Voyager en van aménagé en arrière saison
Traveling by van from the South-West Traveling in a 100% electric converted van

Travelling in a camper van in the off-season in south west

Summer’s over, but your desire to get away and travel is not. The last rays of the summer sun and the beautiful landscapes of the south-west are irresistible. Don’t worry, travelling in a camper van in the off-season or during the Indian summer is just waiting for you.

The mild temperatures of the off-season are perfect for hiring an electric van to visit the region.

The answer to the question of where to travel in a converted van in September and October is obvious. With its wide open spaces that will help you unwind, its towns with a rich heritage and its mild, sunny climate, it’s safe to say that the South-West is THE ideal part of France to travel in a converted van in the off-season!

Travelling in a camper van in the off-season, the ultimate slow-travel experience

At The Family Van, we offer organised surftrip in group, or you can simply hire your own 100% electric van for a spontaneous trip.

Travelling by van in September and October is, in our opinion, the perfect opportunity to travel out of season while enjoying the same benefits as in summer. You can enjoy the good weather, outdoor activities, culture and gastronomy, while avoiding the crowds of tourists, making the experience even more authentic.

What’s more, there are fewer restrictions on the parking of converted vehicles at this time of year, due to the reduction in traffic on the roads.

A destination that's accessible by van and still has a lot to offer

Our electric vans are perfect for visiting mountainous areas, large pine forests or the west coast. Between the Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrénées regions, you’ll find plenty of pretty spots to observe these seasonal changes.

Travelling in an electric converted van in the off-season or during the Indian summer will give you the freedom to move around as you wish, and go in search of the rarest viewpoints along the way. Make way for a cosy corner to enjoy life in a converted van with friends or family on the roads of the South-West.

Unforgettable moments of adventure in the heart of the region

At this time of year, the light is perfect and the countryside is bathed in brilliant colours. The conditions are right for discovering more secret itineraries, far from the hustle and bustle: it’s the new “dolce vita”.

Take advantage of this opportunity to travel in complete freedom and catch the last days of sunshine before winter.

Discover all the tips here to travel in camper van off the season in the south-west of France.

So, are you convinced? Why not take a trip with The Family Van this year?

Recharger son véhicule électrique
Traveling in a 100% electric converted van

Charging your electric vehicle, whats going to change in 2024

Is charging your electric vehicle child’s play? While Europe is trying to harmonise the ecosystem around electric vehicles and encourage their adoption by eliminating obstacles linked to range and the availability of charging points, this will not be fully achieved by 2023. Nevertheless, two new laws will be introduced in Europe from 2024, to the delight of adventurers wishing to travel in a 100% electric van.

At The Family Van, specialists in electric van rental, we couldn’t pass up this good news and wanted to share it with you.

Charging your electric vehicle

Charging your electric vehicle, interactive payment by bank card

Gone are the days of creating accounts on the applications of each recharging point, replaced by harmonisation: in a few months’ time, all recharging point users will be able to pay for their recharges by bank card, including the contactless option. The idea is to emulate the experience at the petrol pump: prices will be displayed on the charging points, and an interactive map will be made available to users showing the availability, waiting times and prices of the charging points.

You can find a detailed article on this subject here

Charging your electric vehicle, a charging point at least every 60 km by 2026

While some countries in Europe are fairly well off when it comes to the distribution of charging points across their territory, this is not the case for all.

To compensate for this, a charging point will be available at least every 60 km by 2026 in countries located on the European trunk roads linking the major regions of the EU.

This is a real advantage for people who want to travel in an electric camper van, who will no longer find it difficult to answer the question: “But can you really travel in an electric vehicle?

The opportunity to criss-cross France and Europe

At The Family Van, we offer electric camper van holidays, available for hire or for itinerant surftrips in group.

Are you planning to hire an electric van this year? Don’t hesitate to contact us!

Discover here our article about the application for traveling in electric camper van.

voyager en van électrique dans les Pyrénées
Non classé Traveling by van from the South-West Traveling in a 100% electric converted van

Traveling in an electric van in the Pyrenees: 5 hikes to do

The Pyrenees offer a variety of breathtaking landscapes and many exciting hikes for nature and adventure lovers. In this article, we suggest traveling in an electric van in the Pyrenees to explore five iconic hikes that will allow you to discover the beauty and diversity of this region.

voyager en van électrique dans les Pyrénées

1. The Gavarnie Circus

The Gavarnie Cirque is one of the most popular hikes in the Pyrenees, and for good reason! It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. You will discover majestic waterfalls, panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, and breathtaking landscapes. The hike takes about four hours round trip and is accessible to beginners as well as experienced hikers.

