EV Car Camping Tips & Tricks for Tesla, Deepal, Kia and Hyundai

If you want to go camping in an electric car make sure before you buy it that it has Utility or Camping Mode because otherwise there won't be a way to turn off the car motor, external lights etc but still have fresh air intake or air conditioning on as well as keeping USB sockets active.

In some EV brands like Kia in the much anticipated upcoming EV3 and Hyundai in their newly refreshed Ioniq 5, if you're car camping what you need to enable is Utility Mode.

In other brands like Tesla with the new Model Y Juniper and in the new Deepal S07 it's called Camping Mode.

What that does is turn the air conditioning on low, air intake on so you get fresh air and keeps the car running at low power usage instead of stale still air or recirculation.

You don't want to be breathing the same air in all night while you're sleeping because it's best to have some fresh air coming in especially since there's not much air in a car.

Video Overview of Camping Mode / Utility Mode in Deepal, Tesla, Kia, Hyundai

Tesla recognised just how popular camping in it's EVs was by offering a custom fit accessory Model Y Air Mattress.

The official Model Y Air Mattress extends across the folded back seats and cargo area, providing comfort for short rests or overnight stays.

This mattress features a 3-inch high-density foam core and is wrapped in waterproof polyester material that offers durability and a smooth surface.

Setup is straightforward using the included air pump, and when not in use, the mattress can be deflated and stored in the rear storage compartment.

There is no official car camping mattress option for the Model 3 because the boot cargo area opening is too small in a sedan whereas the Model Y has a hatchback boot lid.

Another popular car camping accessory for the Tesla Model Y is the Model Y Canopy.

This official Canopy sold by Tesla increases your cargo area shade coverage by approximately 4.5 square meters, enhancing comfort and weather protection.

Made with silver-coated fabric and aluminum alloy supports, it offers UV50+ protection and resists water during heavy rainfall, while maintaining stability in winds up to 38 kilometres per hour.

The lightweight, vehicle-mounted design requires no ground stakes and assembles easily, storing compactly in either the boot or front trunk / frunk storage compartment.

If you find the idea of car camping a bit claustrophobic because cars are a small enclosed space, get a car with a sunroof and with a built-in sunroof shade like the Deepal S07.

That'll keep you cool when it's really hot and it means that on cooler days and at night time when you're car camping you can sleep and look up at the stars.

Or if you're camping during the day you can look at the trees and other things in the scenery around you. That's much nicer, I don't think you'll feel claustrophobic if you car camp in a car that has a nice sunroof.

Image by - Neerav Bhatt

The Deepal S07 mid size electric SUV has a good amount of boot space ... but can it fit a 191cm guy car camp sleeping on a Decathlon Self Inflating Mattress?

When I had the car on media review loan for a week I thought I'd try and see how well I could camp inside it and sleep.

Watch the video below to see if I succeeded and learn some tips about setting up a mattress in the back of an electric car.