Pricey Tvan camper goes full off-grid

Melbourne’s Track has expanded its Tvan hard shell camper range to five models with its new gas-free ‘Lightning’ being the first to breach the $100,000 price point in the model’s 23-year history.

Priced at $101,800 in Victoria, the Tvan Lightning is equipped as standard with 500Ah of lithium battery power (400Ah useable) and 360W of solar panels, along with a 2000W inverter enabling the standard inclusion of an induction cooktop and also giving buyers the ability to run a coffee machine, kettle, hair dryer, etc.

By including all this off-grid power in a single model, instead of allowing Tvan buyers to tick the option boxes, Track says it has freed up storage space in the new model, while also improving weight distribution and facilitating assembly instead of adding components afterwards to cheaper Tvan models.

Distinguished externally by its lightning flash decals, the new Tvan Lightning also features a high-output dual-hob induction cooker integrated into its premium kitchen, which it says offers better performance than gas burners in windy conditions.

The Tvan Lightning also gets a purpose-designed Redarc electrical system controlled by a RedVision manager for easy access to all the major appliances and onboard systems.

Specifically, the Lightning’s Redarc components include a 2000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter, a BCDC 50A DC Battery Charger, RedVision + Manager 30, Rogue TVMS 40A control and distribution, plus a 160W Monocrystalline Solar Blanket mounted on the camper’s rear hatch that can also be relocated as a portable panel when camped.

The bulk of the new electrical gear is now located centrally over the axle, circuit breakers and segmented system shut-offs. However, it’s not completely ‘fossil fuel’ free.

“The unit still has the separate diesel and hot water, which is incredibly efficient. It also is most likely a common fuel with the vehicle and that has advantages as well,” explained Track Marketing and Distribution Operations Manager, Lloyd Waldron.

Track says the Lightning is a standalone Tvan model due to its unique design requirements, and its key features including increased battery capacity and induction cooker are only available on this model.