Off Grid Adventures with EVs Exploring Remote Charging and Travel
Campworks NS-1 Trailer Revolutionizes Solar-Powered Remote Travel
Campworks NS-1 Trailer Revolutionizes Solar-Powered Remote Travel
Campworks creates off-grid charging stations the sun powers their trailer anywhere you tow it.
Imagine a world in which off-road adventurers can pilot their electric vehicles (EVs) anywhere in the countrywithout battery charge stations nearby. Soon, we might be able to power up whenever needed, no matter where we are. The Campworks NS-1 trailer makes it possible.
What if youre traveling via remote country roads with camp gear in tow or driving over miles of dirt? How about slushing through snow while heading to an off-the-grid campsite? No problem.
Adventure enthusiasts can soon self-sustain off the grid while piloting an EV. Can you envision an environment in which range anxiety doesnt exist? Where being tethered to EV charge stations doesnt limit the adventure? Is there a way away from generators or battery chargers when traveling remotely? How about exchanging intricate charge station plans for just going, no matter how far you travel?
Were explorers at heart. We strive for the next adventure. However, we also want to leave a minimal impact.
Campworks History
Campworks created a premium, solar-powered, off-road trailer that can sustain itself during remote living. The company is also developing systems to send power back to EVsin order to give them go-go juice while off the grid. Its goal is to self-power a robust EV-and-trailer camping setup via solar power in the middle of nowhereno matter where you are.
Campworks trailers are built with a highly insulated composite shell to handle any weather.
Based in Longmont, Colorado, Campworks is a young company with big ambitions. Founded in 2019 by Thomas Hoffmann (a former employee of luxury off-road RV manufacturer EarthRoamer), Campworks created the NS-1, a self-sustaining, solar-powered, off-road trailer. It could potentially revolutionize how EVs travel remotely when exploring Mother Nature.
As a student at the University of Colorado, I studied environmental design, stated Hoffmann. We learned about architecture and the issues we face with climate and our built environment.
The black exterior of the Campworks NS-1 trailer stands out in a snowy landscape.
Not knowing how to solve any of the large issues he faced, Hoffman customized a van and traveled. He shared, I found inspiration to return to school and take courses again.
What was his senior capstone project? A teardrop camper.
It was more a DIY project than it was a polished product. It turned into a job at EarthRoamer, he said.
As a result, the Campworks NS-1 trailer was born, redefining off-grid travel.
The NS-1 demo was built in a backyard and went on to capture the imagination of many as we worked through the production model in Solidworks.
He and a core team of dedicated, Colorado-based craftspeople meticulously crafted parts for mold-making. Now, explained Hoffmann, Weve sold out of our year-one build slots and delivered our first units.
The Impetus Behind the NS-1 Trailer
To Hoffmann and the team that comprise Campworks, the NS-1 doesnt just signify a handcrafted, off-road trailer generating its own power. Rather, Hoffmann pointed out that its a truly sustainable and resilient home.
Campworks designed the NS-1 as a durable, long-term home-away-from-home.
The Campworks NS-1 trailers black powdercoat exterior tackles mud with ease.
The Campworks NS-1 trailer allows you to fully experience the outdoors without boundaries. The adventure trailer runs on BFGoodrich KO2 tires, allowing you to handle any conditions. When we look around the industry, there are simply too many parts meant to last just a few seasons, at best, Hoffmann explained. The largest manufacturers simply care about low cost and low weight, and those attributes lead to products that dont perform.
The companys goal is to manufacturer off-grid-ready trailers that should last for years to come and leave a minimal impact on Earth.
Summing Up the NS-1
With its full-composite body measuring 66x54x105 inches, the Campworks NS-1 trailer boasts approximately 4 feet of interior headroom and a 25-degree departure angle with 15.5 inches of ground clearance. It also has a dry weight of 1,750 pounds. Along with 8 cubic feet of under-bed storage, the NS-1 has multiple opportunities to mount exterior accessories. This includes RotopaX containers, awnings, a shovel, an axe and more.
