Lithium battery (LiFePO4)
The heart of the system: it stores the day's production for the night and cloudy days, and lasts thousands of cycles.
- LiFePO4 Leisure Battery (100 Ah)12.5 kg · ≈ £238
- LiFePO4 Battery Bank (200 Ah)22.0 kg · ≈ £442
Free · no account · 2 minutes
Van and motorhome autonomy: energy, water, food
In a van, autonomy comes down to the battery, the water tank and the room in the fridge. The Azimut Nomad score rates the four pillars of your trip — energy, water, food and safety — for your destination and season, and tells you which one to strengthen first.
Figures checked on
Your reference needs, per day
The values the calculation uses for this activity, before adjusting for the month of travel.
- Electricity, for the group
- 1,500 Wh/day
- Drinking and cooking water, per person
- 4 L/day
- Food energy, per person
- 2,600 kcal/day
- Average distance
- 150 km/day
Total use: 9 to 30 L per person per day, depending on showers and washing-up.
Water Self-Sufficiency in a Van — The Complete 2026 Guide (Usage, Filtration, Maintenance)The month of travel adjusts these values: in summer, the water need is multiplied by 1.2 and the electricity need by 0.85; in winter, water by 0.8 and electricity by 1.3.
What the score measures
In a van, electricity weighs heavily: the calculation uses 1,500 Wh a day for the group — fridge, lighting, devices. Conversely, the van is the activity that carries its food most easily, which the food pillar reflects.
Energy
The output of a 100 W portable panel under your destination's sunshine, adjusted for the season, against the activity's 1,500 Wh a day.
Water
Natural water to filter, estimated from the destination's annual rainfall; summer heat raises the need.
Food
How easily food can be carried and restocked, depending on the activity, the latitude and the length of the trip.
Safety
How harsh the climate is — latitude and winter — and the risk inherent to the activity.
Overall score: water 30%, energy 25%, food 25%, safety 20%; each pillar is rated from 5 to 95.
The gear that matters
Three families of gear make the difference for this activity. Examples from the nomad catalogue, indicative prices:
Roof solar and MPPT controller
Panels on the roof charge the battery whether parked or driving; an MPPT controller gets the most out of every watt.
- Rigid Solar Panel Kit (400 Wp)18.0 kg · ≈ £493
- MPPT Solar Charge Controller (40 A)450 g · ≈ £123
Water: pump and filter
A 12 V pump and a gravity filter turn the tank into a real drinking-water reserve between two water points.
- 12V Water Pump Kit (Van / Boat)850 g · ≈ £55
- Gravity Filter System (10 L)340 g · ≈ £102
Free tools
Our guides to go further
- Van Self-Sufficiency: Power, Water, Food — the Complete Route-by-Route Breakdown
- Camper Van Solar Setup 2026 — The Complete Guide to Sizing, Wiring and Pricing
- Water Self-Sufficiency in a Van — The Complete 2026 Guide (Usage, Filtration, Maintenance)
- Charging without sun: alternator, shore, generator
- Food in a camper van: cooking, cold storage, resupply
- Winter Van Life — The Complete Guide to Staying Warm and Self-Sufficient (2026)
- Nomad Self-Sufficiency Score: How to Assess a Van or Sailboat Before You Buy
- Van in summer: ventilation or 12 V air conditioning?
Practical info & regulations
- Parking a Camper Van in France — The Complete Legal Guide (2026)
- Nomad internet: 4G, 5G or satellite?
- Grey water and toilets: the van's outlet circuit
- Motorhome in Germany: overnight parking, Stellplätze, Umweltplakette 2026
- Motorhome in Croatia: wild camping and fines 2026
- Motorhome in Spain: parking, aires and rules 2026
- Motorhome in Portugal: the 2026 rules
- Motorhome in Italy: aree di sosta, ZTL and rules 2026
- Morocco by van or motorhome: the 2026 guide
- Motorhome and campervan in France: the 2026 rules
- Motorhome aires in France: how they work in 2026
Frequently asked questions
Is the score free? Do I need an account?
Yes, it is free. It takes two minutes, with no account and no credit card. A free account then lets you save your trips and come back to your dashboard.
How is the score calculated?
Four pillars are rated from 5 to 95 — energy, water, food and safety — based on your destination, your activity and, if you provide them, the month, trip length and group size. The overall score weights them: water 30%, energy 25%, food 25%, safety 20%. It is an indicative estimate, not a guarantee.
Where do the daily needs on this page come from?
They are the calculation's reference values for this activity: 1,500 Wh of electricity per day for the group, 4 L of drinking and cooking water and 2,600 kcal per person, and about 150 km a day. The month of travel adjusts them: in summer, the water need is multiplied by 1.2. Total use: 9 to 30 L per person per day, depending on showers and washing-up.
Does the score take my battery and panels into account?
The score measures how well your destination and season suit a van trip. Your own gear — panels, battery, water reserve, days of food — is then set up in the 3D camp, which rates it on the same pillars with the same weights.
Calculate your autonomy before you leave
Tell us your activity and destination: your four ratings and the pillar to strengthen appear straight away.
Calculate my autonomy scoreThe score is an indicative estimate based on averages: it does not replace preparing your trip.