I want you to imagine a scenario in the distant future. A future where the great outdoors is no longer a reality, but just an illusion—one that’s constructed within the confines of the underground civilization mankind has built to escape the nuclear apocalypse. Naturally, outdoor recreational things like camping, hiking, and overlanding have become a thing of the past.
But it’s human nature to long for the good old days, and so folks inhabiting this underground settlement have created simulated outdoor environments complete with trees, dirt, and mountains in the distance. Sure, off-roaders and 4x4s are now a thing of the past, but that doesn’t mean that campers need to go extinct. This is where this crazy e-trike camper from a company called Grounded enters the picture.
It’s called the T1, and it’s essentially an electric trike that’s pulling a trailer that doubles as a camper. It’s powered by the Civilized Cycles Semi-Trike platform, and is touted as a first-of-its-kind smart trailer and trike system. So yeah, definitely perfect for camping trips that are confined to a pretty close radius, and without much off-road riding.
Where’s the fun in that?
Inside, the Grounded T1 boasts all the amenities you’d hope to find in a mobile home. The concept render features what appears to be a modular dining and living space with enough room to seat two to three adults. At night, the table looks like it could be folded up, and the seats look like they could be turned into a cozy bed for two. There’s a sink, a counter, and even an optional dry-flush toilet and outdoor shower. Heck, you could pretty much live in this thing.
And while this thing just might work in the context of a distant dystopian future, at present, I’m not quite sure who this is actually for.
I mean, on paper, this thing certainly seems capable. It claims a range in excess of 150 miles. It even gets solar panels bolted to the roof, as well as compatibility with Starlink. Heck, you can even control all its features through a proprietary app. [How very 2024!jj]
But to be compatible with today’s definition of adventure, the T1 needs just a little bit more capability, at least in my opinion. For starters, it’ll need higher ground clearance in order to be able to tackle any trails or rut-laden gravel roads. It might also need some extra suspension to soak up the bumps, too. On Grounded’s official website, it shows renders of the T1 riding solely on paved bike paths. And while more and more of these are popping up all over the world, there’s no denying that lots of adventurers still want to have the option to go well beyond the confines of pavement.
Oh, and for a starting MSRP of $13,000 USD, it’ll be hard to convince adventurers looking to get the most bang for their buck to splurge on this electric camper trike. Heck, you could get yourself a 2004 Toyota Tacoma for that cash, and still have some dough left over to dress it up with some overland goodies.
But hey, that’s just me. And who knows, maybe there will be a place for an electric camper like the Grounded T1? Maybe even long before the nuclear apocalypse.
Sources: Grounded, Autoevolution
