American Honda bring out a concept caravan for EVs

Honda’s American subsidiary has unveiled a travel trailer that aims to combine smart technology with a light weight so that smaller cars and electric tow cars can more easily tow it.

The Base Station Prototype is light enough to be towed by the Honda CR-V, one of the most popular American SUVs of the past 25 years, as well as newer electric vehicles like the Honda Prologue.

The top of the trailer can be lowered when on the road or when it needs to be stored in a garage. But it can also be raised to provide 7ft of headroom in an interior that can sleep four, with a futon-style couch and optional bunk beds. The trailer’s five large windows, in addition to an opening tailgate, can be removed and replaced with a range of optional caravan upgrades, which include air conditioning, an external shower, and an external kitchen with an induction hob.

The trailer is the brainchild of American Honda’s Ohio- and Los Angeles-based R&D Business Unit – the same unit that was behind the launch some years ago of the Motocompacto e-scooter, which folds up into a suitcase.

The Base Station Prototype with its roof up and the tailgate open — The roof can be raised to provide 7ft of headroom, while the tailgate opens

Jane Nakagawa, vice president of American Honda’s R&D Business Unit, said the prototype “is a perfect example of what can happen when you let a team of researchers, designers and engineers pursue bold new ideas”.

“We designed it to make camping more accessible and enjoyable for families across America,” she added.

Honda has not yet said when or if the prototype will go into production.

For those of you who are on the hunt for a new tourer, the upcoming February NEC Show is set to be a great opportunity to see the latest releases from major names in the industry. If you’re wondering who will be exhibiting, don’t miss our preview of the Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show to get an idea of what you can expect to see.

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PeterBaber

Peter Baber is Reviews Editor of both Practical Motorhome and Practical Caravan. He has been reviewing motorhomes for the best part of a decade now. His first caravan reviews date back to the early 1990s when he first worked on Practical Caravan, before he embarked on a 20-year career in business journalism which saw him edit a wide variety of magazines, and launch a few too, including one that won an award. Although he enjoyed that, he always knew he wanted to come back. Peter reports on all the new models that make it to dealer forecourts each season, giving his judgement online and in magazine reviews. He has twice been shortlisted for a Caravan Writers Guild award. When he is not working, apart from going on motorhome trips himself (mostly local to where he lives in West Yorkshire, but also last year right across France) he likes trying to write novels, cooking, throwing the odd pot, and has just taken up tennis.