How I built a vanlife setup powerful enough for work and play

"Last year I did the thing I'd been dreaming about for a decade: I bought a van. After twenty years of tech journalism, creating a mobile test platform for remote work was just as exciting as having an adventure vehicle to pursue my outdoor hobbies. For that I'd need lots of battery capacity to power it all. Originally I wanted to buy an EV to use as a giant rolling power plant for all the gadgets I own and get to play with as a product reviewer."

"Unfortunately, the charging infrastructure isn't quite ready in the far-flung destinations where I travel, and there isn't a good plug-in hybrid in my preferred vehicle class. So, instead I opted for a Sprinter cargo van with a fill-it-and-repair-it-anywhere diesel engine, fitted with an extra large gas tank that also fuels my cabin heater. Like most vanlifers, I won't be living in my van year-round so it'd be silly to spend a ton of money on a power system that's permanently installed."

"I want to take those expensive batteries anywhere I might need them, including my home for use in a blackout or to offset my daily energy costs. That way I can maximize the return on my money. So, I came up with a hybrid solution that lets me easily plug portable power stations into the van to power my integrated lighting, fan, and water pump, with USB-C jacks, AC wall outlets, and 12V sockets installed exactly where I need them."

A Sprinter cargo van can serve as a mobile test platform and adventure vehicle, requiring substantial battery capacity for powering devices and appliances. Limited EV charging infrastructure and lack of suitable plug-in hybrids in that vehicle class motivated choosing a diesel Sprinter with a large gas tank and cabin heater. Because the van will not be lived in year-round, a non-permanent power system using portable batteries maximizes return on investment and allows batteries to be used at home during blackouts or to offset daily energy costs. A hybrid solution uses portable power stations to run integrated lighting, fan, and water pump and supplies USB-C, AC, and 12V outlets where needed, with flexible recharging options at campsites, EV stations, or public places.

Read at The Verge