Climate change forecasts grow more dire by the day. But a new all-electric motorhome could shine a bright spot in the bleakness when it hits the European marketplace in early 2019.
The Iridium all-electric motorhome. Image: EFA-S & WOF.
The RV of the Climate Change Age: Iridium, the All-Electric Motorhome is Here
By the time you read this article, a real world all-electric motorhome will be on its way to the January 2019 CMT travel trade show in Stuttgart, Germany.
The exciting clean energy breakthrough in the European campervan industry is the result of a partnership between two German automobile companies, WOF and ElektroFahrzeuge Stuttgart (EFA-S). Both are known for their work in the country’s robust electric vehicle marketplace. The campervan’s electric-powered chassis is built by WOF, while the drivetrain and battery technology is made by EFA-S. Swiss RV designer, Maurer Fahrzeugbau built the RV body. The end result is a sleek motorhome that’s a leap forward in the clean energy vehicle marketplace.
Images of the interior won’t be released until after the January reveal. But this promotional video of a conceptual solar-powered RV design highlights what Iridium’s European-style living quarters might look like:
Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries: the Electric RV Breakthrough
Until now, the biggest obstacle in creating an all-electric motorhome has been wind. It takes a tremendous amount of energy to move a heavy, tall vehicle at 65 miles per hour. A RV’s wind resistance places a huge load on batteries. This limits most large electric vehicles to a short driving range, typically under 100 miles of travel before they need recharging.
The Iridium all-electric motorhome will be different. Each is powered by lithium iron phosphate batteries (the same type used in Dometic’s new portable PLB40 battery). Don’t confuse lithium iron phosphate batteries with lithium ion batteries.
Lithium iron phosphate batteries are the new kid on the block. They weigh less, are more efficient than lead acid batteries, have a longer life expectancy, and require less maintenance than old-school lithium ion batteries. This video explains more lithium iron phosphate battery advantages:
Meanwhile the Iridium RV has a travel range of about 125 miles — for now. Company representatives say that rapidly changing developments in the RV battery marketplace will give buyers’ driving range a boost in in the near future.
“Iridium customers can benefit from the fact that battery capacity is rapidly increasing,” says EFA-S Managing Director Bastian Beutel in the press release. “The same vehicle can, therefore, more than double its range in the near future with the same battery weight by replacing the battery”.
Travel distances aren’t as much of a problem in the densely populated areas inside Europe. Thankfully, Iridum buyers won’t need to worry too much about where they recharge the batteries. Each of these units comes with an integrated charger. This component enables owners to charge batteries anywhere from campgrounds to electric vehicle charging stations.
Meanwhile Across the RV Pond . . .
Winnebago’s experimental all-electric motorhome.
Back in the States, Winnebago is currently toying with their version of an electric specialty motorhome vehicle. The experimental RV is so new it doesn’t even have a name yet, but Ashis Bhattacharya, Vice President, Strategic Planning and Development, and leader of the Specialty Vehicles Division, says this is just the first step in a marketplace Winnebago will be a part of. “We believe that all-electric vehicle applications continue to evolve to serve numerous end-user needs and this is our first step as a participant in this space,” says Bhattacharya.
29 thoughts on “All-Electric Motorhome Coming to the RV Marketplace in 2019”
The article says “Don’t confuse lithium iron phosphate batteries with lithium ion batteries.”… but lithium iron phosphate (“LiFePO4” or “LFP”) batteries are simply one of several varieties of lithium ion batteries. They’re a different “chemistry” (or combination of electrode materials) from the lithium ion batteries more commonly used in electric vehicles or those used in mobile devices such as phones, but they’re all lithium ion.
The link in the article for “lithium ion batteries” actually goes to an RV Life article about lithium iron phosphate batteries (from Battle Born). Perhaps the author should read the link…
LiFePO4 are particularly suitable for electrical energy storage in an RV with an engine, but they’re not (as the article suggests) new; they’ve been around so long they’ve gone in and already back out of fashion for conversions of vehicles from engines to electric operation. Other types of lithium ion battery are not “old school”… they’re just suited to different applications.
