How My Home on Wheels Got an Electric Upgrade

“Not only was the Transit cheaper to buy, but its lower long-term maintenance costs also made it my ideal choice. It's certainly a more affordable lifestyle than renting a place in Edinburgh.

“I stayed with parents and couch-surfed at friends until I got the Transit fit for habitation. Outfitting the van took months of careful work, though I initially saw van life as a temporary solution. I started adding things to make it cosier, a few plants, nice pillows, coffee apparatus, etc., until it started to feel like home.

“It wasn’t long before another thought presented itself, courtesy of my brother. What if I started documenting my van life journey? And just like that, my social media career as Outside With Ron was born. Ron is my nickname, and it felt more fun to go with that as my social media tag.”

Dom’s day job as an electrician takes him to construction sites across Scotland, and often his parking spot is the site car park itself. Luckily, most sites have access to a gym, so he’ll head there for a shower before his shift starts. If not, he has a portable manual pump shower for a quick wash beside the van.

“My 12-hour workday starts at 7:30 AM, and end simply: cooking on a portable camping stove. Van life is unique, and it certainly gets noticed,” he adds.

“On my first day at my current job in the Scottish Highlands, I arrived the night before everyone else and slept in the site car park. When the crew arrived in the morning, they already knew who I was — the electrician who lives in his van — thanks to my social media. It was a great icebreaker.

“Van life is not easy, of course. I encountered anxieties I hadn’t even thought about before moving into my Transit. When home and work are the same place, space is limited. As a minimalist, I manage, but I still occasionally wish for more room.

“The other hurdle has been an anxiety that anyone with a vehicle can relate to — a breakdown. For me, that’d be a major issue as my van is also my home. Towards the end of 2025, that anxiety turned into a reality.

“My van broke down, potentially because of an aftermarket product I’d installed. While my van — my home — was being repaired, I was once again without a permanent home. I found alternative accommodations, in a hotel and on a boat, but nothing compared to the van life I’ve become so used to.

Thankfully, a lifeline appeared. A local Ford dealership, People’s Ford, kindly lent me a 2025 Transit Custom Plug-In Hybrid for a week. The collaboration was a part of a Ford competition. People can participate by test driving any Transit Custom for a chance to win an All-Electric E-Transit Custom.

“I had my doubts about going electric. I’ve installed over 400 chargers at other people's homes. As someone without a permanent address, I couldn’t do that for myself. I was worried about public charger availability.

“I quickly discovered how robust Scotland's public charging infrastructure is. Once I figured out how to use the van’s built-in tech to find the best charger near me, I never had an issue.”

As an electrician in Scotland, Dom often drives in the Low Emission Zones in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow for work. While his 2021 Transit is currently exempt, this will change as it ages. A hybrid or electric vehicle would likely remain exempt longer.

“I also take jobs and vacations outside Edinburgh, often involving long drives. For these journeys, the option to switch to petrol in a PHEV is ideal,” he explains.

“My favourite discovery is Ford Pro Power Onboard. I must admit, even as an electrician, I didn’t know much about it. The more I learnt though, the more I realised how useful it is for me, both as an electrician and for my van life.

“Professionally, having Pro Power Onboard would make such a difference in working on sites. I wouldn’t have to worry about carrying battery packs or finding an appropriate power source for my tools. I’ll be carrying my own.

“Personally, it would mean leaving the separate generator I use for my van life behind. My home itself could power everything.”

Getting his own Transit back felt like coming home for Dom, as he adds: “I’ve poured so much work into making it my space, and I’m not looking to start over anytime soon. But the experience of driving the Transit Custom PHEV shifted my perspective. It showed me what the future of life on the road could look like.

“Van life began as a solution to a problem, and for a week, I got to experience the next evolution of that solution. Whenever the time comes to buy my next vehicle, I know it will likely be hybrid or electric, and it will absolutely have Ford Pro Power Onboard.”