The official eRV2 debut won’t happen until tomorrow’s Florida RV Super Show, but Winnebago unveiled details of its all-new electric camper van a little early ahead of the show. As expected, his second e-camper van in Winnebago his prototype switches to the factory Ford E-Transit chassis. Camper vans with a range of just over 100 miles are better suited for small local adventures than endless road trips, but Winnebago wants the first electric camper to deliver the performance his RV enthusiasts expect. We are exploring various range extension solutions.
As its name suggests, the eRV2 is a further evolution of last year’s eRV prototype. In many ways, though, it’s a brand new vehicle, swapping Lightning eMotors’ electrified Transit chassis for E-Transit straight from the Ford factory. The high-roof E-Transit that serves as the basis for the eRV2 has a very modest range estimate of 108 miles (174 km), so the switch actually comes with a range loss. Visit local national forests and state parks.
The original eRV was stamped with a range of just 125 miles (201 km), but that limitation didn’t stop the Winnebago from embarking on a 1,400-mile (2,250 km) cross-country road trip. Winnebago says it’s actively pursuing range-extending options for commercial eRVs, but hasn’t identified the technology it’s most interested in. In recent years, we’ve seen other major RV makers explore everything from rotary engine generators to hydrogen fuel cells.
“Our main goal when building the eRV2 was to allow people to comfortably explore the world around them with minimal environmental impact,” said Winnebago President Huw Bower. I’m here. “User experience has been at the heart of the development of this prototype. It has been in the field since the early stages of market research and is still being tested today.”
The eRV2 not only travels to the campsite on pure electricity, but also continues to run on battery only while camping. The new prototype relies on a proprietary ‘IonBlade’ lithium house battery to power all onboard camper equipment. We have developed a 48 V lithium battery. A 900W solar array helps keep the batteries running while parked at camp. Winnebago estimates the eRV2 can operate an electric camp with off-grid boondocking for up to seven days.
Winnebago
Winnebago incorporates the eRV2’s smart, cutting-edge design into the interior, promising a polished and adaptable layout for the modern working/on-the-go nomadic professional. The cabin features a 5-in-1 versatile lounge/sleeping area, two adaptable workspaces with built-in charging ports, and a high-speed Wi-Fi router. The Winnebago Connect system provides smart home-like monitoring and control from the command screen and companion app within the eRV2.
According to Winnebago, the interior design is based on modern Japandi principles and represents a fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian design philosophies. RV manufacturers have recently embraced Scandinavian-inspired design to great effect, and Japanese micro RVs have captivated the world with their incredibly efficient use of space. Winnebago also promises to focus on recycled, plant-based and biodegradable materials.
Winnebago posted an announcement ahead of tomorrow’s debut, but didn’t release any photos or additional interior details. Winnebago will also host test drives at the Tampa Show.
Source: Winnebago
