[mkingston]

Not OP. The van in the article appears to have ~800W of solar on the roof. Depending on preference, lighting requirements can be ~5-30W, laptop requirements ~20-150W. If heating and cooking needs are met with natural gas (the most common solution- and I can see a gas pizza oven in the article). Making some assumptions:

* the solar panels deliver average ~200W for 8hrs per day, 1.6kWh total

* OP has average 50W power draw while working, 8hrs per day, 0.4kWh total

* OP has lighting requirements of ~20W, 4hrs per day, ~0.1kWh

I guess he's probably fairly comfortably net positive for electrical power. In my experience the solar panel estimate is reasonably conservative, although I've experienced some extended periods of very bad weather where my panels produce less than 5% of their rated maximum (in the UK- not Aus!).

[codesternews]

Why do you love vanlife? Why you are living like this? Sorry just curious want to know your point of view

[mkingston]

Well, it's working for me right now. I've been in the van for a little over six months now and have a planned rough end date around mid next-year, so it's somewhere between living and long-term traveling.

I'm not much of a city dweller. It's not that I hate cities, they have their charms, it's mostly just that the things I most enjoy don't exist in them. My job is reasonably flexible and living in a van allows me to be closer to the things I love to do: skiing, climbing, running/hiking (off road), especially. Typically I'll do one of those for 2-4 hours per work day, and much of the weekend. Because I guess you may wonder: I find this makes me happier and gives me more motivation in general, which, anecdotally, has a positive impact on my work.

A little more background: I work an average of 40hrs/wk; I have no children; minimal financial responsibilities; I live in the van with my partner, who works ~20hrs/wk, also remotely.

[b0tzzzzzzman]

Can you add perspective to how you live or why this seems out of scope from how we 'live'.

[mkingston]

I don't understand what you mean by out of scope.

I basically travel from activity to activity. Right now I'm skiing. As the snow recedes, I intend to take some time learning to paraglide. Then climbing season will begin. Circumstances permitting, I'm hoping to spend time in Scotland and Norway (in particular) over the spring and summer months, perhaps Greece/Corsica/Sardinia/Spain/Italy (unsure) before winter, then likely the Alps somewhere.