Here’s a civilized idea for getting away from civilization…or for hunkering down right in your backyard. Escape off-grid (or not) with Ecocapsule, an egg-shaped smart, self-sustainable mobile micro home powered by high-efficiency solar panels and a wind turbine. 

An offshoot of the current tiny house trend melded with prefab and mobile homes, Ecocapsule is a vacation cottage, office, RV, pop-up hotel room, or anything else you might imagine it to be.

As a mobile pod, Ecocapsule enables medium-term off-grid living for one to two people in remote places away from infrastructure but with the luxury of a hotel room. A notch or two up from camping.

Rainwater Capture and Water Filtering
EcoCapsule collects water from two sources: rainwater from the structure’s surface or supplied water from an external source (stream, lake, camp water, etc.) which it stores in a water tank. A series of filters, including a reverse osmosis filter, eliminate 99,998% of the dirt. Together with additional filters installed on faucets, the system delivers clean potable drinking water and the bathroom is equipped with a waterless or “package toilet.”

Solar-Powered
Efficient power generation (up to 1.35 kW installed power) and storage (9.7 kWh battery pack as the default option) means the capsule is self-sustainable yet can also connect to the power grid or charge the battery using your car. Its fully charged battery provides electric energy for at least four days, a calculation the company bases on an average of 2.2 kW daily consumption, on the high-end of the scale.

The capsule’s shape helps to minimize thermal losses, but the figures also factor in severe cold weather heating requirements. Ecocapsule’s engineers have calculated the maximum expected number of days per year with low energy intake for several geographical locations. The probability of draining the battery is very low as the capsule provides two separate methods of generating energy, solar and wind.

Its low-noise wind turbine generates energy even at night, delivering up to 750W of electricity 24 hours a day. The turbine is placed on a telescopic pole which folds easily for transportation. For those planning to use Ecocapsules in areas with limited sun, the company does offer a higher-capacity battery pack.

Smart Capsule
Ecocapsule’s smart home system and sensors interface with a special mobile phone app that provides detailed monitoring and control of all systems within a 2G / 3G / 4G network area.

Have Pod, Will Travel
Before you pack up, make sure you can handle spending time with someone else in a space designed for maximum of two people! For the nomadic life, EcoCapsule offers an optional customized trailer that easily and simply attaches to the pod, enabling you to tow it behind your vehicle. And if you’re planning to go somewhere really far afield, EcoCapsule has two hooks on the roof so it can be lifted using a crane, forklift, or even a helicopter.

It may be prefab, but it’s possible to customize elements of the Ecocapsule, such as exterior and floor finish colors, equipment, and even the furniture. Standard with each capsule is a kitchenette, folding bed with a mattress (6.5ft x 5.4ft when unfolded), desk, and cabinets made from lightweight honeycomb panels with a wood veneer finish.

After successfully launching in several European countries, the Slovak company Ecocapsule will have its official launch in the United States. Experience EcoCapsule at its launch during NYXdesign from May 10th to May 22nd right in the heart of New York City at Times Square.

All images courtesy of Ecocapsule.