Hyundai is serious about its ambitions of providing off-the-grid, liveable mobility for adventure seekers, and that’s proo enough with their latest STARIA Camper concept. Based on the STARIA Electric 11-seater MUV unveiled at the Brussels Motor Show, the zero-emission camper walks right into the trails of the Lightship AE.1 electric travel trailer, Colorado Campworks NS-1 camping trailer, and the Camp365 Model T camper.
The STARIA minivan is the perfect canvas for a camper revamp, as Hyundai wants to cater to the rising demand for electric mobility for living on the road. The concept is a direct invitation for the community of travelers whose feedback will decide the fate of the camper in the European market. Depending on the demand for electric vehicles that can satisfy the everyday usability, loaded with travel amenities, the camper version of the vehicle could make it to the production lines.
Designer: Hyundai
The electrically operated pop-top version of the van will trim down the capacity of the normal MUV to four people, who can comfortably make it their adventure vehicle. The South Korean giant will offer the STARIA with an extendable Fiamma awning that has built-in LED lights. The second row powered seats come with the flexibility to lie flat to make up the sleeping space. During the daytime, the hidden indoor table swings out in front of the second row seats to be used as a place to work offline or have meals.
Further back to the third row, there is another table that slides out to create an outdoor dining area. It resides in the trunk area, which doubles as a storage compartment, and also aids in loading cargo and sliding it further inside. For maximum space utilization, the space behind it hides another compartment that has a detachable shower head for on-the-go showers. On the driver’s side wall holding the kitchen, along with the sink and top-loading fridge. Over this section is a single lid that closes flat to give the riders a continuous shelf to prepare meals. There’s a portable induction cooker or a stove (Hyundai hasn’t specified clearly) that runs on the electric battery, so cooking should be sorted.
The utilitarian approach on the inside continues to the pegboard wall right above the corner section of the worktop. It is used for hanging the utensils and other everyday essentials. This section extends on the corners to make space for storing clothes and other household amenities. The additional power to run all the modern appliances comes from the 520-watt composite solar charging panel, providing 2.6 kWh of electricity. One can operate a 36-liter refrigerator, a portable shower, and the cabin temperature control system for complete autonomy for adventure seekers.
Privacy is a key feature in the STARIA Camper with electronically adjustable smart glass that’s touchscreen controlled via a module for adjusting the amount of tint. To make the vehicle more suited for heavy-duty adventure needs, it’ll have a structurally improved front and rear suspension system and sound-absorbing material. The STARIA Electric has a range of around 400 kilometers, so we can expect the camper version to hit the same numbers, given there is a solar panel that could charge the battery when not utilized by the smart electrical equipment.
