Winnebago Announces All-New eRV2 Electric Camper Van

Explore the Great Outdoors in Style, Off-Grid for 7 Days!

Winnebago, a leading manufacturer of recreational vehicles (RVs), has announced the release of its new eRV2 electric camper van. The official debut of the eRV2 is set to take place at the Florida RV Super Show, but Winnebago has decided to release details of the van ahead of the show. You won’t want to miss this as Winnebago will be offering test rides at the Tampa show. The eRV2 is an upgraded version of the eRV prototype that was released last year. This new version is built on a factory Ford E-Transit chassis and has an estimated range of 108 miles, making it more suitable for shorter trips and local micro-adventures than extended road trips. Recent US Travel studies show that most people travel under 150 miles when taking a vacation over the road, so this shouldn’t be an issue. It is also getting more common to find a place to recharge as needed.

Winnebago Doubles Down On eRV Market

The eRV2 is Winnebago’s second electric camper van prototype and is a significant evolution of its predecessor. The switch from the electrified Transit chassis from Lightning eMotors to the E-Transit chassis from Ford has resulted in a slight loss of range when compared to the eRV prototype, which had an estimated range of 125 miles. However, Winnebago is actively exploring various options for extending the range of the eRV2 to ensure that it meets the performance expectations of personal and commercial RVers. This includes exploring technologies such as rotary engine generators and hydrogen fuel cells, including options which have been used by other major RV manufacturers to augment the low ranges of fully electric motorhomes.

“Our primary goal in building the eRV2 was to help people comfortably explore the world around them with less environmental impact,” says Huw Bower, Winnebago president. “The user experience was at the heart of this prototype’s development, through the early days of market research and even now as it goes through field testing.”

Who Needs Hookups When You Can Go Off-Grid For 7 Days?

The eRV2 will not only commute to the campsite under pure-electric power but will also continue running on battery power at the campsite. The prototype relies on a proprietary “IonBlade” lithium house battery to power all onboard camper equipment. Winnebago collaborated with Lithionics Battery to create this thin-bodied 15-kWh 48-V lithium battery, which is housed below the van floor. A 900-W solar array helps keep the battery running while parked at camp, and Winnebago estimates that the eRV2 can run its electric camp for up to seven days of off-grid boondocking. This is perfect for multi-day festivals, or multi-day tailgating experiences for professional and college level sports or race events.

Innovations Continue Inside The eRV2

The RV innovations don’t stop there. The interior of the eRV2 has been designed to be smart, modern and cutting-edge. The layout is adaptable and designed for the modern work/live-on-the-road nomadic professional. This is a great news for the remote worker or those who take workations. The cabin features a 5-in-1 multipurpose lounge/sleep area, two adaptable workspaces with built-in charging ports, and a high-speed Wi-Fi router. The Winnebago Connect system offers smart home-like monitoring and control from a command screen inside the eRV2 and an accompanying app.

The interior design of the eRV2 is guided by modern Japandi principles, which is a fusion of Japanese and Scandinavian design philosophies. This is in line with current trends in the RV industry, where manufacturers have been incorporating Scandinavian-inspired design to even greater effect, and Japan micro-RVs have been fascinating the world with their incredibly efficient use of space. Winnebago in it’s commitment to sustainability, also promises an emphasis on using recycled, plant-based, and biodegradable materials in the construction of the eRV2.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iE7GvAV70dA

The Environmental Impact of EVs

There is no denying the push to use and increase the manufacturing of EVs across the globe. Electric vehicles have several environmental benefits over traditional gasoline-powered cars, such as reduced emissions and lower fuel costs. However, there are also some ecological drawbacks to consider when it comes to EVs. These can get overlooked in all the excitement over alternative energy and drive to lower fuel emissions in the air.

One drawback is the environmental impact of the materials and manufacturing process used to produce EVs. The production of EVs requires large amounts of metals and other materials, which can have a significant environmental impact if not sourced sustainably. Additionally, the manufacturing process for EVs uses a lot of energy and generates emissions, which can offset some of the emissions savings from driving an EV.

Another drawback is the environmental impact of the batteries used in EVs. The production of lithium-ion batteries, which are commonly used in EVs, can be energy-intensive and generates emissions. Additionally, the disposal of used batteries can also be a problem if not done properly as it can harm the environment.

The generation of electricity also plays a role in the environmental impact of EVs. If the electricity used to charge EVs is generated from fossil fuels, then the emissions savings from driving an EV can be offset. However, if the electricity used to charge EVs is generated from renewable sources, the environmental impact is greatly reduced.

Furthermore, while EVs produce no tailpipe emissions, they are not completely emissions-free. The power plants used to generate electricity to charge EVs do produce emissions, and while they tend to be cleaner than traditional gasoline-powered cars, they still contribute to air pollution.

Lastly, the recycling and disposal of EVs also poses a problem. As these vehicles are relatively new, there are not many recycling centers that are equipped to handle their disposal. This means that old EVs could end up in landfills, potentially releasing toxic chemicals into the environment.

In Summary,

Winnebago’s eRV2 electric camper van is a significant evolution of its predecessor, the eRV prototype. The eRV2 is built on a factory Ford E-Transit chassis and has an estimated range of 108 miles, making it more suitable for shorter trips and local micro-adventures. Winnebago is actively exploring various options for extending the range of the of the eRV2 to ensure that it meets the performance expectations of RVers. This includes exploring technologies such as rotary engine generators and hydrogen fuel cells, which have been used by other major RV manufacturers to augment the low ranges of fully electric motorhomes. Also, while EVs have several environmental benefits, there are also some drawbacks to consider. The ecological impact of the materials and manufacturing process, batteries, electricity generation and recycling should be taken into account in order to fully assess the environmental impact of EVs.

https://youtu.be/F2vhUILvzYg