Two vanlife approaches: UK woman converts Ford van, Japan turns Kei Truck into mini-camper

Honda Access, Honda's accessories division, has unveiled new usage concepts for the Freed Crossster and Stepwagon minivans. The Freed Crossster can be outfitted as a mobile theater for camping, while the Stepwagon is designed as a fully functional mobile office. The concepts are featured on the Honda Camp website.

As part of 'Electricity Safety Month', an inspection of electrical equipment was conducted at Hamakurogasaki Campground in Toyama City. Five workers from Hokuriku Electric Power Transmission & Distribution and Hokuriku Electric Safety Association checked distribution boards for leakage and loose wiring. The annual inspection aims to prevent electric shock accidents. The association advises campers to be cautious of frequent breaker trips and to avoid touching electrical outlets or appliances with wet hands.

Kumamoto City is considering closing designated car-sleeping evacuation sites after low usage during recent earthquakes. Despite guidelines established in spring, evacuees concentrated in facilities within their living areas rather than the designated spots. The city plans to review its response.

The article, based on experience with the Toyota Yaris, explains how to set up a sleeping area in a compact car. By folding the rear seats and using diagonal space, you can create a bed about 195 cm long. It recommends using leveling mats to smooth out height differences and sunshades for privacy. For temperature control, proper ventilation and heaters powered by a portable power station are advised.

Nissan has unveiled a motorhome based on its electric Interstar-e van, converted by Eifelland into the Relax model. The key feature is a Truma Eezy parking heater powered directly from the traction battery, eliminating the need for a campsite hookup or diesel. The base van offers a WLTP range of up to 460 km, but no certified figure exists yet for the loaded motorhome. The converted version costs €89,900, which is €5,000 more than the standard electric van.

In the Kumamoto earthquake zone, record heat of 40.3°C was recorded, the first extreme heat day. A woman in her 70s who stayed overnight in a car died of suspected heatstroke, possibly the first quake-related death. Experts advise placing sunshades outside the vehicle, using external air circulation, and drinking water with a pinch of salt to reduce bathroom trips.