In recent days, electric cars are becoming the norm quickly. There is a high potential for other electric vehicles, including the electric RV. Consumers have been looking for highly sustainable and environmentally friendly transportation options for years. Hence, vehicle manufacturers are initiating to switch toward the future.
It is time to understand whether electric RV will be growing in the future with the electric movement.
What Is An Electric RV?
An electric RV is designed to run completely on a fully electric motor. It gains its power from rechargeable batteries or solar power. The RV needs a dedicated connector for recharging the battery. These RVs are designed to function similarly to standard fuel RVs. Electric RVs would decrease emissions, road noise, and fuel costs.
Are There Any Electric Powered RVs?
While several concept electric RVs are planned to be released in the coming years, there is currently only one on the market. But this may change in the future. Demand for electric vehicles is only increasing, and supply must increase to meet the requirement.
Who Are Developing Electric RVs?
Some of the popular RV manufacturers developing electric RVs are given below. The list features names mainly within the United States, but one is from Germany.
Winnebago
Recently, Winnebago announced its concept for the e-RV at the Florida RV SuperShow. In a press release, Winnebago called its e-RV the first all-electric zero-emission motorhome concept from a significant RV manufacturer.
Based on the functionality of the Ford Transit, the concept boasts a full range of in-vehicle appliances and sought-after gallery amenities. These features will get power from the industry-standard 86kWh battery on board, the same battery that charges the RV’s electric engine.
The anticipated range for a fully charged e-RV is 125 miles. This range accounts for the exclusive use of onboard systems while the RV is in transit. While Winnebago hasn’t set a date for its concept to make it to the market, it has announced that it anticipates the e-RV to be the first in a long line of electric RVs.
Iridium EV
Currently, there is only one electric RV on the market, i.e., the Iridium E-Mobil RV. It initially appeared on the market in 2018 after being introduced at the Travel Fair in Stuttgart, Germany. When first launched, the RV could only achieve 124 miles per charge.
The company released the second generation of RVs in 2019, with a 106kWh battery and an increased range of 250 miles per charge. The system relies entirely on lithium batteries and requires a dedicated charging plugin.
Now, the Iridium E-Mobil RV is available only in Europe. For the future of Iridium’s RV plans, it has introduced that it will be making a shift to manufacturing fully electric vehicles.
Thor
Thor Industries released its RV concepts at the Florida RV SuperShow. The concept of Thor for the electric motorhome was introduced as the THOR Vision Vehicle. It includes an entirely electric chassis.
With an expected range of nearly 300 miles, the THOR Vision Vehicle intends to push the limits of how far an electric vehicle can go on a single charge. Thor expects to increase the RV’s range and create sustainable energy through fuel cells.
Airstream
The eStream is Airstream’s electric answer to the classic trailer. The eStream contains dual electric motors.
Users can control the eStream remotely to help in positioning while parking. The commitment of Airstream to an electric future aligns with the official position of Thor industries. It is the first of future electric offerings of Airstream.
How Will An Electric RV Charge?
An electric RV would charge at an RV park or home. The good thing about an electric RV is that we already plug them in, so nothing would change. RV parks may start charging more for electric RVs as they will get more power. The RV will mostly have several charging speed options and work with rapid chargers and standard wall outlets.
Another option for an electric RV to charge is solar power. While limited by how much solar can be installed on the roof of an RV, a few thousand watts can add up to several miles of driving.
What Are the Benefits of an Electric RV?
One of the most attractive features of electric vehicles is that they emit zero pollutants. Therefore, highly environmentally friendly. Also, they are easier to maintain due to the electric motor. Electric cars also tend to handle better on roads as they usually weigh less than their standard fuel counterparts.
Another enticing feature to remember is how much you can save on gas yearly. On average, a first-time buyer of an electric vehicle can save an estimated $4,700 on gas alone in the first seven years, according to Consumer Reports.
Though most of the reports published on the advantages of electric vehicles concentrate mainly on passenger cars, these same advantages can be applied to soon-to-be-released RVs.
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What Are the Disadvantages of an Electric RV?
With the several advantages to owning and driving an electric RV, there are a few disadvantages that may stand in the way of some longtime campers making the switch.
The two significant challenges facing the RVs are range and charging stations. Most standard RVs land between 440 and 810 miles on a full gas tank. It is easy to see why the 125-mile range for the e-RV or even the 300-mile range for the THOR Vision Vehicle cannot quite compete with these numbers.
A shorter range indicates more frequent stops at charging stations, which can be challenging to find. The number of fuel stations in the United States is between 110,000 and 150,000. There are only 110,000 individual charging ports for electric vehicles. Though that number is increasing, it is still too less to meet the requirements of the number of electric vehicles expected to be on the road in the next few years.
Electric RV Might Be the Future
Electric RVs will become a much more common sight on the roads. Though some may find switching from standard RVs to electric ones difficult, major RV manufacturers are hopping on board.
Lower driving range and scattered access to charging stations are the actual drawbacks to driving electric that may cause some people to hesitate. However, conceptually, it seems like the future is an electric RV.
