Image: Winnebago Industries, Inc.
At the Florida RV SuperShow in Tampa last month, Winnebago Industries Inc. and Thor Indultries Inc. each unveiled all-electric RV concepts — reports Automotive News. Both veteran motorhome manufacturers view electrification as the next step for RVs and towable trailers.
Winnebago spokesman Chad Reece said “it could be up to two years before a vehicle like this rolls down the road in sizeable numbers,” referring to the company’s e-RV concept.
For the Winnebago e-RV concept, the company worked with Lightning eMotors. The concept RV is built on a Ford Transit platform with an improved powertrain. The e-RV features an 86 kWh battery, which takes 45 minutes to fully recharge under ideal conditions and allows for 125 miles of range on a single charge while also powering the onboard living quarters.
“But some of its technologies could be seen prior to that. [Electrification] is a natural progression in the RV segment. We hear from consumers they have interest.”
Thor Industries, on the other hand, plans on launching its first fully electric motor home next year, and an electric towable sometime after. The company did not disclose pricing for either.
The Vision Vehicle, Thor’s electric RV concept, packs a high-voltage battery and an integrated fuel cell-based range extender. According to the company, the Vision Vehicle can manage 300 miles on a single charge while also powering onboard systems such as HVAC, lights, and entertainment.
Thor Industries engineered the vehicle to meet the range needs of the average RV driver. The company’s own research showed the average RV driver stops every five hours (or about every 300 miles), and an RV Industry Association survey published last year found that 64% of the 800 first-time RV buyers surveyed travelled less than 300 miles from home.
Thor considers range anxiety to be the biggest barrier to EV adoption. RVs not only have to power their engines but also run several onboard systems, and the additional power usage is bound to cut into their range. With that said, if long-haul trucks and recreational camper vans can go electric, so can RVs.
What’s more, EV battery technology is evolving and advancing at a ridiculous pace, which will only make it easier for motorhome companies like Winnebago and Thor Industries to create fully equipped and, more importantly, sustainable homes-on-wheels.
