🚐⚡ "Spaceship on Wheels" — a practical, joyful plan to help people with housing right now
What if the fastest help for the housing crisis isn't another skyscraper, but a smart, self-sufficient electric van that can be assembled in your yard? Not a "camper vibe" project, but an engineered, repeatable, affordable solution providing dignified homes, mobile workshops, and a way to regain independence. Today.
This idea — "Spaceship on Wheels": a perfect, solar-powered electric (EV) van that is simultaneously a home and a laboratory. It's a small, tangible thing pointing to a much bigger future. We start with the van because it's possible here and now — before future side tasks: anti-gravity, quantum teleportation, eternal health, and universal alcohol and tobacco ban to finally unlock 100% of our mental powers for maximum fun. (I'm still arranging the order. Maybe the ban should come earlier. Actually, it's just a half-day job that should have been done decades ago)
Why start with vans?
- Housing + mobility = resilience. A van solves two problems at once: where to live and how to reach work, loved ones, or a safe place.
- Fast iteration. Vans rely on a global manufacturing base. No building permits needed to test energy systems or interior modules.
- Scale from one to many. One van helps a person or family. A fleet helps a neighborhood after a flood or fire.
- Lower breathable living threshold. Full, safe, warm, and private homes in weeks, not years.
This is not an argument against permanent homes — it is a parallel path that provides effective living now while we fix the major systems that take years.
🚀 "Spaceship on wheels" — blueprint
1) Energy independence
- Solar: maximally loaded roof (L2, mid-roof van — ~1.0–1.4 kW flush). L4 long roof variant reaches ~2.0–2.4 kW with careful layout. Add deployable "wings" that open only when parked — good weather can increase daily yield 2–4 times.
- Battery: 48 V LiFePO₄, expandable. Start with ~14 kWh (48 V, 300 Ah) and increase to 28 kWh (48 V, 600 Ah) or more depending on budget.
- Inverter and charging: pure sine wave inverter as needed (from 3 kW for light loads up to 8 kW if you want 7 kW EVSE). Use adjustable EVSE to "sip" 6–10 A (~1.4–2.3 kW) on sunny days and charge faster from the grid when possible.
- Control: simple rules — prioritize home loads first, then turn on EVSE when charge level is high and sun is strong. Battery monitor + relay will automate this.
Why 48 V? Half the current compared to 24 V, thinner cables, less heat, higher inverter efficiency — and still a safe, very low voltage category.
2) Water, heat, and air
- Water: internal tanks (80–150 l) with two-stage filtration and optional UV/RO polishing for questionable sources.
- Heating and cooling: high-efficiency heat pump if maintained; otherwise carefully selected electric heating, excellent insulation, and smart ventilation.
- Ventilation: quiet fans, CO₂ and humidity sensors, condensation-resistant airflow design. Health depends on air.
3) Core acting as a laboratory
- Modular zones: sleeping, cooking, working, storage. Each module is screwed in and interchangeable — so we can iterate publicly.
- Collision safety: proper mounting to existing structural points, rounded edges, latches that don’t become projectiles.
- Ergonomics: three lighting modes (work/ambient/night), lots of 12/24 V and USB-C sockets, a desk that’s genuinely comfortable for sitting and working on a laptop.
4) Discretion
- Completely black or white, low-profile roof equipment; hidden cables; matte casing around modules so the van looks “neat commercial” rather than “expedition.”
- Deployable features that disappear: wings and canopies fold flat. On the road — like a work van. Parked — becomes a home.
5) Safety and standards hygiene
- Proper fuse selection, RCD/GFCI (residual current device) per EVSE requirements, and correct neutral-to-ground (N-G) bonding in autonomous mode.
- Battery boxes, bushing and traction removal solutions for cables, smoke/CO alarms, and a hand-accessible fire extinguisher.
- Markings, diagrams, and an open Bill of Materials (BOM) so anyone can maintain it.
🔋 EV platform = free kilometers (and miles) from the sun
These are not just smart tiny homes. This is a electric (EV) van whose roof literally produces its own fuel.
