A while ago I had several conversations with Ronald Maaskant and Hugo Blankenbijl concerning the space to work and live in in the Mobile Solar Studio. These gentlemen have built the lightest handmade caravan in the Netherlands, the Simplicity 250, so they were the right people to talk to :)
 [Graziella]
-
Hugo made it clear to me that it is very challenging to build a super lightweight and sturdy vehicle and it is quite time and energy consuming. He also said that maybe buying and customizing a caravan would be a good solution to make things a lot easier.
Actually, he was right. Lightweight spaces on wheels to work and live in, do already exist: they are called caravans ;-) Customizing one would save a lot on expenses, time and resources. And re-using a caravan is also a sustainable choice. Quite an adjustment to the original concept, but, seen the circumstances, a good one.

The challenge was to find one that would fit the requirements:

1. Lightweight: weight including equipment, luggage etc.: max. 500 kg.
2. Right measurements: to fit in a container for transport overseas.
3. Flat & sturdy roof: to place seven solar panels on top (7,4 kg each).
4. Good looking: a lot of caravans fail on this one ;) It’s important, because when you build your own vehicle, you’re free to create your own design.  It has to match with the front vehicle.
5. Inside: has to be well thought out and spacious within the limited measurements.

Well, to be honest, it wasn’t really hard to find at all! It was right there, waiting for us on the internet. And her name is…… Graziella!

This Graziella TS2 was made in Italy by Levante (now: Lander) at the end of the sixties. So she’s about forty years old now :) A couple of years later, in 1973, the first owner registered the caravan in…’s-Hertogenbosch! This is the city were I live. Yes, it’s a sign :)

[Identity card from '73 and the Graziella behind another solar vehicle from Soios]
-
Koert Hoekstra from Midwolda (near Groningen) was the proud owner and has always taken good care of her. He drove the caravan to Soios in Maashees, where we are building the other part of the solar powered vehicle (more info in another post soon),  to see if they match.
Koert also brought a HUGE tent which belongs to the caravan. This tent was three times as big as the Graziella and weights about fifty kg… I don’t think I will take it with me on this trip ;-)

Right now the Graziella is in Middelrode, a village close to ‘s-Hertogenbosch. Ger, Til, Yvon and me are customizing her. Everything heavy and overrated has to go: the old heater on gas, the refrigerator etc.  So it will be optimized to fit the needs for this solar trip :)

 [The caravan has a wooden interior] [Til & Ger working on the Graziella]
-