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What more do you need in life than the open road, freedom, adventure, excitement, and flexibility that come with having a motorhome? The only challenge that motorhome owners face is the quest for reliable power. Solar generators have changed everything with a solution for sustained energy no matter where you are on the open road.
Solar panels have opened doors for motorhome weekend warriors or full-time residents, keeping them charged and powered off the grid. Here are our top picks for campervan and motorhome solar panels for 2025.
EcoFlow’s Best Campervan and Motorhome Solar Panels
- Best for Weekend Trips: EcoFlow 110W Portable Solar Panel
- Best for Longer Camping Trips: EcoFlow 160W Portable Solar Panel
- Best for Maximising Sunlight: EcoFlow 220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel
- Best for Motorhome Living: EcoFlow 400W Portable Solar Panel
Best for Weekend Trips: EcoFlow110W Portable Solar Panel
The EcoFlow 110w Portable Solar Panel is the lowest-priced, most lightweight, and portable option. It’s perfect for camping or hiking trips of just a couple of days, with the option to chain more than one panel together for additional power.
Though small, this panel maximises its available surface area to give you the most direct sunlight it captures. You can place these panels all along your caravan’s exterior to expand your electricity generation potential without requiring additional ground space for setup.
While these panels are perfectly compatible with EcoFlow’s smallest portable power station to create a solar generator, they also work well as an addition to any other solar panel array if you want to add more oomph to your system. Its extreme flexibility lends to unique locations where other rigid or portable solar panels can’t fit. For example, they’re perfect for a curved roof on your caravan, the sides, or a sloped back roof.
Specifications
- Rated Power: 110W
- Efficiency: 22.8 %
- Solar Cell Type: Monocrystalline
- Weight 8.8 lbs (4 KG)
- Folded Dimensions 16.5×18.9×1.0 in (42.0×48×2.5 cm)
- Unfolded Dimensions: 16.5×70.3×1.0 in (42.0×178.5×2.5 cm)
- Waterproof/Dustproof Rating: IP68
- Open CircuitVoltage: 21.8V
- Short Circuit Current: 6.5 A
- Recommended Portable Power Station: EcoFlow RIVER 2
Pros
- Affordable low price
- Good option for campers with limited energy needs
- 10% smaller than similar models on the market and 70% lighter than traditional solar panels
- Lightweight (4 kg / 8.8 lbs)
- Flexible with curvature up to 258º
- Ideal for irregular surface mounting
- Use adhesive tape to avoid drilling while mounting
- Use more available space that receives direct sunlight to maximise your electricity generation
- High efficiency of 23%, better than thin-film solar panels
Cons
- Can’t power a large motorhome or significant power requirements
- Low-rated power output
- Best suited as an addition to a solar panel array, except in low-wattage applications
Best for Longer Camping Trips: EcoFlow 160W Portable Solar Panel
A step above the 100w option is the EcoFlow 160W Portable Solar Panel in terms of overall performance and energy generation capacity. With 32 premium monocrystalline silicon cells, you’ll enjoy a high 21-22% conversion rate. It’s perfect for longer camping trips, allowing you to capture and generate energy quickly so you can recharge your portable power station without too much delay.
Thanks to EcoFlow’s ETGE film, it protects against damage from ultraviolet rays. Finally, the IP68 waterproof rating will protect it from even the wettest conditions. You could even submerge it in a meter of water for 30 minutes with no damage. That peace of mind is priceless when you’re living on the road.
Its portability is also great for small campervans. Its one-piece folding design allows you to stow it away when not in use, allowing you to bring it along and only set it up when needed.
Specifications
- Rated Power: 160W
- Efficiency: 21 % – 22 %
- Solar Cell Type: Monocrystalline
- Weight: 12.3 lbs (5.6 KG)
- Folded Dimensions: 26.9×16.9×1.0 in (68.5×43.0×2.5cm)
- Unfolded Dimensions: 26.9×62.6×1.0 in (68.5×159.0×2.5 cm)
- Waterproof/Dustproof Rating: IP68
- Open CircuitVoltage: 21.4V
- Short Circuit Current: 9.6A
- Recommended Portable Power Station: EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max
Pros
- High efficiency 21-22%
- Lightweight and easy to transport at just 15.4 lbs (7kg) and 61.8 inches (157 cm) unfolded
- Durable against dust, water, UV, and wind
- Quick recharging
Cons
- Limited power generation capacity – not robust enough for a large campervan or motorhome
Best for Maximising Sunlight: EcoFlow 220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel
Things start to get interesting when you explore products to maximise sunlight economically. The EcoFlow 220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel uses both its front and back sides to soak up energy from the sun. The back features 220W, plus another 155W on the back. Combining both sides, you’ll enjoy up to 25% more energy than you’ll capture from monofacial panels. When travelling on overcast days, familiar in the UK, this bifacial design becomes critical to managing your energy needs.
