Designing the electrical system for our van was one of the most important parts of our build. From the start, we knew we wanted a fully electric van electrical system—no propane, no gas lines, and no added safety concerns.
By choosing an all-electric setup powered by EcoFlow, we created a reliable, safe, and flexible energy system that supports full-time van life and off-grid travel with ease.
Why We Chose a Fully Electric Van Electrical System
Many van builds rely on propane for cooking and heating, but we wanted to avoid it completely. Going fully electric means:
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- Increased safety (no flammable gas)
- Fewer components to maintain
- A cleaner and quieter setup
- Easier system management – as we didn’t have experience with propane
The challenge, of course, is power demand. A fully electric van requires a robust electrical system that can handle daily energy use, whether we’re parked off-grid or driving across the country.
That’s where EcoFlow made a huge difference.
Why We Use EcoFlow for Our Van Power System
EcoFlow made it simple to build a high-capacity van power system without mixing and matching dozens of components. Their system is designed with safety, efficiency, and ease of use in mind – perfect for van life.
With EcoFlow, we can confidently run our electrical setup knowing it’s built to handle:
- Solar charging
- Alternator charging
- Shore power charging
All within one integrated system.
Three Ways We Charge Our Van Batteries
To stay powered in any situation, our van electrical system has three different charging methods.
1. Solar Power System
Our primary off-grid power source is solar.
3 solar panels * 250 Wh per panel
This solar setup allows us to generate power throughout the day while parked, making it ideal for boondocking and remote camping. On sunny days, solar alone covers most of our electricity needs.
2. Alternator Charging While Driving
When we’re on the road, we charge our batteries directly from the van’s alternator.
Up to 700 Wh while driving – you can mange it with the Ecoflow system.
This means travel days double as charging days. Even when solar conditions aren’t ideal, alternator charging keeps our system topped up.
3. Shore Power at Campsites
When we stay at campsites or places with electrical hookups, we use shore power to recharge the system.
Shore power allows us to: Fully recharge the batteries quickly, Use electricity freely without worrying about consumption, Start our next off-grid stay with a full battery.
A Reliable Electrical System for Full-Time Van Life
By combining solar, alternator, and shore power charging, our EcoFlow system gives us complete flexibility.
No matter where we are or how we’re traveling, we always have a dependable power source.
If you’re planning a van build and looking for a safe, powerful, and all-electric van electrical system, EcoFlow is a solid option to consider.
You can find the exact system we’re using and all the technical details here:
our kit: https://orionvangear.com/products/ecoflow-10kwh-power-kits?ref=cpleraku
smaller kit – will be great if
5kW kit: https://orionvangear.com/products/ecoflow-5kwh-power-kits?ref=cpleraku
the biggest system:
15kW kit: https://orionvangear.com/products/ecoflow-15kwh-power-kits?ref=cpleraku
This post contains affiliate links, and we want to be transparent that this is truly the place we chose to buy our EcoFlow system for our own van.