Winnebago
People want electric RVs, at least if reader feedback is any indication. There is no doubt about that. When people at Winnebago commented on Ars Technica he’s not sure if he read the thread but apparently had the same idea.
This week, the company unveiled a prototype electric motorhome, the eRV2, at the Florida RV Super Show. It’s based on the Ford E-Transit van, and Winnebago says it’s undergoing “rigorous field testing with everyday consumers” to perfect its design.
Huw Bower, president of the Winnebago brand, said: “User experience has been at the heart of the development of this prototype. It has been field tested since the early stages of market research and is still going on today. , and our commitment to continuously evolve in line with changing consumer needs and the world we share.”
To that end, the eRV2 has a 900 W solar array on the roof that can charge both a 400 V, 68 kWh Lithium-ion traction battery and a 48 V, 15 kWh Lithium-ion “house battery”. lights, electrical appliances, etc. The residential battery is developed in lithium-ion and is located under the floor of the eRV2.
Recycled materials are used extensively in the interior. Some may know that the floor mats are his Chilewich creations.
Winnebago
Some readers may find the eRV2 range problematic. The E-Transit was designed with a relatively small 68 kWh lithium-ion traction battery. That’s because a Ford study found that commercial customers don’t really care about road trip range. As a result, the eRV2 has a range of just 108 miles, which is the same as his E-Transit. However, Winnebago says that this is just an experimental prototype and that it is “actively pursuing opportunities to expand its range for incorporation into future commercial versions.”