Built thoughtfully with a one-piece tempered glass design, it’s made to last. The durable product can withstand heat up to 300º and has the same IP68 waterproof rating as the other EcoFlow solar panels.
Though it’s a bit heavier and bulkier than other EcoFlow solar panels, its weight pulls double duty, making the additional bulk manageable given the additional generation capacity. While it’s not one you can necessarily fix in place on your motorhome, this extra functionality makes it worth setting up as needed.
Connect it to the EcoFlow DELTA 2 and recharge it from 0% to 100% in just 3-6 hours of solar light.
Specifications
- Rated Power: 220W Front Side/155W Rear Side
- Efficiency: 22 % – 23 %
- Solar Cell Type: Monocrystalline
- Weight:20.9 lbs (9.5 KG)
- Folded Dimensions: 32.3×19.7×1.3 in (82.0×50.0×3.2 cm)
- Unfolded Dimensions: 32.3×72.2×1.0 in (82.0×183.5×2.5 cm)
- Waterproof/Dustproof Rating: IP68
- Open CircuitVoltage: 21.8V (Vmp 18.4V)
- Short Circuit Current: 13A (lmp 12.0A) Front Side / 8.8 A (lmp 8.4A) Rear Side
- Recommended Portable Power Station: EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro/EcoFlow DELTA 2
Pros
- Unique two-sided design to maximise sunlight for energy
- Captures up to 25% more than one-sided solar panels
- Entry-level solar panel for off-grid power generation
- Use it to recharge portable power stations quickly
- 10% smaller than other 220W models on the market
Cons
- Bifacial element means permanent mounting is not the best option
- Output is insufficient for high-wattage systems and appliances
Best for Motorhome Living: EcoFlow 400W Portable Solar Panel
You need the EcoFlow 400W Portable Solar Panel if you want the most powerful option. Its improved conversion efficiency of 23% stands out among competitors in the market as the perfect solution for campervans that require a lot of energy.
If you’re living full-time in your caravan, this solution will be the most robust and comprehensive option to ensure you can generate enough energy for all your systems, devices, and appliances.
Thanks to pliable EVA layers and a durable fibreglass covering, it’s also one of the most versatile and toughest options available. Wind, rain, snow, and heat don’t stand a chance of hindering this solar panel’s performance.
This panel has an incredibly high-capacity output and fast charging capability. It produces a lot of power quickly and recharges your battery storage just as fast as you deplete it.
Specifications
- Rated Power: 400W
- Efficiency: 22.6 %
- Solar Cell Type: Monocrystalline
- Weight: 35.3 lbs (16.0 KG)
- Folded Dimensions: 41.7×24.4×1.0 in (105.8×62.0×2.5 cm)
- Unfolded Dimensions: 41.7×93,1×1.0 in (105.8×236.5×2.5 cm)
- Waterproof/Dustproof Rating: IP68
- Open CircuitVoltage: 48V (Vmp 41V)
- Short Circuit Current: 11A (lmp 9.8 A)
- Recommended Portable Power Station: EcoFlow DELTA Series
Pros
- Highest energy-generating capacity on the market
- Maximise power collection with kickstand setup between 40-80º
- IP68 rating for durability
- High-efficiency rating
- Best for motorhome living full-time
Cons
- Significantly heavier and larger, especially when unfolded
- Higher price reflects higher energy generation
What To Consider When Choosing Solar Panels for Campervans & Motorhomes
When selecting a solar array for your motorhome or campervan in 2025, there’s a lot to think about. From the number of panels needed to peak sun hours, portability, durability, efficiency, and more—here’s what to consider to ensure you make the right buying decision.
How Many Solar Panels Do You Need for Your Motorhome?
To understand how many solar panels your motorhome needs, you need to know what kind of wattage you require, the peak sun hours in your area, solar output rating, climate, and more.
Peak sun hours measure the sunlight received in a particular location. A single peak sun hour is reached when it receives 1,000 watts of PV power per square meter. Use the Global Solar Atlas to find the average peak sunlight where you’ll be travelling.
Generally, your motorhome or caravan solar panels will capture 100W-400W of solar power during peak hours or 1.2 to 3kWh daily.
Moving on to power consumption or usage, add up the total starting and running wattages of the devices you plan to power. Add a buffer to be safe. To get watt-hours, multiply the wattage of each item by how long you’ll need to run that piece of equipment. Most campers use at least 2.16 kW of electricity every 24 hours, but that number can vary depending on the gadgets you use and how long.
With your total consumption in W and Wh, you can then use what you know about peak sun hours to determine how long it would take to capture the energy necessary to run your energy-dependent items.
Adding more solar panels to your array or choosing solar panels with higher output ratings can minimise the time required to reach this required amount of energy. The higher the output rating of each solar panel, the fewer total panels you’ll need to sustain your caravan.
Rated Power
A solar panel’s rated power tells you how much electricity it can capture and convert into usable DC power under ideal conditions. A 400W panel should produce 400W of electricity each hour, and so on. However, it’s hard to replicate perfect conditions in the real world. In reality, a solar panel will likely produce much less than its rated power output most of the time due to factors such as shade, cloud cover, and temperature.
It also varies depending on the time of day, with a panel producing the most electricity under full sunlight during peak sun hours (usually around mid-day). You can’t predict precisely how much energy a panel will make, but understanding its rated power is a good starting point. By adding buffers and expecting a slightly lower production level, you can determine how many panels you’ll need to satisfy your power needs.
Portability
You should also consider the portability of your solar panels, considering your vehicle’s total towing capacity, the space available on board, and the space you’ll have either at campsites for manual set-up or on the body of the campervan for fixed installations.
If you plan on using an off-grid solar system for van life full-time, consider a modular fixed system, especially if you have high power requirements. If you want something more portable and can travel with you or be used at home, the 110W, 160W or 220W bifacial solar panel options may be better suited.
Other Essentials
Solar panels can’t function on their own. You’ll need to pair your PV panels with other equipment to create energy you can store and use. An off-grid system will require at least the following:
- Inverter
- Solar battery
- Battery management system
- Charge controller
You can build your own system by mixing and matching products from different manufacturers or stick with one manufacturer to avoid compatibility issues. If space is an issue, consider an all-in-one modular solution.
Durability
Solar panels only work outside, so they must be designed to withstand various weather conditions. Panels fixed in place on your motorhome should be even more durable, as you won’t have the option to take them down and bring them inside during periods of harsh weather. Portable solar panels can be folded and brought to safety, but durability should still be part of their design.
Choose a solar panel that can endure extreme temperatures on both ends, forceful winds, heavy rain, and dust. EcoFlow’s panels are all IP68-rated, making them a great option. You can even submerge them in water with no damage.
Another great way to ensure durability is by checking product reviews and testimonials. If you see a slew of unhappy customers complaining about damage or sharing concerns about performance and durability, it’s a good sign that you should look elsewhere.
Solar Cell Types
Solar panels can be made in a few different ways. The most popular types include monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, and thin-film (various compositions) panels. Monocrystalline designs are widely accepted as the best on the market. They are the gold standard of efficiency and durability. However, they are also the most expensive to manufacture. In this case, you get what you pay for. It’s worth investing in monocrystalline solar panels, like those from EcoFlow, to get the most out of your money.
Polycrystalline cells comprise silicon fragments rather than a single crystal, creating a cheaper product that doesn’t compare in terms of efficiency. The same goes for thin-film panels. They are the most inexpensive and least efficient, with low conversion rates, sometimes in the single digits. Steer clear of these options and stick with the best-constructed monocrystalline panels.
Efficiency Rating
Efficiency refers to how effectively a panel converts sunlight into energy. Spending more on efficiency produces better results. To put things in perspective, monocrystalline panels have efficiency ratings between 22-27%, while polycrystalline and thin-film panels fall far behind with rates around 15-22%.
Climate
Your area’s climate will largely determine how much energy you can get from your panels because it limits how much direct sunlight they’ll receive. The UK isn’t known for its sunny days, with daily sun hours averaging around four, historically.
The facts of this climate make PV panel efficiency even more critical. For these instances, options like the EcoFlow 220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel are great options that maximise sunlight by capturing ambient energy even on cloudy days. Purchase two of these panels rather than a single 400W panel for UK travelling in your motorhome.
Temperature also comes into play, but only on extreme ends, whether hot or cold, which aren’t a massive concern in the UK.
Price
Don’t ignore your budget! This should be one of your first considerations so you can filter your search based on what you can realistically afford. While solar panels and solar-powered energy systems can come with a significant upfront price tag, they result in long-term savings, so the initial investment is well worth it.
Still, sticker price matters. While the low prices of polycrystalline and thin film options can be alluring, they won’t generate as much electricity, so you may be better off waiting to purchase until you’ve saved up enough to afford a reliable monocrystalline model.
Calculate the long-term costs of a budget off-grid system compared to a more expensive model to ensure the money is being spent effectively. You can always purchase additional solar panels later on to increase energy generation after realising some of the savings of your initial solar array.
Roof/Exterior Space
Do you plan on mounting solar panels directly to your campervan? Or do you want a portable option that can be unfolded and set up outside your vehicle while parked at campsites? Either way, you’ll need to consider what kind of space you’re working with.
For mounted solar arrays, a standard motorhome is between 1.8 and 2.3 meters long and has a total exterior square meterage of around 11m2. But not every inch is usable for your panels. Windows, satellite dishes, and other devices will minimise the available surface area.
Carefully map out your installation plan before buying any to determine how efficient and small your panels need to be to make the available space work.
Just because some of your roof space is curved doesn’t mean it’s unusable. You can mount flexible solar panels on your motorhome to maximise available space.
For portable solar arrays, consider the space a typical campsite grants you to set up all your equipment. Your solar panels will be just one part of everything you’ll need to set up, so ensure there’s room for them in an area where they’ll get ample sunlight.
Benefits of Solar Panels for Campervans & Motorhomes
Investing in solar panels for your motorhome or campervan will benefit your travels in many ways. From providing free solar power to supporting a healthy environment and allowing you to live independently, here are the most significant advantages of going solar.
Free Power
Solar panels aren’t cheap, but after you reach the end of your solar payback period, all the energy you generate and use is entirely free. Since EcoFlow panels are built to last several years, this ultimately saves you thousands of dollars that you’d otherwise spend on grid hookups or shore power at campsites.
Solar generators don’t require fossil fuels to run; all they need is ample sunlight, free of cost anywhere in the world! You also aren’t limited to shore-powered campsites, allowing you to enjoy dry camping anywhere while enjoying the luxury of electricity.
Eco-Friendly
The other benefit of an energy system that doesn’t rely on fossil fuels is environmental friendliness. Fossil fuel emissions damage our atmosphere, so switching to something carbon-neutral like solar helps us get closer to a net-zero future while minimising the impacts of man-made climate change.
Using a reliable, renewable energy source reduces your overall carbon footprint, preserves the delicate natural surroundings you’re camping in, and avoids the noise and toxic fumes of petrol or propane generators.
Energy Independence
If freedom is what’s drawing you to caravan life, then solar energy is the perfect complement. If you rely on electrical hookups at campsites, you won’t be as independent as you might be expecting. With a solar power system, including EcoFlow Solar Panels, you can enjoy freedom and independence to travel and park anywhere the sun shines.
Whether you opt for a smaller panel to keep essential devices charged or a more robust array to power your entire campervan, your investment in solar will free you up to travel the way you want. Off-grid solar panel systems are the best way to achieve personal energy independence while travelling in a caravan.
Frequently Asked Questions
The size of solar panels you need for your caravan will depend on your energy consumption, the panel output rating, and the climate where you’re travelling. Ensure the panels can meet your energy requirements. And, if you plan on mounting them to the caravan, measure carefully so they’ll fit!
Solar power is worth it on a motorhome if you spend a lot of time in remote locations, live out of it, want to eliminate your petrol generator, prefer an easy installation, and want to cut costs in the long run.
Final Thoughts
Taking a trip on a caravan or even living full-time on the road becomes hindered when you’re limited to grid-connected campsites. Embrace complete independence and freedom by investing in solar panels like the EcoFlow 220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel, which can maximise solar energy generation and ensure you have enough power to run all your essential caravan equipment.
