Car Camping Can Be More Comfortable And Courteous With This Unique EV Feature

It's hard to fit the words "electric vehicle" and "camping" into the same sentence, because they seem so contradictory to one another. Electric vehicles are advanced technological vehicles with sleek designs and clean displays, while camping is known to be a particularly gritty activity with the express purpose of getting away from technology and connecting with nature. However, it turns out the two actually go hand in hand, and an electric vehicle can be the perfect way to make car camping more comfortable, thanks to this unique feature.

It turns out that most EVs have a designated "camp mode," or if they don't, they have features that can manually transform your car into a camper's paradise. Camp mode looks different for every EV, but most have one key feature in common: climate control. One of the best things about sleeping in an EV is having access to overnight air conditioning or heat, as it's something you can't get with a regular vehicle or tent unless you invest in additional technology. Plus, running the AC or heat all night won't kill your battery, with some Reddit users reporting that after a night sleeping in a climate-controlled EV, they only lost 5 to 10% of their battery. One user, u/huuaaang, notes, "Air conditioning is really low-drain compared to driving. The batteries in most EVs are pretty damn big. You could run it for days, literally."

In addition to the coveted climate control, EVs also come with other helpful camp mode features. For example, the Rivian R1S has a self-leveling feature. If you park on uneven ground, like a hillside or rocky gravel, the self-leveling feature will adjust the bed of your car to sit as level as possible. Instead of feeling like you're sliding down a hill all night, the self-leveling feature makes sure your bed area is a flat surface. The Rivian also uses courtesy lighting when camp mode is enabled, meaning exterior lighting and sounds are turned off so you don't disturb your camping neighbors.

Other models, like the Tesla Model Y, redirect energy from nonessential features to interior outlets and air conditioning. This way, you aren't wasting any energy while you snooze. Ambient features, like fireplace mode, can help set the cozy atmosphere to make for a comfortable sleep experience. Most EVs, including the Honda Prologue, the Kia EV6, or the Chevy Blazer EV, have seats that fold down flat to fit a camping mattress in the backseat. For smaller EVs, tent attachments are also available to extend the legroom. So the next time you go car shopping, check out some of the best EVs on the market for both an eco-friendly drive and a more luxurious glamping experience.