Power Mad

I've been trying to figure out how to improve the motorhome's off-grid access to power, as it's highly unlikely we'll ever be using campsites with access to a hookup to recharge the batteries. Campsites just aren't our thing.

I started off by wanting to install two 110Ah leisure batteries instead of the single 85Ah one I have. This required me removing the cab seats, as the current leisure battery is under the driver seat and the 2nd would have to go under the passenger seat. It also involves putting connecting cables under the floor of the cab between the two locations - not something I'm keen on doing, but a necessity.

I also looked into the addition of a solar PV panel, but that's quite costly if done by an automotive electrician.

Even with all the above, it's still a faff for what amounts to only 2.46kWh of power. Ten times that would be ideal.

I then wondered what other, non-conventional technology (for a motorhome) is available as a store for electricity with which to operate off-grid. It wouldn't even matter if it took days to recharge this power source and, in any case, I have vast amounts of solar power for free at home.

It suddenly struck me that the first generation Nissan Leafs are having their 30kWh batteries replaced, as they no longer have enough oomph to run the cars for the required miles, yet they're more than adequate as storage devices for motorhomes.

You can get 2nd hand Leaf batteries for around £275 on eBay. They weigh-in at around 190kg, which is the same as two additional passengers, and the Fiat Ducato is made for 4 people. The battery would need to be slung under the motorhome in a metal cradle, between the cross members, but once charged would be sufficient to run my home for a day, let alone a motorhome for a week. Charging could be effected through the standard EV home charger cable, or even at motorway service stations or supermarkets that cater for EVs. How handy is that?

A Solar PV panel of around 200W could keep it topped up in summer, when the sun shines, but a 30kWh battery (less, when you consider the reason why it's 2nd hand) would still be enough for an entire weekend and more and wouldn't require topping up much.

My research told me that a company has actually manufactured a pop-up trailer tent that uses old, Nissan Leaf batteries. It's called the Nissan X Opus, but looks hideous.

One fly in the ointment is that the Leaf''s battery delivers 24v and not 12v, but that's easily overcome by stepping it down with a voltage regulator.

Some more investigation is required. Luckily I know some people who are experts in this field and I own a slice of their company.

Stop Press: The Nissan Leaf battery pictured above is only one of 48 cells. Expensive.