Winnebago showed two different iterations of the Ford Transit-based eRV prototype, but an actual all-electric production camper available for sale remains elusive in the American market. It’s set to change with a little push from outside the old guard of Elkhart (and Minnesota). Detroit-based Grounded RVs, founded last year by former SpaceX and Tesla engineers, has unveiled the Ford E-Transit camper van. The Grounded G1 is more than just a quiet, zero-emission camping coach with tons of solar power, it’s also an impressive smart RV, with a modular interior design that allows buyers to customize their ideal floor plan. From there, you can embark on a road trip in clean style.
Like recent electric camper concepts on both sides of the Atlantic, the G1 is based on Ford’s E-Transit. The reason we haven’t seen his E-Transit camper van produced in the US market is because that platform goes over 126 miles (203 km) on his single charge. Like the Grounded, that number drops to 108 miles (174 km) when you base your camper on a high-roof version for more headroom and volume.
Grounded already has plans to fix this problem, and buyers looking for more mileage will want to wait for the 250-mile (402 km) G2 camper they plan to introduce this US summer. . Sounds like a camper based on the new Mercedes eSprinter. to us, but we’ll see. Road trippers who don’t mind short excursions or slow, methodical trips with many stops along the way can declare themselves “First!” The 108-mile G1 is available for pre-order now.
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Grounded uses modularity as the foundation of its manufacturing paradigm, offering a complete ecosystem of modules and components that each buyer can purchase to build their floorplan. The company says the system allows it to offer customized floor plans without the long lead times typical of fully customized vans.
“We engineered a new assembly system that allows us to manufacture customized designs at scale. Our library of components allows for almost endless layout possibilities,” said CEO and founder Sam Shapiro.
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In the first round of photography and renderings, Grounded shows both common and unique layouts among its floor plan possibilities. An already popular floor plan in bathroomless American custom camper design places the rear his bed above and below the dual bench his dinette. A table top slides out from under the bed to create a dining space between the benches.The kitchen block sits between the driver’s side dinette bench and the driver’s seat, across from another bench/storage console.
Another floor plan possibility shows a spin-off of the aforementioned rear bed layout, with a dedicated work station occupying the space normally reserved for the dinette. Other examples show a longitudinal side sleeper bunk bed layout and a rear bed/mid-he kitchen design with bike storage in front.
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Grounded hasn’t previewed floor plans with ensuite bathrooms, but among available options that include queen-sized beds, convection ovens, and seating for two to eight, dry-flush toilets and outdoor showers. I am referring to
The G1 camps purely on electricity, with appliances such as induction cookers and electric refrigerators/freezers. The available 650W solar system helps keep all appliances running even when off-grid. Meanwhile, Grounded’s proprietary software provides control and monitoring of all hardware. Users can access that information through her Grounded+ mobile app, even when away from the van.
“Imagine coming back after a cold hike, using the Grounded+ app to start the van, heat the cabin,” says Shapiro.
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Grounded plan offering G1 as a limited edition build. Vans start at US$125,000, and Grounded also offers a $2,300 monthly subscription program and annual lease agreements. Personally, I’d refrain from confirming what Grounded has in store for his 250-mile G2, but he’s out there ASAP and sending his life in an all-electric All-American van. I’m sure there are a lot of people who would like to. Grounded says he plans to ship the first G1 in April.
Source: Ground RV
