After years of travelling the world for work as a travel journalist and photographer, we found ourselves wanting something different—something slower, more intentional, and closer to home. When the pandemic put our international adventures on pause, we saw it as a chance to hit reset. That’s when the idea of exploring Europe in our own electric campervan was born.
In this post, we’re sharing how our journey into van life began, why we chose to build a fully electric home on wheels, and what daily life looks like as we work remotely and travel full-time across Europe.
Meet Sara & Jurrien – The Duo Behind @TheElectricCampervan
Hi! We are Sara (35) and Jurrien (33), both from Groningen in the Netherlands. As a travel journalist and photographer for publications like Lonely Planet, we travelled the world for work for ten years – and saw the impact of climate change everywhere we went.
When the pandemic hit, we paused international travel and set our sights closer to home. We decided to explore Europe at a slower pace, embracing a more eco-friendly van life and discovering the beauty in our own backyard.
Why We Chose an Electric Campervan
In 2020, we started looking for a fully electric campervan to support a more sustainable lifestyle. Surprisingly, options were limited — until Fiat launched the new E-Ducato. It had a decent range and plenty of space for a campervan conversion.
We took the leap — sold our apartment, put down a deposit without even test driving it, and began the build in September 2021. It was harder and took longer than expected, but after a year of hard work, we had our electric van conversion complete!
Exploring Europe in an Electric Van
For the past 2.5 years, we’ve travelled across Europe while living and working full-time in our van. From the Scottish Highlands to the sun-soaked villages of Italy, we’ve fully embraced the freedom of electric campervan travel in Europe.
Road tripping this way allows us to go off the beaten path, spend more time in nature, and connect with local life far away from the tourist trail.
The Highs and Lows of Van Life
We love the spontaneity of van life — not knowing where we’ll sleep that night and being able to chase sunshine or follow our whims. Apps like Park4Night help us find great spots for wild camping in Europe, and having everything with us makes it easy to be flexible.
Of course, there are challenges too. Bad weather brings cabin fever. When things break, there’s no “home” to fall back on. And yes, there’s the van life chores — filling water, emptying grey tanks, dealing with the toilet. But even with the tough days, van life in an electric van has been incredibly rewarding.
Our Favourite Features of the Electric Campervan
We’re proud of our all-electric setup. We charge the traction battery at stations and use solar panels for our household electricity, from our induction cooktop to our heater.
Our favourite upgrades:
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Nature’s Head composting toilet – pricey, but worth every penny.
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Lightweight build with aluminium profiles and Euro crates for tons of storage.
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Fixed-length bed with a spacious garage for our folding electric bikes.
Our setup helps us stay self-sufficient, travel light, and reduce our environmental impact.
A Day in the Life on the Road
Mornings start with work — laptops open in whatever beautiful place we’ve parked. Afternoons are for walks, local cafes, or lunch in the sun. Evenings? A drink at a local bar, cooking in the van, and card games with fellow vanlifers if we’re travelling in a group.
How We Fund Our Van Life Lifestyle
Sara freelances as a travel writer and project manager for brands like Lonely Planet and Polarsteps. Jurrien is currently training to become a software developer so he can join the remote work crew too. Working from the van keeps us on the road and financially stable.
Advice for Aspiring Vanlifers
If van life is a dream, start planning! Define what you want to do and how much you’ll need to save. Make it real with a goal and a timeline. Extended travel is a gift — it gives you space to grow and take a break from the rat race. Even with its challenges, we wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.
Find Sara & Jurrien Here
Website: Green Travel Journal
Instagram: theelectriccampervan
Facebook: The Electric Campervan
TikTok: theelectriccampervan