More information here

Electric charging station located near the start of the hike: SDE Haute Pyrénées Charging Station

2. The "Pic du Midi d'Ossau"

The Pic du Midi d’Ossau is an iconic summit of the Pyrenees, offering spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. The hike is quite challenging and can take up to nine hours round trip, but the effort is worth it. You will traverse beautiful landscapes and discover waterfalls, lakes, and pine forests. If you are a photography lover, look no further: you are in the right place!

More information here

Electric charging station located near the start of the hike: Mobive Charging Station

3. The Basque Coastal Trail

The Basque Coast Trail is a hike that follows the Atlantic coast from Hendaye to Saint-Jean-de-Luz, passing through picturesque villages and sandy beaches. This hike can be done in several stages and is accessible to hikers of all levels. You will be able to admire the cliffs, coves, and bays of this magnificent coastline and discover Basque culture along the way.

More information here

Electric charging station located near the start of the hike: Tiers Charging Station

4. Mount Valier

Mount Valier is a majestic mountain in the Pyrenees, reaching a height of 2,838 meters. The hike to the summit is difficult, but it offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains and valley. You will be able to admire mountain lakes and unique alpine flora. This hike can take up to eight hours round trip but is reserved for experienced hikers.

More information here

Electric charging station located near the start of the hike: Reveo Charging Station

5. The Ayous lakes

The Ayous Lakes are a set of four mountain lakes located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. The hike to reach them is quite easy and can be done in a day. You will be able to admire the surrounding peaks, waterfalls, and breathtaking landscapes.

More information here

Electric charging station located near the start of the hike: SDE Pyrénées Atlantique Charging Station

So, convinced?

Renting an electric converted van with The Family Van can be the right option to immerse yourself in nature, in the context of a week dedicated to hiking and reconnecting with yourself.

We offer our travelers a free contactless Chargemap card that allows you to recharge at more than 95% of charging stations in France.

The Family Van Planifier roadtrip van aménagé électrique
The guide to traveling in a camper van Traveling in a 100% electric converted van

Planning your trip in an electric campervan

The Family Van, a specialist in electric camper van travel, offers you tips and tricks for planning your trip in an electric campervan.

The back-to-school season has just arrived, but you have only one thing on your mind: planning your next vacation.

Ideas are coming to mind: whether it’s about the destination, the length of your stay, activities… But something is bothering you: it’s your first trip behind the wheel of your electric camper van. You need to familiarize yourself with the habits that will make this electric vehicle journey an unforgettable experience.

Discover the typical route in an electric camper van for our itinerant surftrip, The Family Surf.

Travelling in an electrically equipped van is about choosing the right destination

Traveling in an electric van is to benefit from unparalleled travel comfort. Flexible driving, limited noise pollution, access to outstanding technology… We would like to travel the world in our electric van. In fact, it is equipped with the same technologies as a combustion engine vehicle, whether it is in terms of entertainment (music, dashboard…) or driving aids (speed limiter and cruise control). At The Family Van, all our vans are equipped with a speed radar, a reversing radar, Bluetooth and super comfortable speakers: in short, everything to make the journey a blast. While eliminating carbon emissions.

However, we must give technology time to catch up and adapt to what it can currently offer us. Thus, the key element not to overlook when preparing for a road trip in an electric van is inevitably the charging network. Therefore, choose a country that offers a supply capable of meeting your demand.

It’s a good thing that France has a very developed charging network throughout its territory (check on the Chargemap application). This will satisfy your desires for responsible outdoor adventures within the country itself.

Traveling in an electric van is also about identifying charging stations on your itinerary

In order to locate charging stations on your route, the best option is to download charging station apps.

Check out our article that details the various apps available to accompany you throughout your road trip in an electrically converted van.

The extra tip from The Family Van: it is possible to charge your electrically converted van from a power outlet, which can be found at your campsite (check out our tips on camping with an electrically converted van). How to proceed: use the charging cable provided for this purpose, which is different from the one used to charge at traditional fast charging stations. By doing this, you can spend the night and charge both the batteries of your van and your body at the same time 😉

Knowing your electric vehicle well before departure

The mistake not to make: overestimating the capacity of your car. Before your departure, make sure you know the total capacity of your vehicle in terms of range, whether it is equipped with the “fast charging” functionality, the type of charger provided and the one you will need, the type of roads you will take in order to optimize the moment when you recharge the batteries (pun intended). Don’t hesitate to take a look at this article which will give you the keys to successful recharge breaks.