CAMPWORKS TRAILERS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED TO USE THE SUNS RAYS TO FUEL OFF-ROAD ADVENTURES.
Relax in comfortwherever the trail takes you. Campworks builds their adventure trailer for year round use.
The base NS-1 trailer is armed with 240W, fixed Nashati solar panels, a 400 amp-hour lithium battery and AC 3000W inverter/charger to power a variety of systems. This includes LED lights, a cabin heater, AC and DC outlets and a dual-burner induction cooktop. It also has the ability to heat water. Marine-grade wiring and fuse panels, along with an upgradable electrical system, can grow with you as your needs change. (Note: As the company develops its closed-power system to feed solar power back to EVs, the above stats might change.)
Interior Luxuries
The NS-1 is loaded with premium sustainable and long-lasting materials plus a comfy, 6282-inch, queen-sized, high-density foam mattress. The NS-1 interior showcases a variety of LED lights, premium cabinets and power outlets, as well as a power management display system and five windows. An integrated ventilation system rounds out everything, making for comfortable sleeps along the way.
Campworks is on a mission to get more people outdoors and immersed in nature.
The Campworks NS-1 trailer offers a kitchen drawer box and a stainless steel sink with running hot and cold water supplied by an in-body, 17-gallon water tank. Soft-close drawers, as well as USB, 12V and kitchen-mounted power outlets, can have you making margaritas in no time after a day on the trails.
As a test, the NS-1 cooked an entire Thanksgiving dinner using solar powerthe company has a video to prove it. Campworks next iteration is to not only power the trailer, but to also send power back to any electric vehicle towing it. It will be a closed loop power system for traveling remotely, with no need to use battery charging stations.
Exterior Envy
The NS-1 trailer includes 2 inches of wall insulation between engineered, epoxy-bonded, closed-cell composite panels. And, as Campworks strives to streamline its operation, its substituting existing materials for eco-friendly or recycled ones.
Its working to build the entire composite unit out of bio-resin and flax fibers. Hoffman stated, This would make our unit built out of waste materials.
IMAGINE A WORLD IN WHICH OFFROAD ADVENTURERS CAN PILOT THEIR ELECTRIC VEHICLES (EVs) ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRYWITHOUT BATTERY CHARGE STATIONS NEARBY; POWERING UP WHENEVER NEEDED, NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE.
Induction cooking fit for a chef in the backcountry. Never worry about your stove top blowing out on windy days or running out of propane on longer trips.
In addition to electrical and interior accoutrements, the construction of the Campworks NS-1 trailers body keeps severe duty service in mind. Its sealed and powdercoated protects it from the elements. It boasts electric drum brakes, a trailer tongue storage tray and jack and a Lock N Roll articulating trailer hitch.
The NS-1 also includes a Timbren 3500 HD axle-less suspension and 15-inch Trailmaster wheels wrapped in 235/75R15 BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrains. An onboard air compressor makes short work of airing up tires after off-road jaunts.
Theres nothing like grilling up a delicious meal in the backcountry using nothing but the power of the sun.
On its exterior, the Campworks NS-1 trailers body boasts amenities such as rock sliders, built-in shower with heated water, LED lights and a Front Runner Outfitters platform roof rack. A rear hitch receiver can haul bikes or a ski rack. Beefy, flat fender flares and cabin-access steps double up as small shelves during camp. Campworks also offers upgrade packages.
Campworks Plans
In addition to making future trailers from bio-resin and flax fibers, the company plans to offer better battery packs and up to 20,000 watt hours of power. Its goal is to produce a long-lasting trailer made from sustainable or discarded materials to double down and divert waste from the food industry.
Hoffmanns goal is to produce products that will make a truly positive impact on the world of sustainable building.
