Sales of recreational vehicles have mushroomed since pandemic lockdowns began, and while fans may crave the chance to get back to nature, environmentalists fret over the impact caused by gas-guzzling RVs.
However, RV market leader Thor Industries is looking for a way to reduce its environmental impact. After rolling out an electrified prototype for its Airstream brand earlier this year, Thor Industries has formed a strategic alliance with EV startup Harbinger Motors. That could lead to all-electric versions of Thor’s various RV lines, including products as big as Class A motorhomes, the partners said.
The alliance, said Thor Chief Operating Officer Todd Woelfer, is “focused on developing an electrified RV ecosystem as we execute on Thor’s defined eMobility strategy.”
And Thor — which operates a dozen different RV brands in the U.S. — isn’t alone. RV manufacturers as diverse as Ford and Winnebago are also looking for ways to electrify their product lines.
Challenges ahead
As with the automobile industry, the trend is being driven by concerns about climate change, but there are other factors at work.
“RVs have become ever more popular over the last few years but the problem is that they consumer a lot of energy,” said Sam Abuelsamid, principal auto analyst with Guidehouse Insights. That’s not only an environmental issue, “But it also can get expensive,” especially at current gas prices, he added.
The challenge is coming up with a way to reduce, or fully eliminate, the use of fossil fuels while still offering the freedom and flexibility of today’s recreational vehicles, said John Harris, the CEO and co-founder of Harbinger Motors. “If you tell people we’re to make the environment better but they can’t cook hamburgers (in their RV) anymore, that’s not going to sell.”
Modular battery packs could solve some problems
Unlike Tesla and more recent startups like Lucid Motors and Rivian, California-based Harbinger is focused on medium- to heavy-duty truck applications. It unveiled a series of all-electric truck platforms at the North American International Auto Show in September that can be used to underpin everything from Class 4 to 6 trucks.
And it’s looking to add one with an even larger 228-inch wheelbase that could be used for Class A motorhomes, the RV industry’s largest products, Harris told TheDetroitBureau.com in an exclusive interview.
Harbinger has developed a modular battery system, the CEO explained, each individual pack capable of delivering up to 40 miles of range. The largest of its current electric chasses can squeeze in up to eight packs, potentially providing more than 300 miles per charge.
Plugging in
It won’t be as easy as charging an all-electric passenger vehicle, said analyst Abuelsamid, cautioning that using a home charger could take days for the largest RVs. Owners would likely have to rely on the fastest public chargers currently available, ones delivering up to 350 kilowatts of direct current. And charging times would be lengthy, even then, he said, especially for those RV owners taking cross-country trips.
But that may be a bit less of a roadblock than it might seem. RV industry data shows that a sizable share are driven less than 100 miles. And the typical driver uses theirs for a 4- to 5-hour weekend journey of 150 to 250 miles.
The further an all-electric RV were to be driven the greater the potential savings on fuel. But analysts say the challenge will be holding down the initial purchase price.
Airstream’s eStream introduces some unique features
Harbinger’s Harris wasn’t ready to discuss costs. And neither the EV startup nor Thor are disclosing how they plan to electrify the product lines of brands like Venture, Cruiser or Airstream. The latter marque, best known for its silver, aluminum-skinned trailers, rolled out a prototype during the RV SuperShow in Florida last January.
While Airstream’s eStream concept still requires a tow vehicle — generally a pickup truck — it has the ability to power up its lights, climate control system and appliances using twin 40 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery packs.
The eStream is a plug-in hybrid and can provide some additional propulsion to help reduce the load on the tow vehicle. And a novel feature lets the owner unhitch and then drive the RV — at slow speeds — into a camp site or parking lot.
The 22-foot eStream “represents a peek into our future,” Airstream CEO and President Bob Wheeler said at the RV SuperShow, adding that it may strongly “influence what you will see … in a couple of years.”
The competition
The annual industry event also saw the Winnebago brand weigh in with its own fully self-propelled “e-RV.” Specific details weren’t released, though Winnebago did confirm the electric motor home used an 86 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack it expects would yield about 125 miles per charge.
“This is an exciting time for Winnebago Industries and the outdoor lifestyle industry as a whole,” said Michael Happe, Winnebago Ind. president and CEO, as the company unveiled the e-RV.
Still other RV manufacturers are looking to electrify. Earlier this month, Ford rolled-out a new version of its popular Class B motorhome, dubbed the Transit Trail. It currently uses a Ford EcoBoost V-6 powertrain. But Ford recently launched an all-electric version of the standard Transit van. And, longer term, adding a battery-powered motorhome version is “something we’re looking at,” said Chief Engineer Ray Eyles.
For now, the electric version of the Transit van “doesn’t have the capabilities or range to support the (RV) lifestyle.” But better batteries are under development, Eyles added, noting that “Ford’s future is very much electric.”
No offense but I’ll stick with diesel power for any serious RV’ing. It’s available everywhere, driving range and towing performance. For a greener trip I’ll fill up with renewable biodiesel fuel.