Thor and Winnebago unveil electric RVs

Winnebago has so far been known in Europe for expansive moving boxes. But with the introduction of the Fiat Ducato alias Ram in the USA, campervans are also experiencing a surge there. Also based on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter or Ford Transit. Now available in electric versions. Or you can order it as a conversion from Lightening Motors, where you can get heavier weight classes and larger batteries for more range, namely net 73.6 or 110.4 instead of the 67 kWh that Ford offers. According to Lightening Motors, this increases the range to up to 170 miles (270 km), whereas Ford currently leaves it at a good 200 kilometers – more than enough for daily delivery use.

The fact that you can't just pull an electric camper out of a hat is shown by the development time of around two years during which the e-RV Concept was developed by the Advanced Technology Group at Winnebago. The camper is designed as a fully electric concept for day or weekend trips. The model offers an 86 kWh battery, providing around 125 miles of range (approximately 200 kilometers) – similar to what Ford's "naked" Transit Van achieves. According to Winnebago, this meets the needs of the majority (54 percent) of new RV buyers, who take trips under 200 miles. Charging is possible at home, at the campsite, and at public charging stations. At DC charging stations, the charging time is about 45 minutes, allowing for 400- or even 600-kilometer daily stages if needed.

The base is the Ford-Transit platform, but with Lightning e's electric drive system, which powers the drive, vehicle control, and living area. An integrated control system allows for the operation of subsystems, optimizing load and efficiency. Control is possible via a digital display on a tablet or smartphone app. The model also needs energy for living, as it features a water heater, induction cooktop, and refrigerator, with air conditioning and a heat pump mounted on the roof. A Wi-Fi network with a dual-modem router enables internet connectivity. Ashish Bhattacharya, Senior Vice President – Business Development, Advanced Technology and Enterprise Marketing, Winnebago Industries, proudly explains:

"This fully electric camper concept offers a glimpse into the future of the growing RV market"

Winnebago has not yet provided information on a possible sales start or prices.

At the same trade fair, Thor Industries presented concepts for an electrically driven motorhome and a caravan. The Thor Vision Vehicle (TVV) is based on an electric chassis developed in collaboration with Roush. In addition to the battery, the TVV features a fuel cell, enabling a range of up to 300 miles (around 480 kilometers). Furthermore, Thor showcased a caravan called the Airstream eStream Concept, which has its own electric drive and batteries, significantly increasing the range of motorhome-trailer combinations.

What does that mean?

Even in the USA, with its vast distances, there is significant consideration of electric camper concepts: both as towed caravans and as self-driving campers. It remains to be seen when these concepts will go into series production and what developments will follow in Europe.