Exploring the Next Step in EV Travel: The Electric Camper Van

I half-joked to my friends, “If I don’t return next week, it means I couldn’t find a charger and am now living among moose,” before my five-day adventure in Canada’s Eastern Townships with a rental electric camper van.

Sharing the same dream that fuels the #vanlife trend, I couldn’t pass up the chance to try out one of North America’s pioneering electric camper-van rental services this summer. I was drawn in by the allure of road-tripping in a hotel-on-wheels, minus the harmful emissions and noise—especially in what might be Québec's best-kept secret.

My journey was with Bromont Campervan, a company based in Bromont, Québec, an hour southeast of Montreal. Established in 2021 with standard camper vans, they expanded their fleet to include electric models last summer, coinciding with the rise of the emerging e-camper-van market. From starting with just two electric vans in 2023, the fleet has now grown to six this year, featuring automatic, custom-converted Ford E-Transit cargo vans that accommodate two to five passengers.

A vacation designed for “slow travel”—especially given the electric van's limited range of 125 miles—naturally encourages a leisurely exploration, making the serene Eastern Townships an ideal, albeit unexpected, setting to test this cutting-edge technology.

The adventure

Canada’s Eastern Townships, or Cantons-de-l’Est, is an undiscovered gem often overlooked by international travelers, mostly drawing visitors from nearby cities like Montreal and Québec City, with only a few from the USA. This 4,820-square-mile region in southern Québec, bordered by Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, serves as a picturesque retreat filled with outdoor and agritourism opportunities. It offers a delightful mix of rolling hills, wooded mountains and lakes, charming farms and vineyards, along with quaint villages reminiscent of France.

Conveniently located within driving distance of many Northeastern U.S. cities (two hours from Burlington, four from Boston, and seven from NYC), the Eastern Townships boast a distinct European charm, similar to a French-style New England. As in the rest of Québec, locals predominantly speak French, though most are bilingual; road signs and distances are marked in kilometers.

I navigated this part of Québec in a five-passenger van featuring double bunk beds, providing ample space for my husband and our six-year-old. It included a cozy yet efficient kitchenette equipped with a tabletop induction stove, sink, mini-fridge, and a decent assortment of kitchenware, along with plenty of storage compartments and an outdoor shower at the back.

Over the course of five days, our van quietly rolled through the landscape, stopping for culinary delights: sipping rosé and amphora-aged pinot noir while gazing at the vineyards by Mont Sutton (Vignoble Domaine Girouard); enjoying award-winning organic cheeses next to grazing cows at Fromagerie La Station; savoring lemon-garnished blanche (a wheat beer) at a train station-turned-cool microbrewery (Siboire Dépôt); and tasting cider and blue cheese made by Benedictine monks (who took a break from their Gregorian chants) at the lakeside Abbaye de Saint-Benoît-du-Lac.

Initially, we were met with a hefty dose of “range anxiety”—a common concern for EV drivers about running out of charge before reaching a charging station. Given the first-generation e-camper-van technology that offers just under 125 miles per full charge (while most EVs now average around 270 miles), this was especially daunting in a region known for its expansive farmland and natural reserves.

However, it soon became apparent that charging stations were plentiful—ranging from ski resorts to wineries to water parks, chargers were ubiquitous. Additionally, the Eastern Townships region boasts over 100 designated campsites, allowing visitors to enjoy nature without necessarily disconnecting. Each night, after averaging about 40 miles of travel, our trusty little van—and my family—recharged at convenient sites like the amenity-rich Camping des Sommets Bromont and the rustic Mont-Orford National Park campground.

The regional temperatures were pleasantly cool, a welcome relief during the sweltering U.S. summer: while New York baked in the mid-90s, our July week here stayed comfortably in the low 80s, perfect for outdoor adventures. We canoed, hiked, and swam across the Appalachian peaks and lakes of Mont-Orford National Park, one of four national parks in the area. We wandered the lush hills of Mont Sutton ski resort, where even in the off-season, attractions like chairlift rides and giant ziplines called to us. At Bleu Lavande, one of Canada’s largest lavender farms, we strolled through aromatic fields of purple blooms, surrounded by fluttering butterflies and bees. At the Lake Boivin Nature Interpretation Center—just down the road from the fantastic zoo-fair-water park Granby Zoo (which my daughter likened to Disney’s Animal Kingdom!)—we meandered along trails lined with marshes and woods, feeding chickadees from our palms.

One evening after sunset, we ventured along illuminated paths into the enchanting world of Foresta Lumina, traversing one of the continent’s longest suspended footbridges spanning a 164-foot-deep gorge. This immersive multimedia experience, filled with forest fairies and other whimsical beings, created a magical realm that will inspire my six-year-old daughter’s imagination for years to come.

Essential tips for exploring Canada’s Eastern Townships with an electric camper van

Make the most of Québec’s extensive EV charging station network.

While many businesses provided complimentary chargers for customers, the Electric Circuit (Circuit Électrique), operated by Canadian hydropower company Hydro-Québec, has established a vast network of over 5,500 charging stations. This network was easy to access through its downloadable app, which includes navigation tools and English instructions. A bonus feature: designated EV charging spots at most locations felt like VIP parking.

Ensure you have a smartphone app equipped with navigation features to locate the nearest charging station, such as PlugShare, FLO, or specifically in Québec, the Electric Circuit. Additionally, remember to reserve a plug-in-ready campsite well in advance.

Explore themed trails that align with your interests.

Rather than major tourist attractions, the Eastern Townships offer a collection of understated sights that come together to create something truly special. The region is known for its organized experiences, featuring designated tourist trails like the 267-mile Townships Trail, which highlights natural and cultural heritage, or the 22-winery La Route des Vins (where many showcase the region’s renowned sweet ice wines and ice ciders). Additionally, numerous dedicated bicycle routes cater to the area's rich cycling culture, including the recently introduced cycling-gastronomy route, Véloroute Gourmande, along with circuits for microbreweries and cheese.

As with any EV journey, it's essential to prepare.

When planning your itinerary, keep range and charging needs in mind. With Bromont Campervan’s vehicles having a maximum range of 125 miles on a full charge, I needed to incorporate that limitation—along with the time required to recharge—into my travel plans.

Just remember, no matter how meticulously you plan, there will always be some surprises when driving an EV. Charging stations might be occupied, and battery life can drain faster than expected due to factors like cold weather, speed, and hilly terrain. One night, in the heart of a national park, we chose not to plug in during a thunderstorm, thinking we had enough power for the night (we were mistaken). On another occasion, our plug didn’t fit the campsite’s outlet (fortunately, the campground reception had an adapter available). Nonetheless, we consistently managed to plug in and keep going.

Steps for booking your trip.

Bromont Campervan, set to open a second location in Québec City next year, provides vans equipped with four-season insulation and climate control for rentals throughout the year (fall foliage is especially stunning). Rates vary from $102 to $174 per day, with a four-day minimum during the summer high season; bromontcampervan-com.