Heating a van: diesel, gas or electric
Cold nights decide whether van life is comfortable. The three heating routes differ in fuel, running cost and install — here's the honest trade-off.
Fuel types at a glance
0.1–0.3 L/h diesel air-heater fuel burn
Truma Combi gas standard for premium builds
High draw electric heating vs battery bank
Which to choose
A diesel air-heater (Webasto, Eberspächer, Autoterm) is the efficient default: it sips fuel and runs off the vehicle tank. Gas (Truma Combi) heats air and water together and is the premium-motorhome standard, but needs LPG. Electric heating is silent and simple but pulls hard on the battery — practical mainly on shore power or a large LiFePO4 bank. See our diesel-heater comparison for models.
Key takeaways
- Diesel air-heaters are the fuel-efficient default for off-grid.
- Gas (Truma) pairs heat + hot water but needs LPG.
- Electric heating is clean but battery-hungry — best on hookup.
Sources
What this page is based on — every source is verified and links out so you can check it yourself.
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