At present, few electric vehicles offer a range greater than 350km. Enough to respect the recommended breaks by the government and avoid accidents.

Adopt a slow-travel driving style for a hassle-free journey

Finally, traveling in an electric vehicle means adopting a new driving mode. Before departure, anticipate and prepare yourself to opt for a simpler, slower, and more adapted driving style to the electric campervan.

Real-life example: on the highway, you will not exceed 110km/h in order to optimize energy consumption. The end result is that you can enjoy the scenery, take your time, and bask in the latest album from Harry Styles.

Un groupe de personne voyageant en van aménagé électrique
Group trips

Our group trips in electric campervans

When you were young, you were a fan of summer camps and group trips. You pushed, pushed, pushed, until at 18, you thought you were too old to continue. That the past is the past… But not so fast!

The Family Van, an expert in electric campervan rental, now offers itinerant surftrips in group aboard 100% electric campervans, centered around sports or cultural themes.

Let’s take a closer look at this alternative to traditional campervan travel that makes us want to go back to summer camp, but for adults.

A sports or cultural theme at the heart of the trip

All group trips with The Family Van are organized around a sports or cultural theme, led by a certified guide throughout the entire trip. Whether it’s surfing, hiking, visiting castles in the Loire Valley, or wine tasting, there’s something for everyone.

The goal is to promote French heritage through an innovative trip that combines human encounters with the practice of an activity.

The Family Van aims to develop as many themes as possible based on the desires of its users and those who want to try renting a van with them.

Discover our first group trip, The Family Surf!

Traveling group stays in 100% electric vans

All group trips with The Family Van are operated aboard 100% electric Citroën vans, fitted out to provide maximum comfort for travelers eager to test the experience.

“Our goal is to rethink the experience of traditional van travel, making it more responsible and innovative,” says Kevin, CEO & co-founder of the company.

The electric van allows for a new way of traveling, slower and closer to the outdoor desires of travelers. The aim is to break away from traditional travel modes and opt for slow-travel, taking the time to appreciate the surrounding landscapes and meet new people.

A summer camp for adults

What better way to relive your childhood memories while preserving the planet than a group trip in an electric van?

The Family Van is like an adult summer camp reinvented for an itinerant trip aboard electric vans, with a group of people bonding together through activities, encounters, and landscape discoveries.

The Family Van also offers customized trips in electric converted vans and self-drive rentals of electric converted vans.

The Family Van borne recharge véhicule électrique
The guide to traveling in a camper van Traveling in a 100% electric converted van

Application for traveling in an electric camper van

The Family Van, an expert in 100% electric van travel, has chosen Chargemap as application for traveling in an electric camper van.

It is thanks to this gem that we have been able to create our itinerant surftrips in group, such as The Family Surf France and The Family Rando.

We also use Chargemap to create itineraries for our tailor-made trips.

Zoom on the Chargemap app

During your electric van road trip, the Chargemap app will be your best friend. It provides a reference map to find charging stations located along your route, whether they are public or not.

As a collaborative application, as an electric van driver, you’ll have the ability to upload photos, comments, and reviews of the charging stations you encounter on your journey. Chargemap also provides a level of detail that is useful to users, allowing them to know what types of charging stations are available, whether fast or standard.

The Family Van offers all its travelers a Chargemap pass that will allow you to recharge your electric van by simply placing your card on compatible Chargemap terminals.

Other charging station apps

While Chargemap remains our reference application and the one The Family Van team used when building its trips, there are several other available alternatives, such as Plugshare (more comprehensive map that covers the entire world), Chargeprice (which lists the charging stations offering the best recharge prices), and Nextcharge.

Individually, some private companies that offer charging stations have their own application: Inuit, Mobiv…

All of these charging stations are nevertheless listed on the Chargemap application.

Discover our article on how to plan your trip in an electric camper van.

Photo d'un van aménagé électrique en train de charger
The guide to traveling in a camper van Traveling in a 100% electric converted van

Traveling with a 100% electric converted van

The Family Van offers the experience of traveling with a 100% electric converted van in a group, around a sports or cultural theme.

Why did we choose the electric van? Out of concern for ecological responsibility and innovation.

Organizing trips with an electric converted van means choosing trips with a low environmental impact and a more responsible tourism model, while allowing our users to save money (it costs between 15 and 30€ for a full charge of an electric van).

Today, The Family Van is the only company offering this type of group nomadic adventure, in an electric converted van, and around a sports or cultural theme.

