ID.California Cruise: the electric revolution of the camper van

The Wardt district committee reported an increase in illegal overnight stays by motorhomes at the Xanten North Sea parking area. Deputy chairman Ralf Graumann said this year has seen more cases of motorhomes staying overnight despite a ban, with waste tanks sometimes emptied into bushes. The issue is to be discussed with the Xanten leisure centre.

AL-KO has unveiled the Mammut Galaxy caravan mover, weighing 25 kg for single-axle caravans up to 2,500 kg with an AL-KO chassis and U-connection. The device reaches speeds over 1.0 km/h and offers three modes: precision, standard and boost. It is controlled via a remote with a joystick and colour LCD display, usable in the dark. The mover is also available for tandem-axle caravans up to 3,500 kg, handles gradients up to 35% and obstacles up to 4 cm. Power options include 18V CAS batteries, PowerXtreme lithium-ion or Optima BlueTop 75Ah. It will be shown at the Kampeer en Caravan Jaarbeurs in Utrecht from 30 September to 4 October.

On 20 September at around 17:30, at the junction of road K3325 onto the B29 in Aalen, a 64-year-old Volkswagen driver failed to keep his foot on the brake and rolled onto the federal road. There he collided with a motorhome driven by a 65-year-old man. The Volkswagen driver was seriously injured and taken to hospital, while a 24-year-old passenger in the Volkswagen and a 71-year-old passenger in the motorhome sustained minor injuries. Police estimate the damage at around 25,000 euros.

The Donaueschingen city council will discuss upgrading the Haberfeld motorhome stopover on 22 September. The site has 20 pitches and has existed for over 20 years, with an average annual occupancy of around 60%. The electric pillars installed in 2012 are prone to failure and require coin payment. Use of the pitches is currently free, but the city is considering introducing a fee.

Bimobil has presented the compact expedition camper EX 270 based on the Toyota Land Cruiser 79. The debut took place at the Caravan Salon 2026 in Düsseldorf. The camper is 5.8 m long, has a gross vehicle weight of 4 t and a payload of 600 kg including the living module, driver, full fuel tank, 90 l of fresh water and gas supply. The living module features an alcove, a bathroom with shower and a kitchen; three layout options are available, one of which provides up to four berths. Interior height is 1.93 m, fresh water capacity is 100 l, grey water is 67 l, and gas is stored in a 20-litre tank. The exhibited unit is priced at €259,769, but at the time of publication the model had not yet been added to the manufacturer's main price list.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles presented its updated California range, including the fully electric ID. Buzz with a Good Night package, at a pre-IAA event in Berlin. The company claims to be the only European manufacturer that builds its entire motorhome family in-house. The Caddy California is available with 122 hp TDI or 116 hp TSI engines and a seven-speed DSG, featuring a 1.98×1.07 m bed. The ID. Buzz with the Good Night package includes a 2.03×1.2 m bed, Vehicle-to-Load function up to 2,000 W, and an Overnight mode that maintains climate control for up to 48 hours. The California model received a plug-in hybrid eHybrid 4MOTION with 180 kW (245 hp) and a 19.7 kWh battery, plus an inflatable kitchen and inflatable bed. The Grand California based on the Crafter is offered in 600 and 680 versions with a 163 hp TDI engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission.