It’s rad that you can now live the van life in a fully electric vehicle with usable range. With nearly 300 miles of range on a charge, AWD, two van lengths to choose from, and thousands of configuration options, the new Grounded G3 campervan has a lot going for it.
But, I do see some issues when it comes to using this van for adventure. The biggest of this is the major loss of interior space due to the separate driving compartment — more on that later. And, the van has poor ground clearance and a very poor breakover angle — avoid rough terrain.
But, let’s dive into the details of the latest electric campervan to hit the U.S. market.
BrightDrop Van Platform
Built on the all-electric 2026 Chevrolet BrightDrop Zevo 400 or 600 chassis, the G3 delivers up to a 286-mile combined range on a single charge. The G3’s native fast charging plug is CCS, but the van also comes with a CCS-to-NACS adapter for access to Tesla Superchargers.
While the van has all-wheel drive (AWD), it has minimal ground clearance (7.51 inches) and a very poor breakover angle (9-ish degrees). This is because the wheels are pushed out to all four corners to optimize interior volume. Any off-road — or even rough-road — excursions are likely a very bad idea in this van.
The Chevy BrightDrop Zevo van platform also offers up safety features like Enhanced Automatic Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Alert, and more. It also has an 11,000-pound gross-vehicle weight rating (GVWR), which means it can haul lots of gear.
Grounded G3 Campervan
“The G3 is a next-gen offering for travelers who want to live, work, and roam in comfort, grounded in what matters,” said Grounded CEO Sam Shapiro.
“The G3 builds on everything we learned from our customers and from the G2. It’s a ground-up reimagining of our smart, fully-electric RV that’s based on real-world use. We replaced wood cabinetry with durable aluminum frames and 100% recycled tree-free materials, refined every wall panel and furniture module to deliver designer-grade aesthetics with pro-functionality, added a motorized lift bed that transforms into a California King, and designed a new insulated rear door that improves energy efficiency without sacrificing the view.
“We also reengineered the electrical system for 1,400W vehicle-to-house charging and added self-heating batteries to enable four-season travel. Every improvement from materials to layout was shaped by feedback from G2 owners. The G3 is smarter, stronger, and more adaptable than any other offering on the market today.”
G3 Models
- G3 Form ($165K): A minimalist build with a queen bed and essential furnishings
- G3 Function ($180K): Adds expanded kitchen, lounge, and power for extended trips
- G3 Freedom ($200K): Max battery, Starlink, lift bed, bathroom, and “bespoke” finishes (pictured throughout this story)
G3 Features
The Grounded G3 campervan can be optioned with a ton of creature comforts. Here are some of the big items: A/C and heat, 7-gallon Bosch electric water heater, 16-gallon fresh water tank (inside van), 22-gallon gray water tank (under van, but optional tank heating pad available), 1,000 W of solar, up to 20kWh of LiFePO batteries, a 1,400W vehicle-to-house charging system, and Starlink internet.
All onboard systems are controlled through the Grounded+ App. This gives owners remote access to power usage, tank levels, appliance controls, and system diagnostics via LTE or Bluetooth. A cool feature of the app is that it auto-adjusts to the customer’s specific build configuration.
The cabinetry is built with aluminum framing and then finished with 100% recycled material, which is customizable in different colors and textures.
Large windows, two on each side and one in the rear door, provide natural light and panoramic views. They also have integrated bug netting and blackout shades.
One cool feature on the top-tier G3 Freedom model is a drop-down full-size bed. It rises to the ceiling above the rear dinette for maximum room and lowers to offer an upper bunk. The dinette can convert to a California King–size bed, or two twin beds, as pictured above.
The Freedom model also has a new pull-out drawer in the rear of the van. It offers a countertop for cooking and dining, as well as storage.
Four-Season Camper
One big upgrade over the previous Grounded electric campervans is its ability to operate in lower temperatures. The company says the G3 is “built to operate in temperatures as low as 0°F without compromising comfort or power availability.” No, that’s not all that cold in the scheme of things, but will work in most parts of the country year-round.
This cold-weather upgrade to the camper was accomplished with improved insulation, specifically 2-inch-thick EPS foam and a new back door design. The BrightDrop van comes with a roll-up door, but Grounded has replaced that with a new full-width swing-out door on the G3. This greatly improves the insulation in this area of the van, adds more mounting points for gear, adds a window, and increases standing height at the rear of the van.
One Big Drawback
One of the best things about campervans is that the entire vehicle can be used as living space. Sadly, that is not the program with the Grounded G3.
The front passenger seating area is pretty much exclusively for road travel, and not camp life. There is a sliding door that separates that area from the rest of the camper, which gives privacy, security, and thermal efficiency to the living quarters. But, this setup lops off a ton of living space that traditional campervans have on offer with their swiveling front seats.
Buying a Grounded G3 Electric Campervan
The first thing you’ll likely want to do if you’re interested in owning one of these electric campervans is use the Grounded online Configurator Tool. It allows you to build out your G3 campervan in detail. Think floor plan, cabinetry color, bed fabric, countertop texture, optional upgrades, and more. The configurator shows the build in 3D and allows you to experience the model from just about any angle.
Once you’ve designed your van, you hit submit. The Grounded team then follows up with you to dial in the details and presumably take a deposit.
Impressively, the BrightDrop van has an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty. The Grounded interior build has a 1-year warranty.
If the two-passenger layout on offer in the G3 isn’t enough for your needs, Grounded says it is developing legal rear seating for travel, which is expected to be available in the fall.
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