How to read the numbers: average EV vans typically consume ~28–35 kWh/100 km (≈ 1.8–2.2 miles per kWh). Larger L4 vans — ~33–42 kWh/100 km. The exact number depends on speed, load, terrain, wind, and temperature.
Roof only: daily solar yield → free driving
| Season / sun | L2 roof (~1.2 kW) — daily sun (kWh) | L2 free range @ 30 kWh/100 km | L4 roof (~2.2 kW) — daily sun (kWh) | L4 free range @ 38 kWh/100 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | ~1–2 | ~3–7 km (2–4 miles) | ~2–3 | ~5–8 km (3–5 miles) |
| Transition season (spring/fall) | ~4–6 | ~13–20 km (8–12 mi.) | ~7–9 | ~18–24 km (11–15 mi.) |
| Summer | ~6–8 | ~20–27 km (12–17 mi.) | ~12–14 | ~32–37 km (20–23 mi.) |
Assumes mid-latitudes, flush modules, good controllers, and minimal shading. Actual output may vary ±30–40% depending on weather and usage.
Roof + deployable "solar wings" (parked, sunny)
Add deployable modules when extra harvest is needed, and fold them to stay discreet on the road.
| Season / sun | L2 + wings (+~1.0 kW) — total daily sun (kWh) | L2 free range @ 30 kWh/100 km | L4 + wings (+~1.5 kW) — total daily sun (kWh) | L4 free range @ 38 kWh/100 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | ~1.7–3.2 | ~6–11 km (4–7 mi.) | ~3–5 | ~8–13 km (5–8 mi) |
| Transition season | ~7–10 | ~23–33 km (14–21 mi) | ~11.5–15 | ~30–39 km (19–24 mi) |
| Summer | ~11–14 | ~37–47 km (23–29 mi) | ~19.5–23 | ~51–61 km (32–38 mi) |
Realistic "good day" numbers are provided. Wind, hills, load, and HVAC can reduce them; optimal parking/charging can increase.
Why EVs change the economy (and ethics)
- Almost zero drive maintenance: no oil changes, timing belts, exhaust systems, spark plugs, DPF/EGR dramas.
- Brake wear greatly decreases due to regeneration — especially in the city.
- Energy cost tends to zero when charging from your own roof. Even from the grid, kWh/100 km is almost everywhere cheaper than liquid fuel.
- Silence and cleanliness: less vibration and noise; better for sleep, neighbors, and city air.
What still costs: tires/rotations, windshield washer fluid, cabin filter, brake fluid, coolant checks for battery/drive unit, and technical inspection. Take care of the traction battery by avoiding extremes (don't stay constantly at 0% or 100% and manage heat).
🧰 Reference kits (realistic "start here" specifications)
L2 / medium roof (discreet, for everyday living)
- Solar: ~1.2 kW flush (all black modules), optional wings +1.0 kW standing
- Battery: 48 V LiFePO₄, 14–28 kWh (expandable)
- Inverter: 3–8 kW as needed; adjustable EVSE 6–10 A for solar “sipping”
- Water: ~100 l + two-stage filtration
- Interior: screw-on modules, secure fastening
L4 / long roof (maximum yield, still realistic)
- Solar: ~2.0–2.4 kW flush, optional wings +1.5 kW
- Battery: 48 V LiFePO₄, 28–56 kWh for several days and gentle cycling
- Inverter: 5–8 kW main system; ready to work in parallel if more is needed
- Water: 120–150 l + reliable filtration/UV
- Interior: expanded modules: double table, larger kitchenette, convenient storage
All specifications are open for community improvement. The goal is safe, repeatable, and maintainable, not a “spec parade.”
🌍 From one van to many — a bridge to scale housing
- Mass, optimized production provides people with ready-to-live homes instantly.
- Disaster relief: arriving homes with electricity, water, and communications — no network needed for people to sleep under a safe roof.
- Freedom in cities: the ability to live close to work without predatory rents; less concentration in centers.
- Financial dignity trajectory: lower lifetime costs and fewer surprises than most stationary constructions.
🧪 “Yard Space Program” — let's create publicly
This is not a product sale. This is an open design movement. We can do this as a community: transparent specifications, shared tests, and public iterations — on camera.
