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The Elektro Frosch Camping Trike Is How You Do Proper Downsizing

One German company doesn’t believe in the old saying of “go big or go home.” For them, it’s “go as small as possible and don’t stray too far from home.”
The Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short range 18 photos
Photo: Elektro Frosch
The Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short rangeThe Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short rangeThe Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short rangeThe Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short rangeThe Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short rangeThe Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short rangeThe Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short rangeThe Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short rangeThe Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short rangeThe Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short rangeThe Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short rangeThe Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short rangeThe Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short rangeThe Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short rangeThe Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short rangeThe Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short rangeThe Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short range
Campers, mobile homes, overlanders, and various other rigs took center stage throughout 2020, due to the uncertain and restriction-packed international situation. With people’s vacations canceled or suddenly in dire need to adapt to travel restrictions, many turned their attention to vehicles, be they small or large, that would get them away from home – and out in the great outdoors for as long as possible.

The Elektro Frosch, which translates to Electric Frog, does that too, with the difference that it does it in the smallest footprint imaginable and the caveat that it won’t take you too far from home. As far as campers go, this is perhaps the most compact and lightweight, and it’s comparatively cheap, as well.

The Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short range
Photo: Elektro Frosch
Elektro Frosch sits at the intersection between bikepacking, camping, and camper vans, and while it’s not the perfect solution for all types of camping scenarios, it does present several advantages over bigger options. For starters, it’s all-electric and very light, compact, and easy to maneuver. Despite its diminutive size, it’s also a more or less complete solution for short stays on camping grounds, providing both accommodation for two and a kitchen with an open-air dining area.

Hailing from Germany (and available only throughout Europe), the Elektro Frosch is an electric trike (an L2E moped) with a detachable camping kit. The company offers two of those, the Big and the Pro, but don’t let the names fool you into thinking they deploy into legit palatial abodes.

Both versions of the camping kit offer sleeping for two in the fold-out tent, with the difference between them being that Big is made for the summer, while Pro is a complete solution, thanks to the full cabin enclosure and ceramic heater.

The Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short range
Photo: Elektro Frosch
Under the tent is a complete extendable kitchen, including stove, utensils, and cooking space that effectively doubles as dining table. Next to the sliding kitchen is storage room for folding chairs, which make for a complete outdoor kitchen for two under the included canopy. Photos in the gallery confirm that once camp is set and everything in its proper place, this Elektro Frosch rig actually makes for a good-looking setup.

And now for the bad part, the one about how you’re not supposed to stray too far from home. The three-wheeler on which the camping kit sits is all-electric, but the range is a risible 37 miles (60 km), though the company says users have reported getting even twice as many miles on a single charge. The top speed is 25 mph (40 kph), which means you’d be really looking for trouble if you drove this too far – like on a highway. In this sense, this setup is no better than an e-bike specced by European standards, with the advantage of offering you the opportunity to pack more stuff than you would on a two-wheeler.

Powered by a 3.4 hp motor and a 4.3-kWh deep-cycle gel battery, Elektro Frosch needs six to eight hours for a full charge. Unless your campsite of choice has an electrical hookup to allow for overnight charging, make sure you plan accordingly and cut the trip in half.

The Elektro Frosch electric trike camper is cheap, compact and complete, but has very short range
Photo: Elektro Frosch
When you’re not using this trike for camping, you get a three-wheeled tiny electric pickup truck with a payload of 525 kg (1,157 pounds) by simply removing the tent kit.

While this is clearly a vehicle designed for local camping and urban exploration, it does have one more ace up its sleeve: pricing. The Elektro Frosch big costs €3,990 ($4,850 at today’s exchange rate) with the camping kit, while the Pro is €4,990 ($6,070), VAT included. That’s cheaper than some electric bikes out there today, and you get accommodation and dining for two as part of the deal.
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About the author: Elena Gorgan
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Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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