Cooking with induction in a motorhome – completely off-grid

Justin, Victron Energy |17/09, 2021

Discover how to cook with an induction hob in a motorhome – completely gas-free, completely off-grid, using solar panels, a lithium battery, and a Victron MultiPlus system.

Many believe that cooking with electricity is only possible at home, connected to the grid. An electric stove usually has its own circuit with 6 mm cable and a 32 A fuse – so cooking with electricity in a motorhome seems completely out of the question, right? No… it turns out it is possible.

In this article, part-time vanlifers Shamira and Niels share their experiences of induction cooking directly from the battery.

Practical Road Test

In September, Shamira and Niels traveled around Sweden for four weeks without visiting campsites or connecting to the grid. They cooked almost every day, parked most of the time, and only drove a few hours every two to four days. Their main charging has come from the solar panels – and they are completely satisfied with their choices.

Shamira van Veenendaal, 30, is a photographer and blogger, and her partner Niels de Graaf, 34, works as an IT network engineer. They live, work, and travel part-time with their cat Saartje in a self-built Mercedes Sprinter with a 128” wheelbase, converted for sustainable self-sufficiency: solar panels, composting toilet, compressor fridge, diesel heater, and – as we will soon see – an induction hob powered by their Victron solution with a lithium battery.

Induction On Board

Gas is the most common fuel for cooking in a motorhome – it's cheap and easy to install. But for those who want to avoid gas bottles, induction is appealing. Electricity makes you completely self-sufficient; you avoid gas bottles, it's safe and sustainable.

So why do so few choose electricity for cooking on the road? Is it because charging and power require more planning, because it costs more initially, or because people don't believe it works off-grid? Shamira says it was a challenge… but we can now say from our own experience that it works and we are very happy with this alternative.

What is an Induction Hob?

According to Wikipedia: In an induction hob, a pot is placed on top of a copper coil with alternating current. This creates a magnetic field that induces current in the vessel, which generates heat through resistance. The vessel must be made of a magnetic material.

How much energy does an induction hob actually consume?

Many only look at the maximum power (approx. 3500 W) and think it's impossible in a motorhome. But that figure applies to two zones at maximum simultaneously – which almost no one does. Shamira tested by cooking pasta for two: boiling water for ten minutes and frying vegetables. In total, it drew about 25 Ah of battery capacity and the power never exceeded 1600 W – most often it was below 1200 W.

The Experiment

“We boiled 750 ml of water at level 8, let it boil for ten minutes at level 5, and fried vegetables at level 6. In total, it took about 25 Ah and the power never reached 1600 W.”

This shows that you don't need a 3000–5000 W inverter. They use a Victron Multiplus 12/2000/80 with continuous power of 1600 W – which is more than enough even for a coffee machine and kettle.

General Observations

25 Ah is a lot in a short time, but you don't cook large meals every day. Often you just heat soup or make wraps – which draws much less. With a 200 Ah lithium battery, you can manage almost three days without charging, and with solar or driving, the battery charges quickly.

Electrical Installation for Induction

An induction solution requires a lithium battery and becomes more complex and expensive. Key components:

Induction with Lead-Acid Battery?

Possible, but not recommended. Lead-acid batteries lose capacity at high currents (Peukert effect) and get hot. To handle induction, at least 500 Ah of lead-acid capacity is needed – which is heavy and expensive. Therefore, most choose lithium.

Read more and find products on Wander Rebel or follow Shamira and Niels on Instagram.