Cooking off the back of the NS-1 demo near Nederland, Colorado
The companys next iteration, the NS-2, will incorporate major design changes to make it more comfortable. Theyre also planning on upping the solar power and including sustainable materials.
We absolutely need to use local craftsmanship and resources in the future, Hoffmann stated. We aim not only to employ U.S. workers, but also to create a space and a product that empowers everyone to reopen their craft and be proud of the things they create. Hoffmann and his team feel they create better communities and better places in order to empower craftsmanship as a tool to live sustainably, he said.
The lights on the NS-1 are designed to reduce light pollution so you can enjoy starlit nights.
To Hoffmann, a good home shouldnt be renewable; it should be resilient. It should exist, even when the environment changes and the unforeseen occurs. In an off-grid, off-road trailer, you will see every temperature, weather condition and more. To use sustainable materials is important, but to create a resilient product that maximizes its life cycle is our focus. Real, honest materials stand up better and create more value.
Thinking Sustainably
Hoffmann mentioned that folks should stay on the trail and camp in campgrounds.
I know that sounds antithetical to the overland community, but truly leave no trace, he pointed out. If people leave places they love better than they found them, they will be able to continue to enjoy them. As so many more people try to get off grid and away, its going to become our responsibility to lead and teach. He added, Study ways to lower your impact.
ADVENTURE ENTHUSIASTS CAN SOON SELF-SUSTAIN OFF THE GRID WHILE PILOTING AN EV. ENVISION AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH RANGE ANXIETY DOESNT EXIST AND FOLKS ARENT TETHERED TO EV CHARGE STATIONS.
The NS-1 features panoramic windows for incredible views and to experience amazing natural locations along with the ability to travel farther.
We still get our power on the grid from fossil fuels, Hoffmann explained. So, an electric vehicle just shifts the problem away from the driver. At Campworks, we are creating your own charging stationspowered by the sun, anywhere you tow your vehicle.
To him, there are limitations to solar panels, which he sees as positives. As you move, let the power of the sun dictate how far. Hoffmann believes limitations like these shouldnt be viewed as problems. Hoffmann explained, The journey is where the fun of life lies. You can recharge your EV to extend the range and even fully recharge over a few days as you take in the sights and sounds of the place youre in.
Campworks designed their trailers to use the suns rays to fuel off-road adventures. We are all about creating an incredible experience thats powered by the sunwherever you are.
You can follow Campworks adventures on Instagram @campworksco.
7 easy ways to go off-grid when its time to travel
It's been a rough couple of months. With escalating fears concerning the global spread of COVID-19, there's a high probability you're feeling more stressed than a blind surgeon in a busy ER unit. If that's the case, planning an off-grid getaway for the future may be just what the doctor ordered.
Scientists have found that a little one-on-one time with the woods effectively reduces the body's production of the stress hormone cortisol. Chronic stress, which results in elevated cortisol levels, can lead to serious health problems like depression and high blood pressure the last thing anyone needs to deal with during these intense times.
So, while it's critical we all follow safety suggestions like social distancing and non-travel recommendations from agencies like the CDC, it's also essential to consider a self-care escape once this whole thing blows over.
As soon as we get the greenlight to explore the world once more, use one of these remote vacation ideas to find calm amidst the coronavirus-induced chaos of our times.
1. Book a cabin in a remote location through Airbnb
If your home quarantine is resulting in a profound case of cabin fever, planning an actual cabin retreat will give you something soothing to anticipate. When it's finally time to go, opting for one of these remote forest abodes on Airbnb will give you the freedom to wander the woods outside your four walls without worry. Airbnb's current extenuating circumstances policy covers the costs of both hosts and guests affected by COVID-19, giving travelers peace of mind should their plans go awry in the coming months.
If you're desperate to ditch the ding of your digital devices, try this cabin tucked away on Kenai Lake near Seward, Alaska. Without electricity or cell service, there's no chance of a news alert spoiling your serenity.