When the idea of The Family Van was suggested and implemented, the team embarked on a benchmarking process to learn about existing projects related to electric converted van travel.

Traveling with a 100% electric converted van is feasible!

We were able to exchange with Heloise, who took on a crazy challenge in 2016: to travel around New Zealand in a converted electric van for 8 months, in order to raise awareness among young people about the ecological transition! What better way to achieve this goal than by traveling in a converted electric van?

The project was implemented in partnership with the New Zealand government, which decided to cover all the expenses incurred for the trip, in exchange for a report on the future of electric tourism in New Zealand.

What Heloise drew from her experience of traveling in a converted electric van: positive outcomes! A new way of experiencing travel, fostering encounters and eco-responsible behaviors, as well as a totally different relationship to travel as a whole.

Ultimately, traveling in a converted electric van means taking the time to connect with people, traveling differently, and meeting locals in the places visited. It combines the “fundamentals” of classic van travel, making them even more attractive thanks to the ecological and responsible nature of this type of travel.

Traveling in a converted electric van also means adopting good practices in terms of driving and travel behavior in order to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. In fact, to make it easier for you, we have prepared a guide to good practices for traveling in a converted electric van.

Renting a 100% electric converted van with The Family Van

If you’re interested in discovering a new type of travel in a fully equipped electric van, you can always visit The Family Van website, which offers group sports and cultural stays in a converted van, centered around a sports or cultural theme. It’s also possible to rent a 100% electric converted van individually, according to your preferences.

Voyage en van aménagé sur mesure
Traveling in a 100% electric converted van

Tailor-made van trip

If you want to try a van life experience this year but don’t know where to start, you’re in luck: The Family Van offers tailor-made van trip for its customers, in addition to group travel and individual rental of electric van conversions.

Our goal is to design a trip that matches your aspirations and personality: destinations, accommodations, and activities are all chosen based on exchanges with our specialists in electric custom van travel.

The idea is to offer you a trip that reflects who you are, based on our experience in electric van travel, our knowledge of French regions, and your desires, of course!

Creating your tailor-made van trip itinary

France is a country full of options in terms of diversity of landscapes and centers of interest. Our experts are here to accompany you and build a tailor-made trip in the region of your choice.

Depending on your desires, the duration of your stay, and the exchanges we may have, we will propose a road trip that suits you, including suggestions for stages, activities, restaurants, hidden spots, and much more.

A personalized road book

Before your departure, you will receive your personalized travel diary with all the information you need to travel peacefully. Suggestions for activities on each of your stages, booking information for your accommodations, best practices for traveling in an electrically converted van, and more.

This travel diary will be your little treasure trove and, above all, a wonderful souvenir in which you can slip in some photos of your road trip.

Voyage en van aménagé sur mesure

A high-end concierge service

Drawing from our experience at Original Travel, we offer you a concierge service to accompany you throughout your journey. Whether it’s providing activity recommendations, modifying your itinerary, giving advice on vehicle charging or simply offering assistance in case of problems, we are here to help.

Unique expertise on 100% electric camper van travel

The Family Van is the first and only expert on electric converted van travel in France. Our experience and expertise allow us to offer circuits that are perfectly suited for 100% electric camper van travel.

We provide you with a guide to 100% electric converted van travel and a ChargeMap Business card that allows you to easily and quickly recharge your van at all available charging points on the ChargeMap app.

Discover our surftrip in group aboard our 100% electric converted vans.

Optimiser ses trajets et ses recharges en Roadtrip en van aménagé électrique
The guide to traveling in a camper van Traveling in a 100% electric converted van

How to optimize the autonomy of my electric camper van?

The Family Van, specialist in electric camper van travel, offers you the opportunity to discover how to optimize your trips and recharges in an electric van.

Choosing a stay in an electrical camper van means choosing a vacation from a new perspective. Here’s a closer look at the fail-safe techniques that will optimize the charging of your electric vehicle.

Planning a suitable itinerary

Before the big departure, look into the itinerary you will need to take to reach your final destination. At this stage, it will be interesting to use applications for traveling in an electrically converted van that will allow you to identify charging stations on your route and to be able to connect to them if necessary.

Take advantage of your breaks to recharge your vehicle

Driving cautiously goes hand in hand with frequent breaks! At The Family Van, we co-create circuits with our users based on their feedback and experiences, such as our group trip, The Family Surf, which allows for breaks close to charging points. Your time is optimized if, in any case, you take advantage of your coffee break to recharge the batteries.

