Gas, it seems, is an increasingly dirty word and there is a big push to replace gas with cleaner, more efficient methods of heating and cooking in our homes.
The Victorian Government has banned natural gas connections in new homes from 1 January 2024.
But it's not just our homes that will be gasless in the future. Some forward-thinking caravan and camper van manufacturers have been making gasless vehicles for years and the trend is increasing across the sector.
Solar and battery management systems in some caravans today are highly sophisticated and enable travellers to camp off-grid almost indefinitely. Consumers have a choice of an induction stovetop inside the van, built-in or portable, as well as an induction hotplate in the exterior slideout kitchen to replace the traditional gas barbecue. Heating and hot water needs can be electric or diesel.
The team at Caravan World has reviewed some breakthrough gasless vans in recent years so let's take a look back at some of them.
BUSHTRACKER 19 COMPACT
Back in April 2022 (Issue 622), Creative Director Tim van Duyl tested the Bushtracker 19 Compact. One of the big guns based in Queensland, Bushtracker has been building gasless vans for more than 10 years. A full custom builder, every van is unique.
Matthew Kurvink from Bushtracker said back in the early days, their gasless vans were heavily reliant on alternate fuel sources such as diesel cooktops, diesel hot water, even a diesel oven.
“However, now with the electronics being so good, our gasless vans are mostly electric with induction cooking, electric oven and electric hot water.
“That 19 Compact was built as a proof of concept to show that a gasless van could work and is something that is possible,” he said. “As a result of that van, and previous gasless vans that we have built over the past 10 years, we are seeing an increase in customers requesting this.
“I would say that well over 50 per cent of our total production is now gasless, and it is increasing every year.”
The review van featured 540W of 12V solar panels. This means you could see as much as 45A flowing
