Winnebago Industries, a manufacturer of outdoor lifestyle products, has made a significant stride in the recreational vehicle (RV) industry with the unveiling of its first all-electric, zero-emission RV prototype, the eRV2.
This groundbreaking development, a result of a collaboration with global engineering, environmental, and strategic consultancy Ricardo, is set to revolutionize the RV landscape, offering an eco-friendly alternative for outdoor enthusiasts, according to a report by Motor Mouth Arabia.
Photo courtesy of Winnebago
The eRV2 is built on the popular Ford Transit platform, upfitted by Lightning eMotors. It is equipped with an 86 kWh battery that is expected to deliver 125 miles of range and a charge time of 45 minutes on a DC fast charger.
The vehicle is part of a fleet of working prototypes built by Winnebago for testing and development, as the company works towards delivering a commercialized electric RV to its customers in the future, as reported by Electrive.
The interior of the eRV2 follows a “Japandi” design approach, a combination of Japanese and Scandinavian design philosophies, resulting in a clean, calm, and modular interior that optimizes available space.
Photo courtesy of Winnebago
The rear offers a five-in-one sleep/lounge that can be adapted from seats with safety belts to a rear couch, single bed, or foldable full bed. The cockpit seats rotate 180-degrees to create a more lounge-like, social setting, according to Inside Hook.
The vehicle is equipped with a proprietary “IonBlade” lithium house battery that features a 48V system capable of over 15,000 usable watt-hours. This system operates separately from the EV’s battery pack for driving but can also be recharged from its own J1772 plug on the side of the van using a cable from Ford Pro.
Photo courtesy of Winnebago
The RV’s front port also has a CCS plug for DC fast charging capabilities and can replenish from 10-80% in under 40 minutes, as detailed by Business Wire.
The roof of the eRV2 is equipped with solar panels that provide up to 500 watts of power alone, 900 watts total if you connect a separate, portable solar panel to a boondocking port in the rear. The panels generate free energy from the Sun converted into house power, which includes an impressive number of USB-C plugs, 110V outlets, and customizable LED cabin lights, as reported by Electrek.
The published range of the eRV2 is a mere 108 miles, not ideal for road trips, but savvy EV enthusiasts driving conservatively in “Eco Mode” can get closer to 130 miles of range under ideal driving conditions.
The biggest hurdle looking forward is range. Winnebago can spin that narrative however it likes, but 108 miles is going to fall flat with most consumers, especially those currently driving a combustion van conversion. To really push EV adoption in this segment, that max range will need to at least be doubled, as noted by Green Biz.
Winnebago has partnered with Lithionics Battery to create a proprietary “IonBlade” lithium house battery that features a 48V system capable of over 15,000 usable watt-hours.
This system operates separately from the EV’s battery pack for driving but can also be recharged from its own J1772 plug on the side of the van using a cable from Ford Pro, as reported by Ricardo.
Photo courtesy of Winnebago
While the eRV2 prototype has some areas for improvement, particularly in terms of range, it represents a significant step towards the future of electric RVs. The company is gathering feedback from real-time data and observations from RVers, influencers, and journalists to improve the commercialized model.
The development of the eRV2 is a significant step for Winnebago in meeting the growing demand for eco-friendly outdoor recreational activities. The company is actively pursuing range extension opportunities for the future commercial version of the eRV2.
The launch of the eRV2 prototype is seen as a reflection of the projected growth of the global recreational vehicle market and the increasing demand for eco-friendly outdoor recreation across North America.
Featured image from Winnebago