16 caravanworld.com.au
COLUMNS Street Talk
“...youhavetostartsomewhereand
fullmarkstoBritzforhavingthe
couragetouseelectricmotorhomes
initsrentalfleet”
ABOVE The new Britz eVolve electric motorhome is part of an elite club
of innovative and environmentally sustainable RVsE
lsewhere in this issue you’ll see I had a drive of the eVolve
electrically-powered motorhome now available for hire from
Britz campervans in New Zealand (see the review from page 76).
Battery-driven motorhomes aren’t exactly common. There
are few in the world, one being the Dethleffs Iveco Daily-based
motorhome which has an 80kW electric engine. Unlike the Britz
model, the battery is charged up by both mains power and the solar
panels of which it is clad. It has a claimed range of 160km which isn’t
particularly great — especially if you happen to live in Australia!
I also understand that Winnebago in the USA is working on an
all-electric motorhome but so far nothing practical has rolled out of
the factory door. It’s thin beginnings to be sure, but you have to start
somewhere and full marks to Britz for having the courage to use
electric motorhomes in its rental fleet.
For quite some years, since about 2006, LP gas was considered to
be a viable alternative to diesel and petrol. There were government
incentives for having a vehicle converted and, up to about 2016, both
Holden and Ford factory-installed LP gas systems on new vehicles.
However, in the last few years a combination of the withdrawal of
government rebates, increases in the price of gas and a reduction
in the number of service stations (particularly regional areas)
where LP gas is available mean the future of LP gas as a vehicle
fuel isn’t looking great. Which is why attention is being focussed on
electrically-powered vehicles.
Alternatives to fossil fuels are a dilemma, and whilst electrically-
powered cars that don’t ever leave the city or suburbs are one thing,
long distance trucks, motorhomes and caravan tow vehicles are
another matter entirely. It will be interesting to see where all this
leads but at least a few players in the RV industry, including a fairly
local one (relatively speaking), are doing a little bit of research.CRACKING A MOTORHOME RECORD
Back a few years ago, 2007 to be precise, I was in the central
Queensland town of Barcaldine, aka ‘Barcy’. It was my second visit to
the area, the first being for the Campervan and Motorhome Club of
Australia’s (CMCA) 16th Anniversary Rally in 2002.
Barcy is a great little town and has some strong historical
associations with the 1891 shearers’ strike, the formation of the
Australian Labor Party and the 200-year-old, heritage-listed ‘Tree of
Knowledge’ which some brainless individual poisoned in 2006.
In 2007 I was there for the 21st Anniversary Rally of the CMCA and
also for an attempt on the Guinness Book of Records for the Longest
Line of Motorhomes. Held by the Italians since 2003, with 672
camping vehicles, things looked good for the record to be broken.
Unfortunately we were just 43 vehicles short.
Just to give some understanding of the event, the line has to be
rolling and more than 600 motorhomes takes up a considerable
amount of real estate or, more correctly, a very long and flat road. To
get all rolling properly everyone had to be camped by the roadside
the night before. Even my KEA motorhome which I travelled in was
in the line — driven by remote control of course, since I spent muchIT’S ELECTRIFYING!
The balance of power may be shifting for RVs
as new energy alternatives are explored
With
Malcolm
Streettime in a helicopter photographing the whole thing.
In about a month or so’s time, on 23-27 May, Barcaldine will again
host another attempt at the Guinness World Records for the Longest
Parade of Camping Vehicles (RVs). It won’t be just motorhomes this
time but all RVs. The record is still held by the Italians from back
in 2003. In addition, there will also be an attempt at the Guinness
World Records Longest Connected Image Made of LED Rope Lights
— that will happen at night and it’s a case of bring your own rope
lights in order to take part.
It is being organised by the Australian Motorhoming Lions Club
and Barcaldine Regional Council. All RVs (motorhomes, caravans,
campervan and fifth wheelers) plus their owners are invited to come
along and join in the fun.
It will happen on the Aramac-Barcaldine Road which is long and
very straight. That is the same place where the Longest Connected
Image Made of Rope Lights will also happen the night before. Again,
like the previous time, on the evening prior to the Largest Parade
all the participating vehicles must be in position on the Aramac-
Barcaldine Road.
Proceeds from the entire event will go to regional charities.
If you want to be involved in the record attempts, visit http://www.
thelongestline.net.au for more details, and I’ll see you there.