Mobility scooter caravan built to beat Royal Wedding queues

Elderly spectators hoping to bag the best spot on the Royal Wedding procession route, but unwilling to spend a night camping on the pavement, can now buy a caravan designed to be towed by a mobility scooter; the QTvan launched this week is small enough to be used on the pavement, but manages to accommodate a full-size bed.

The £5,500 QTvan is the world’s smallest caravan and is so named because it caters to three peculiarly British obsessions: queuing, tea and caravans.

As well as a 19” television on which to watch the ceremony highlights, and a drinks cabinet with which to toast the happy couple, the tiny caravan boasts tea-making facilities – essential for a royal day out.

If any extra provisions are needed, the caravan is so compact it can be towed inside a supermarket.

The Environmental Transport Association (ETA) developed the QTvan to highlight the estimated 220,000 people who use a mobility scooter without breakdown cover and face the prospect of a very long wait should they suffer a mechanical fault or their battery runs flat.

Spokesman for the ETA, Yannick Read, said: “An increasing number of people rely on mobility scooters, but if you develop a fault or run out of battery power and don’t have breakdown cover – or a tiny caravan in tow – your only options are to push something that weighs the equivalent of two men all the way home or call on a relative with a large car.”

The ETA warns that the QTvan is best-suited to local trips. If it is used to venture further afield, extra time should be allowed. For example, a trip from London to a popular caravanning destination like the New Forest would take 2 days, while a journey to Whitby would take one week.

From Monday 18th April, both the QTvan (£5,500) and mobility scooter breakdown cover (£49.99) can be ordered from www.eta.co.uk

The QTvan specifications	The world’s smallest and greenest caravan
The QTvan is the world’s most environmentally-friendly caravan. Using a conventional caravan for a ‘staycation’ within Britain remains a relatively green way of taking a holiday, but if the electricity used to charge the mobility scooter is bought from a green provider, the QTvan is entirely carbon neutral.
Top speed: 6mph Dimensions: 2m x 75cm Range: 30 miles on a single charge Power: 240v hook up or battery
Entertainment: 19” TV, radio, alarm clock, book shelves Accommodation: Full-sized single bed Cooking facilities: Kettle, drinks cabinet
Eco rating: Entirely carbon neutral (if electricity bought from a sustainable provider)
Price: £5,500 Optional extras include: Solar roof panels, air horn and extra-wide wing mirror for mobility scooter, satellite dish, gaming console, central heating, external luggage rack, bespoke paint Tweet
The caravan has now been adapted to be towed by a bicycle

Breakdown recovery for mobility scooters

The ETA has launched a breakdown recovery service for mobility scooters that costs £49.99 for a year’s cover. If a mobility scooter user breaks down or their battery runs flat, they will send out a qualified mechanic. If necessary the scooter will be taken to a local garage for repairs and the driver will have their taxi fare home paid for if they are unable to get into the recovery lorry. More details