Industry-first gas generator on off-road van

Melbourne premium caravan maker Nova is offering an LP gas-powered generator as an option on its 2013 model Terra Sportz in what it believes is an Australian caravan industry first.

The 2.5kVA generator sits within a chequer plate box on the Terra Sportz’s A-frame where the model’s twin 9kg gas bottles used to be.??

It’s plumbed via a bayonet coupling to the bottles, now relocated into the front boot, and is operated by an internal switch just inside the front door that activates a pezzo igniter.

Weighing in at 39kg, the gas generator is approximately 50 per cent heavier than a standard 2.0kVA petrol-fuelled generator, but Nova’s general manager Paul Golding says this is justified by its 25 per cent greater output, instant operation and by removing the need to carry petrol to remote areas.

“The Terra Sportz is all about the freedom to travel roads off the beaten track and to be self-reliant wherever you stop – overnight or for a week,” he said. “The gas generator fully supports and fits well within that lifestyle.”

The new generator will be an option on all 2013 Terra Sports models. Its estimated cost of around $2000 compares favourably with the recommended retail price of equivalent petrol generators and includes its chequer plate box and fitting.

Other changes to the 2013 Terra Sportz include new black chequer plate finish around the taillights and wheel spats and a new slide-out front drawer on the door side to make items easy to access in the large tunnel storage area.

The new Terra Sportz models will be available through Nova’s national dealer network from early in the New Year.

The original Terra Sportz was released in late-2011 as the first dedicated off-road van from Nova, which set up shop in 2006. ?To see it in action on a recent trip up the Darling River, check out the video below...