From Burger Vans to Motorhomes: How a Power Shortage Sparked a UK-Made Innovation

From Burger Vans to Motorhomes – How a Power Shortage Sparked a UK-Made Innovation

It started with a burger van, a cold morning, and no spare sockets. I didn’t know it at the time, but that small frustration would later turn into a full-blown business solving power problems for motorhome owners across the UK.

The Generator Problem

Years ago, I used to run a catering trailer. We’d pull up to markets and events, hoping to fire up the fryers and plug into a generator that was supposedly “ready and waiting” — only to find every single 16A CEE outlet already taken. So back then, I dreamed of a solution which, incidentally, 15 years on, is one of our best sellers on Amazon.

That sinking feeling — cables everywhere, everyone fighting for power — got me thinking. I remember saying to myself, “There’s got to be a smarter way to share power safely.” So I invented a rugged 32A → 16A converter cable — a product that still sells today. You can see it here: 32A Plug to 16A Blue CEE Coupler Cable.

I started tinkering, learning cable specs, testing connectors, and building my own reliable, heavy-duty leads — all made here in the UK. That was the spark behind MotorCables.co.uk.

Fast-Forward to Motorhomes

These days, the same problem follows us onto the open road. You park up, plug in, and realise the site’s power posts are all taken — or your batteries are running low miles from a hookup.

That’s when I realised: the electric vehicle charging network scattered across the UK and Europe isn’t just for cars. It’s clean, safe 230 V mains power — the same stuff you’d use to charge your leisure batteries at home.

So I built an adapter that lets motorhome owners connect to Type 2 EV charge points and safely draw power for onboard chargers, tools, or appliances. I even use one for my lawnmower at home.

The Adapter Idea

The Type 2 Plug → CEE 16A Power Adapter accepts a standard Type 2 EV plug (just like public chargers) and converts it into a CEE 16A socket output.

Whether you’re touring through France, Spain, Devon or Scotland and need to top up your leisure batteries, you can plug into an EV charger and power your motorhome safely — no jury-rigged wiring required.

It’s fully compliant, fused, and built from premium UK-made components. It’s durable, lightweight, and built for real-world touring. It also works with existing 16A hookup cables — but if you need one, we have them too.

Why It Matters

For me, it’s never been just about selling cables — it’s about giving EV and motorhome owners the freedom to power up anywhere. You’re not limited to campsite hookups. You’re independent.

How To Use It

1. Find a nearby Type 2 EV charger.
2. Use the EV-to-Power adapter to connect to it.
3. Plug into the motorhome via CEE or UK socket and recharge safely.

Safe, simple, and ready for the road — that’s MotorCables quality.

Check It Out

? EV to Power Adapter: motorcables.co.uk/ev-to-power-adapter
Made in the UK by HDIUK Ltd.

Final Thought

Every idea I’ve had started with a real-world problem — a plug that didn’t fit, a socket that wasn’t free, or a cable that was two feet too short.

“If a cable fails its safety check and those two beeps sound, someone — usually me — shouts:
“That’s why we test them!”

The difference between a cable that barely works and one you can trust comes down to quality. That’s the MotorCables promise.