Moreover, many highways now offer fast charging stations for users, allowing a full electric charge in about 30 minutes. Even though the cost of using these stations is slightly higher than standard ones, the time saved in charging is well worth it.

To choose eco-driving

Driving in an eco-friendly way means increasing your chances of preserving your autonomy and traveling peacefully. In concrete terms, this means driving at a steady pace for as long as possible, avoiding sudden and strong braking (thanks to engine braking). The goal is to avoid the succession of slowdowns and accelerations, which consume more energy than a smoother driving style.

It is also recommended not to aim for 130 km/h on the highway, but rather to stay in the right lane and drive at a speed of 90 km/h, which is much less energy-consuming.

This example is even more concrete in the case of descents: if driving at 80km/h consumes electricity, by letting go of the pedals, you will recharge your vehicle. What could be better than eco-driving to recharge your battery while driving? The wonders of technology.

By the way, speaking of uphill and downhill driving, we invite you to learn more in our dedicated blog article about driving an electric vehicle in the mountains.

Choosing the right campsites for free charging

One of the key points in traveling with an electric campervan is to optimize your itinerary by choosing campsites (as beautiful and in nature as they may be) with domestic outlets that deliver at least 10 amps.

Charging your converted electric van on a domestic socket at the campsite allows you to recharge at a rate of 2% to 3% per hour, which means you can charge up to 36% overnight!

This will allow you to travel thousands of kilometers without paying for any charging.

Discover how The Family Van team traveled more than 1500km in Portugal by only recharging in their accommodations.

Van aménagé électrique en train de charger au camping
The guide to traveling in a camper van Traveling in a 100% electric converted van

Travel in camping with an electric camper van

It’s decided, you’re taking the plunge: you’re going to travel in camping with an electric camper van!

Whether you choose to rent a van individually, build a tailor-made trip with our advisors or opt for a surftrip in group, camping will be an inevitable stop on your itinerary, since wild camping is prohibited in France and requires special parking permits.

But how to optimize your time on campsites while traveling in an electric camper van? Let’s take a closer look at our tips for a successful trip.

Charging your electric campervan overnight

After a good day of surfing, hiking, or discovering the local cuisine for the more foodie among you, it’s time to set up your base camp for the night. Arrive in the late afternoon, before dinner (or drinks) and voilà, you’re there.

Here is THE advice we give to all our travelers: recharge your electric vehicle all night long! What could be better than waking up the next morning fully charged, ready to continue the adventure?

But be careful: it is not possible to recharge on all available outlets in the campsite. We will give you the keys in the few lines below for a successful recharge at the campsite.

Choosing the right amperage for the electrical hookups available at the campground

All campsites offer, depending on their capacity and type of clientele (mostly cars and tents or caravans), a specific amperage that can meet different needs. This usually starts at 2A and can reach up to 16A in the best-equipped campsites.

If you want to charge your electric van on the charging stations provided, please make sure that the amperage selected is equal to or greater than 10A. Otherwise, your charge will stop after a few minutes and you won’t be able to take advantage of this benefit.

Let’s take the example of our fully electric (75kW) camper vans. With a 10A power supply, you can recharge 2.5% of battery per hour, which means 36% if you stay from 9 pm to 9 am in the morning!

To refill water and recharge the batteries

All of our vans are equipped with a 30L water tank that allows you to cook, do the dishes or take a shower during any off-road trips. The stopover at the campsite is an opportunity to refill with water if you have run out.

In addition, you can recharge the internal (alternative) battery of your van. It allows you to power the lights, the fridge, and the various USB outlets in the living area of your mobile home.

Choosing campgrounds with electric charging stations

Another option: some campsites have chosen to equip their site with electric charging stations similar to those typically used to charge electric vehicles.

But if campgrounds need to catch up more with electric vehicles and improve their equipment to cater to this growing clientele, at The Family Van, we already work with different partners who are aware of this new way of traveling, which is more flexible and responsible.

And you, when are you planning your electric van trip with The Family Van?

Départ : Dax / Retour : Dax / 8 jours et 7 nuits / 6 duos / 620 km

The Family Surf - Nouvelle Aquitaine

Laissez-vous entraîner par notre super guide vers les plus beaux spots de surf de Nouvelle Aquitaine, et immergez vous dans la région, entre pins, lac marin et océan - sans oublier huîtres et vin blanc, pour les vrais de vrais. On ne vous promet pas d’accéder aux JO après cette semaine, mais on vous promet de passer de bons moments en groupe et de progresser !
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