to speed up over the next few years.
For campers, that means a break every 300 to 400 km fits naturally into relaxed travel anyway. With high charging power, that break turns into genuine downtime instead of wasted time.
The coalition of the willing
CityFreighter's goal isn't necessarily to sell motorhomes as a consumer brand itself. Instead, they want to show what's technically possible and bring industry partners together. Michael Schöning calls it a "coalition of the willing" – a group of companies actively pushing electric mobility forward instead of letting more years slip by.
So far, it's mainly well-known suppliers and players from the supply chain who've come on board, offering components. Talks with the major motorhome manufacturers are still to come. The approach: don't hand the field over to Chinese manufacturers without a fight, but cooperate strategically and create win-win situations.
When will the first production vehicle arrive?
CityFreighter's conservative estimate: a first small or pilot series could hit the market by the end of 2028. That sounds like a long time, but it's realistic for the automotive world. Even Chinese development cycles take about two to two and a half years, and European homologation (type approval) alone eats up a lot of time.
The small series will initially serve as a test fleet for road trials with partners. According to Schöning, price will be the deciding factor for later market success: the electric motorhome needs to be priced in a similar range to today's combustion-engine models. That only works through volume and scale.
Production: combining Europe and Asia
To hit competitive prices, CityFreighter is considering a global setup: the base chassis or the raw cabin could be built in Asia, while final assembly and interior fit-out happen in Europe. For battery suppliers too (like CATL), they're relying on established partners to secure the supply chain.
This pragmatic approach stands in clear contrast to the wait-and-see attitude of some in the industry. Instead of hoping that traditional vehicle manufacturers will eventually deliver the perfect base, CityFreighter is looking for its own solutions.
More information at www.evolve.cityfreighter.com.
Conclusion: the electric motorhome future is picking up speed
The demonstrator from CityFreighter and Vöhringer shows convincingly that electric motorhomes are no longer just a distant vision. With a range of over 400 kilometers, fast-charging capability, and smart lightweight construction, the technical groundwork is already in place. The low-floor platform allows for flexible battery integration, and the modular design makes the concept future-proof.
It'll still be a few years before motorhomes like this show up at dealers. But the momentum in the industry is real: while some are still holding back, a coalition of companies is forming to actively tackle the issue. Collaboration instead of standstill – that could be the key to camping's future.
Want to hear Sebastian's full conversation with Michael Schöning and learn more about the technical details? You'll find the entire Caravan Salon podcast episode here.
Podcast · Episode 426
Caravan Salon live: Wird das E-Wohnmobil jetzt endlich alltagstauglich?
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