You know how camping vans run out of battery after a few hours once you park and turn off the engine? The usual fix is a noisy, smelly gasoline generator. This Italian-Dutch team built a tiny power generator that's practically silent — just 19 decibels at one meter, quieter than a whisper — and puts out 30% less CO2 than the gas-powered alternatives. They took it all the way from prototype to a market-ready product designed to drop right into existing camper van setups.
Camping van owners lose power within hours of parking because auxiliary batteries drain quickly. Current solutions — gasoline generators — are noisy, polluting, and increasingly unwelcome at campsites with tightening environmental rules. There is no widely available silent, low-emission alternative that is also affordable for the mass camping market.
The team built a combined heat and power generator for camping vans through 3 iterative demo prototypes: an initial integrated system, an updated version after validation testing, and a final optimized prototype described as 'ready for the market.' The product was branded Zeus 150 and listed on the company website.
If you are a camper van manufacturer dealing with customer complaints about noisy, polluting auxiliary generators — this project developed a silent (19dB at 1m), low-emission combined heat and power unit that cuts CO2 by 30% compared to gasoline generators. The system was validated and optimized through 3 demo prototypes and is ready for OEM integration.
If you are a camping equipment distributor looking for a competitive edge in the growing van-life market — this project produced a market-ready silent generator specifically designed for camping vans. The Dutch distribution partner Vadac was already part of the consortium, proving the commercial channel into North and Central European markets.
If you are a portable power company struggling to offer quiet solutions for mobile applications — this project built and validated a combined heat and power generator that operates at just 19dB at 1m. The final prototype was optimized for cost-effectiveness and reliability, targeting markets beyond recreational vehicles into any mobile off-grid scenario.
The project objective references a total development investment of approximately €752,500 for industrialization and market launch. Per-unit pricing is not disclosed in the project data, but the system was explicitly designed to be 'cost-effective' and targeted at price-sensitive SME manufacturers and end consumers.
Yes — the entire point of this SME Instrument Phase 2 project was to move from prototype to industrialized product. The final deliverable is described as 'the final, running and optimized, integrated prototype ready for the market,' indicating manufacturing readiness. The product page (Zeus 150) suggests commercialization proceeded.
The technology was developed by Mobil Tech (Italy), a private SME that is the coordinator and likely IP holder. Based on available project data, licensing or OEM supply arrangements would need to be negotiated directly with Mobil Tech. No open-source or public licensing is indicated.
The CHeaP generator operates at 19dB at 1 meter — essentially silent compared to conventional gasoline generators that typically run at 60-80dB. CO2 emissions are 30% lower than gasoline alternatives. Both numbers come directly from the project objectives.
The primary target was North and Central Europe, where camping van culture is strongest. The Dutch partner Vadac was specifically brought in to open these geographical markets where Mobil Tech was not yet present. The 24-month timeline aimed at market launch by project end in 2017.
The system was designed as a supplementary power source for standard camping van service batteries. The 3 demo deliverables show iterative integration testing, with the final prototype described as an 'integrated' system, suggesting compatibility with standard camper van electrical architectures.
This is a lean, purely commercial consortium: 2 SMEs from 2 countries (Italy and Netherlands), with zero universities or research organizations — 100% industry. Mobil Tech from Italy developed the technology and leads the project, while Vadac from the Netherlands provides the distribution channel into North and Central European markets. The absence of academic partners signals this was never a research exercise; it was a product commercialization effort from day one. For a business buyer, this means the technology was built with manufacturing and sales in mind, not as a lab curiosity.
Mobil Tech di Barin Luca and C. SAS is an Italian SME — contact details likely available on mobiltech.it
Want an introduction to the CHeaP team for licensing, OEM supply, or distribution partnership? SciTransfer can arrange a direct meeting with Mobil Tech.
