The tiny-but-mighty Z-Triton camper by Zeltini is ready to take on land and water. Despite its small stature, this amphibious camper is designed to sleep up to two people, allowing for both short-term getaways and longer adventures.
Tricycle wheels fold up and inflatable pontoons are added to switch the trike into boat mode. Though steering and power cables attached to the engine rod make the Z-Triton perfect for travel across lakes and rivers (with a range up to 10 km), it isn’t equipped to handle open ocean. To transform the camper into a living space, the seats can be removed and stored to become a bedroom, complete with pillows, sleeping mats and sleeping bags. An extractor fan inside one of the chimneys makes it easy to do some basic cooking. Inside, there are six shelving units for storage and a folding table for food prep and dining.
While in tricycle mode, the Z-Triton is operated both manually by leg power and via a chargeable battery with a range of 40 km, depending on the terrain. While the designers included a wide range of amenities that combine practicality and functionality including disc brakes, front and back lights, a horn and USB charging ports, they also prioritized creature comforts for camping.
There is a padded seat, an aerodynamic umbrella, two water bottle cages, a fold-up passenger seat with a safety belt, a coffee cup holder and a pet seat that can also be replaced with a child seat. Natural elements, such as a removable plant pot inside one of the chimneys, allow passengers to decorate with a plant or bring along potted herbs to use for cooking while camping.
The trike element has a steel frame, and the body of the houseboat is made from a blend of plywood and fiberglass; the studio intends to use hemp fiberglass once the project is past the prototype stage. It also has six solar panels, and parts of the house were 3D-printed with bioplastic material.
Zeltini is still testing prototypes of the camper in different environments and weather and will be releasing more information about price and availability in summer 2021.
This electric camper is a houseboat and tricycle in one [Inhabitat]