- "Engineers and electricians: review DC architecture, inverter choices, EVSE behavior, and extreme case safety."
- "Designers and makers: modularize the interior so it can be assembled with basic tools."
- "Hobbyists and reviewers: torture it in cold, heat, wind. Measure kWh, noise, air quality, and comfort."
- "Storytellers: show the human side — stress reduction, access to work, learning, dignity."
- "Policy experts and NGOs: coordinate with zoning and services to ensure responsible expansion."
"By default — open source. CAD, schematics, BOM, and test results will live in public repositories under a free license. Copy, improve, deploy."
"💸 Costs and compromises (openly)"
- "The main 'Spaceship on wheels' can be built for less than the annual rent of a studio apartment in many cities — especially if you already have the platform."
- "Sun — seasonal: ~1.2 kW roof array can provide ~5–8 kWh/day in bright months, ~1–2 kWh/day in dark months. Therefore, batteries are sized for several days, and EVSE is left adjustable."
- "Not everyone can or should live in a van forever. It's one tool in a larger set of dignity and freedom."
"🛰️ Side missions (seriously, but with a smile)"
- "Anti-gravity engines — because stairs are overrated."
- "Quantum teleportation — commute time: zero."
- "Everlasting health — not just longer, but better."
- "Universal alcohol and tobacco ban — controversial, yes, but imagine the creativity, focus, and joy if we gave up the two most destructive distractions. It's like freeing up RAM so humanity can run bigger programs."
"Is this a 'moon mission'? Yes. That's the goal. We start with a van to prove: we can create, measure, and deploy tangible solutions. Every victory buys reliability and community for the next leap."
"🔎 Objections — answers"
"'Isn't this just vanlife with better marketing?'"
"Vanlife — a lifestyle. Here we talk about infrastructure — specification-based, safety-audited, mass-reproducible."
"'Will the cities object?'"
Some can — yes. That's why we will document safety, emissions, parking footprint, and social outcomes. The more professional the standard, the easier it is to work with institutions.
"What about people who can't do DIY?"
That's why we design kit (other) sets and rely on local workshops. You shouldn't have to be an electrician to have safe, functioning homes.
"Isn't the goal permanent housing?"
Of course, probably. But the road to it is long. It is a bridge supporting people to be stable, healthy, and mobile while they cross it.
🧭 Pilot version 1.0 — measurable, modest, real
- Targets: roof solar ~1.2 kW (L2) or ~2.2 kW (L4); wings — optional. Battery 28 kWh. Inverter 3–8 kW. Water 100–150 l with filtration. Quiet, efficient HVAC. Complete CAD/schematics/BOM documents.
- Key metrics: cost of safe overnight stay; kWh/day collected versus used; time from delivery to ready to live; interior noise and air quality; owner income and well-being changes after 6–12 months.
- Scale: let's build ten in different climates, learn, iterate, then build a hundred.
✅ Quotable one-liners
- "Since this is an EV van, every sunny day turns roof light into free kilometers (or miles), with almost no moving parts cost to drive and live."
- "A humble tool, in enough hands, changes the world."
- "Yard space program. Open to all. Bring keys and a sense of humor."
📣 We invite you to act
Share this vision with a creator who can build or evaluate. Offer skills — CAD, electrical wiring layout, manufacturing, testing, filming, funding applications. Offer real stories: a family between homes, a disaster-affected town, a medical volunteer team. And keep us honest: if a design solution is unsafe — speak up and help fix it.
The end: small wheels, big horizon
The van is not a utopia. It is a tool — modest, practical, ready. But modest tools, in enough hands, change the world. By perfectly designing one van, we pave the way for thousands of people to regain stability, learn, work, and dream bigger.
Let's build the "Spaceship on Wheels" together. Let's prove that solving "small" problems, with craftsmanship and compassion, makes the next "impossible" less impossible. And when the housing is stable and minds are clear, well — anti‑gravity will need many volunteers.
For the brave, ready to embark on a wild journey through the jungle of the 3 million member "van-life" community — to see amazing projects created by others (and maybe borrow a few ideas we like):