For those who want to be closer to civilization, this cabin, an hour's drive outside of Ljubljana, Slovenia, is a fairytale fortress overlooking the Kamnik-Savinja Alps.
2. Pitch a tent in a park
If stress is disrupting your sleep schedule, a camping trip is the prescription-free sleeping pill you need. Scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder found by readjusting our internal alarm clocks to match the sun, we can reconnect with our natural circadian rhythms to wake up and fall asleep at more reasonable hours. Speaking of sun, increased exposure to sunlight and fresh air can promote feelings of positivity by boosting serotonin levels. The best part? You don't have to be a billionaire to cash in on the benefits.
Whether it's backpacking through the snow-capped peaks of Jasper National Park in Canada ($16.05 per night), or hanging a hammock between two mangroves on Playa Flamenco in Puerto Rico ($30 per night), camping is a cost-effective way to travel the world while practicing stress management.
3. Make camping glamorous
You don't have to go Wild-style like Cheryl Strayed to experience the joys of camping. Glamping, the outdoor getaway that mixes grit with glamour, offers travelers an opportunity to go natural without sacrificing the creature comforts of home.
For mountain maniacs, check out the WiFi-free EcoCamp in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. The 13 geodesic domes that comprise the camp all equipped with full bathrooms and wood-burning stoves look out onto Patagonia's iconic craggy cliffs. The price of lodging includes guided treks, kayak trips, and a warm bed once it's time to hit the hay.
4. Get a camper and hit the road
Millions of people are now telecommuting to work from a home office, and if youre one of them, think about renting a camper and taking your job on the road. As long as there's a secure Wi-Fi connection, an RV can turn a stuffy desk job into an endless adventure.
With 14 national parks that boast active volcanoes, glacial mountains, immaculate beaches, and enough ecological diversity to make your head spin, New Zealand is the prime candidate for a camper workation. Wilderness, a motorhome rental company, offers guides and itineraries to help travelers see as much of the countryside as possible.
5. Book a hotel room in one of the world's most remote towns
When a few miles from civilization is still too close for comfort, try seeking solitude in two of the world's most isolated locations inhabited by humans Pitcairn and Ittoqqortoormiit.
To reach Pitcairn, a tiny Pacific island 5879km off the coast of Peru, travelers must fly to French Polynesia and then set sail for two nights aboard a cargo freighter that runs infrequently. If you're willing to plan the complicated journey, it's well worth the trip the island's verdant volcanic-rock scenery is just as inviting as the 50 people who call it home.
The mightiest SUV would be SOL on the frigid fjord terrain to Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland (population: 450), and as no commercial flights land in town, all visitors must arrive by helicopter. The picturesque area justifies the long haul it takes to visit a series of Crayola-colored A-frame homes dot the town's neutral-toned landscape like flowers in a frozen field.
6. Rent an entire island for yourself and some friends
Traveling to far-flung locales may not be realistic for many, but renting a private island can be surprisingly affordable and equally effective for finding seclusion. Guests live worry-free like the Swiss Family Robinson in this quaint red cottage for 5, located in Hvaler, Norway ($198 per night). After taking a motorboat to the island, visitors are all alone, save for a handful of board games, books, and the sound of small waves lapping at the rocky island's shores. For more island rental opportunities, check out Private Islands Inc.'s international options.
7. Cycle through or take a walk in an urban park
For city dwellers around the world, finding the time and money to escape home life isn't always possible, but that doesn't preclude them from spending time in nature. Urban parks provide a substantial respite for people surrounded by steel and cement, and according to a study led by Japanese researcher Yoshifumi Miyazaki, it only takes 15 minutes in a green space to significantly decrease cortisol levels. On top of helping us decompress, outdoor elysiums like Vancouver's Stanley Park and Berlin's Tiergarten improve the quality of the air we breathe. After being cooped up due to recent events, there's no better time to visit a bucolic urban backdrop, take a deep inhale, and let the power of nature start to work its magic.
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