Electric travel

99 days of adventure: exploring Eastern Europe in an electric ID.Buzz

Anyone who thinks an electric camper limits you to short trips or crowded campsites with charging stations is mistaken. Nancy, Marco and their 10-year-old son Brenn spent 99 days travelling through 14 European countries in an Outbase ID.Buzz — and discovered that adventure and sustainability are a surprisingly good match.

Before we set off, we kept getting the same questions: Is it really doable, travelling that far with an electric camper? How do you find charging stations, and what about Brenn’s schooling? And to be fair — you do need to be well prepared. But yes, it’s absolutely possible. In fact, it’s a fantastic way to travel,” says Nancy ten Have. “The ID.Buzz has a longer range than many other electric campervans, which really makes a difference on the road. This bus gives you the freedom to venture a little further off the beaten track.

Adventures as a family of three

Marco and Nancy wanted to travel in a sustainable way. Marco: “We wanted to experience adventures together and explore a more self-sufficient lifestyle. Thanks to the solar panel and charging the second battery along the way, that worked out perfectly. We also tried to produce as little waste as possible and to find our own drinking water while travelling.

Almost everywhere we went there was safe drinking water — from the tap or at public refill stations. So no plastic bottles for us. Often our water came straight from a spring, with signs along the motorway even pointing them out. It was such a fun and conscious way to travel.

"In Greece you can park right by the beach — that was truly a highlight. With a small campervan, you have so much flexibility.”

Good preparation brings peace of mind

Nancy had planned the trip carefully. “We mapped out the route in broad strokes, checked campsites and charging stations, and researched which charging cards worked in each country. We took two per country with us. In hindsight, we could have managed with fewer, but it felt reassuring to be so well prepared.

We charged at supermarkets, in cities and at campsites, always in consultation. Our route took us through Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium and back to the Netherlands. In total, we covered 8,000 kilometres across 14 countries — and never once had a problem charging.”

“For us, that was real camping: independent of the plug, enjoying the freedom of being out in the open.”

Freedom in nature

Eastern Europe turned out to be the perfect destination. “The nature is breathtaking, campsites are simple but wonderfully free, and wild camping is often still possible. Sometimes we just parked in a field, or by a stream where we could wash ourselves. In Greece, we parked on a deserted beach — our son thought that was the highlight of the trip. With a compact campervan like the ID.Buzz you have the flexibility to reach places where you might wonder: Is this really possible? The answer is: yes, it is!”

Charging breaks as moments of rest

“Charging is just as inevitable as refuelling, but it doesn’t have to be a drawback. For us, it became a moment to pause: doing the laundry, cooking outside, reading a book. And often everything finished at the same time — the van charged, the meal ready, and the laundry dry. Efficient and relaxing.”

Curious looks and open conversations

Wherever they went, they drew attention. People were surprised by how spacious the ID.Buzz is and how cleverly it’s been designed. “We had so many wonderful conversations. In some places, people didn’t even realise at first that we were driving electric! They found that really special. Reservations? In many Eastern European countries that’s not common at all. ‘Why are you calling?’ they asked us. That sense of freedom, travelling so casually without fixed plans or time pressure — that is what real camping means to us.”

“If you called to make a reservation, they’d really look at you strangely. That’s not necessary here — why are you calling?”

Nancy’s practical tips for longer trips

We hardly used our awning — we could just as well have left it at home. Flexibility and travelling light are worth their weight in gold when you’re chasing freedom.
Check in advance which charging cards or apps work. Also pay attention to costs: rates can vary a lot between providers.
Take the back roads; you’ll see more and drive more efficiently.

Travelling electric — yes, it’s possible!

Travelling with an electric camper does require some extra preparation, but the rewards are huge. Quiet, sustainable, adventurous — and full of unexpected encounters. With a bit of courage, a dose of curiosity and a solid plan, you’ll get further than you think.