Green BeTriton e-Trailer Is a Bike Camper Trailer That Floats, With Unlimited Range

For the more adventurous type, a "have it all" proposal is the weirdest looking electric vehicle with the most surprising functionality: the BeTriton boat-camper-trailer that knows no geographical limitations, runs on electricity, and offers the most basic of shelters for a couple and their small to medium-size pet.

This strange EV has actually been around for a number of years, making its formal debut in 2020, back when it was called the Z-Triton by Zeltini. In later years, that version would be renamed to Alpha Prototype, which was then renamed Z-Triton and eventually became BeTriton. The change was more than just in nomenclature, as the design also evolved to integrate upgrades based on public feedback, which added more convenience and shaved off unnecessary weight.

The first iteration of the vehicle was basically a mobile shelter built on top of an electric trike. You could ride the trike on land as you would a standard 250W electric bicycle and then use a small boat motor fed by marine batteries for water transportation after you converted the whole thing into a boat-like structure.

That same iteration also featured an enclosed shell that contained space for sleeping, which would convert into a sitting area during the day. It was odd-looking, alright, but it made up for it with surprising functionality.

By the end of last year, the Z-Triton had evolved into the BeTriton, a trailer you could pull with an e-bike you already owned. The hard shell was removed and the three-wheel trailer was now lighter and, perhaps more importantly, cheaper than previous iterations. It could still travel with ease on land and on water, and promised snug accommodation for two adults and one pet.

All these designs are the brainchild of Aigars Lauzis, an entrepreneur, designer, and passionate cyclist from Latvia, and were inspired by a four-year bike journey he undertook from London to Tokyo and then back home to Latvia. It was on this occasion that he realized the importance of shelter when bikepacking and of not having to rely on other means of transport over water.

Enter the Green BeTriton e-Trailer, which is the latest iteration of the same concept. Yes, it's called Green because it's green, but also because it integrates solar panels, which, in turn, promise to offer "unlimited" range as you travel. In addition, the Green e-Trailer brings a handful of upgrades over previous models, making it just the vehicle you'll want for limitless travel anywhere. Or so Lauzis hopes.

The Green e-Trailer bears close resemblance to the BeTriton but now gets an additional motor on the front wheel. That is to say, you could also tow it with a standard, pedal-only bicycle or you could travel with a motor-assisted bike and make the most of the per-charge range for each.

In boat mode, power comes from a 2,150W boat motor fed by a 2.88kWh battery pack. A 200W solar panel on the roof can recharge the battery on sunny days, so you don't have to worry about range anxiety.

Your only consideration will have to be for transforming the e-Trailer from road mode to water mode, and that will only take a few minutes. As a bonus, this new iteration of the vehicle allows you to take the towing bike onboard, so you'll be able to enjoy the trip without worrying about it.

Another novelty is the hard-top popup roof that holds the solar panel and offers protection from the elements when you're out on the lake or shallow coastal waters. The introductory video at the bottom of the page also shows Lauzis attaching clear plastic panels to the supporting structure by means of zippers, so some degree of comfort is guaranteed when night comes and you turn the interior into a bedroom.

According to the company, the Green e-Trailer was developed as part of a partnership with Norway Grants, Latvian Investment and Development Agency, and Noveltex Oslo. It's the last of a series of three prototypes and, while it might look production-ready, it's not there yet. But if you like what you see and wouldn't mind owning or being seen in such a vehicle, BeTriton is seeking to raise capital through investments.

Just be warned, though, that no single version of this boat-camper-trailer was cheap.

Initial estimates for the Z-Triton were in the €7,000-€9,000 ($7,600-$9,800 at the current exchange rate) region, but the more recent BeTriton trailer came with a starting price of €10,550 for the single-battery model and €12,950 for the dual-version one ($11,430 and $14,000, respectively). The Green BeTriton e-Trailer is newer and better than every other version that came before it, so common sense would say it's also more expensive.

But it sure makes for an interesting viewing, doesn't it?