This Electric Box on Wheels Might Actually Be Brilliant
Image Credit: Grounded.
Just when I thought this week couldn't possibly get more… earnest, along comes a startup from Detroit, of all places, to prove me wrong. The company is called Grounded - a name that, I must admit, inspires a certain level of confidence, unlike, say, "Fly-by-Night Electrics." And they've just pulled the silk cloth off their latest creation, the G3. It's an electric camper van, and it looks like it was designed by people who've actually been camping.
Most of the electric adventure machines promise the world: silent, emission-free frolicking through pristine wildernesses, powered by sunshine and good intentions. The reality is often a heavy box with the range of a startled pheasant and an interior cobbled together with more wood veneer than a 1970s game show set. But the G3 feels a bit different. For starters, it's built on the Chevrolet BrightDrop platform (reassuringly industrial), meant to deliver parcels, not just artisanal sourdough to a farmer's market.
Image Credit: Grounded.
Grounded claims a range of 286 miles. Is that enough to cross the country without a care in the world? Of course not. But is it enough to get you properly lost, far away from the nearest artisanal coffee shop? Absolutely. And with all-wheel drive, you might even be able to get yourself un-lost, which is always a bonus. The G3 is not some delicate flower - it's a proper commercial-grade van underneath, with a gross vehicle weight rating of 11,000 pounds. You could probably carry a smaller, less capable camper van in the back.
The real clever bit, however, is inside. The team at Grounded, which apparently includes some ex-SpaceX boffins - because of course it does - has had a proper think about what you actually need in a rolling home. They've binned the traditional flimsy wood cabinets that warp the moment a cloud appears. Instead, they've used aluminum frames and panels made from 100% recycled materials - old household appliances and plastic forks, people! Your next adventure could be powered by the ghosts of a thousand discarded sporks. It's durable, it's sustainable, and it means you won't spend your holiday worrying about scratching the precious woodwork.
And the layout is a work of minor genius. Thankfully, they've done away with the dreadful roll-up garage door. You know the one - it's about as insulated as a string vest and offers the same level of security. In its place is a proper, full-width swing-out door with a window. This not only makes the van warmer but also gives you a lovely panoramic view of whatever glorious landscape you've managed to park in. It also increases the standing height inside, so taller folks won't have to perfect their Quasimodo impression.
The bed is the party piece - at the touch of a button, a platform descends from the ceiling, creating a sleeping area that can expand to the size of a California King. In a van! That's more sleeping space than my first apartment. When you're not slumbering, whoosh, it retracts back up to the ceiling, revealing a lounge or workspace below. It's the sort of clever, space-saving engineering that makes you grin like a menace.
Image Credit: Grounded.
Powering all this domestic bliss is a modular battery system of up to 20 kWh, which can be juiced up by the 1,000 watts of solar panels on the roof, shore power, or - and this is neat - a 1,400W charging system that draws from the van's main drive battery. The batteries are even self-heating, which means this thing is a genuine four-season adventurer. Grounded says it'll keep you toasty in temperatures as low as 0°F. I'm not entirely sure I'd want to test that theory personally, but it's nice to know the option is there for the truly unhinged.
Naturally, because it's 2025, everything is controlled by an app. The Grounded+ App lets you monitor your power usage, check your water tank levels, and fiddle with the lights from your phone. It's all very modern. You can even spec your G3 with Starlink internet, so you can stream videos of other people having adventures while you're having your own. The future is truly a remarkable place.
Image Credit: Grounded.
What's the catch? There has to be one, right? Well, the G3 isn't cheap. The range starts at $165,000 for the minimalist "Form" model. If you want more goodies like a bigger kitchen and more power, the "Function" model will set you back $180,000. And for the full-fat, all-singing, all-dancing "Freedom" version - with the biggest battery, the lift bed, a bathroom, and all the bespoke finishes - you're looking at a cool $200,000. That's a significant pile of cash. But then again, a house that can do 70 mph and park by a lake doesn't come cheap.
Am I convinced? Almost. The Grounded G3 is clever, tough, and it's been designed with a refreshing amount of common sense. It tackles some of the biggest problems with electric campers - range anxiety, poor insulation, and flimsy interiors - head-on. It's still a very expensive toy, no doubt about it. But as I sit here, imagining myself parked up somewhere remote, with a king-sized bed and unlimited internet, I have to admit… I'm grounded. And for once, I think I like it.