LiFePO4 batteries are rarely used for electric vehicles, because as suited as they are to powering RV appliances when off of shore power, they are not well-suited to storage of propulsion energy for an EV.
There is new modification of LeFePO4 named A123 suited for high charge and discharge current and more cycles
“A123 Systems” was the name of a company which sold various types of lithium ion cells and batteries… until they went broke in 2013. It was “reorganized” after bankruptcy so there is still a company, but it is not a technology or type of LiFePO4 cell.
Wanxiang, out of China, bought A123. They also bought Fisker Automotive.
Isn’t it ironic how the US provides short term funding to get these game changing businesses going, then they falter, and in steps the Chinese to buy the (US paid for) technology. The answer would be for the US to go all in on developing technologies, but, no one wants to talk about that.
FYI, the Wanxiang North American Headquarters is off of I-90 in Elgin IL, and solar panels are also made in a Rockford IL facility.
WOF is not “known for their work in the country’s robust electric vehicle marketplace”; they’re the RV/commercial chassis conversion manufacturer in this partnership.
The base vehicle appears to a Fiat Ducato (or a variant under another brand from one of Fiat’s partners). Since the Ducato is now the base of many Class B and Class C motorhomes in North America, this would be relevant to RV enthusiasts here.
It is a good thing the deniers and nay-sayers on here were not in charge of accepting or killing the Wright Brothers Kitty Hawk experiment…we would all be riding horses.
First, blaming EV’s for the pathetic state of our grid is like victim shaming. It is not Tesla’s or any EV makers fault for the sad state of our grid, and its archaic fuel source. It is the dirty politicians who keep taking mega donations from fossil fuel companies, and then voting in outrageous subsidies for them…billions each year:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesellsmoor/2019/06/15/united-states-spend-ten-times-more-on-fossil-fuel-subsidies-than-education/#6561056d4473
Do some research, and get an open mind.
Just FYI, I have my own power grid, and have been fossil-free for 10 seasons now with all lawn and garden tools, including a dual-stage snowblower. Same for fridge, washer, TV, laptop, lights, etc.
Innovation requires an open mind.
Just for clarity, “Iridium” is the name of an entire line of conventional motorhomes from WOF; it is not a line of electric RVs, the promised concept vehicle is just one electric version of one model of the Iridium line.
http://www.emr-campers.de/wohnmobil-iridium/
As the linked Winnebago page clearly explains, the illustrated electric vehicle is not a motorhome at all – that’s why it doesn’t have a model name.. It is a speciality vehicle available for commercial customers, using the basic Winnebago Class A motorhome body (like other Winnebago Specialty Vehicles) on the usual Ford F53 chassis but equipped as an EV (instead of with the usual Ford V10 engine) by Motiv. It would be relatively useless as a motorhome, so they’re not even suggesting that anyone use it that way. Did the author even read Winnebago’s announcement?
How about starting by offering a hybrid? Seems like that would be a much easier step forward that would give good range and other advantages.
Listen, stop the madness with the electric vehicle baloney. Guess where the grid gets it power from, fossil fuel. The knuckleheads who tout the efficiency are dummies. The electric generation that supplies the grid used to charge the EVs is predominantly from fossil fuels, coal, Nat gas and other fuels. I laugh at all the knuckleheads but cry because the rest of us have to subsidize your purchase. Thank goodness that credit is phasing out soon.
Let’s see if they can make it on their own. Oh, and make sure you have a fossil fuel car when you go over the wood s and through the woods to grandma’s house. Like millions did over the holidays.
Spot on with where the electricity comes from. Maybe in fifty years when electricity is all renewable energy sourced will all electric vehicles make sense. Until then it is as you stated “baloney”. Robbing Peter to pay Paul.
$9 BILLION of taxpayer dollars already shoved up a liberal globalist RATHOLE. That is what Elon Musk has already grabbed from US serfs…given gratuitously by slimy, liberal “politicians” who are SUPPOSED to be good stewards of OUR MONEY. OUR $$$$$!!
Electric vehicles are baubles and cannot compete in the real market against IC vehicles, which have become ‘very clean’… Most politicians want us serfs OUT of our safe, clean IC cars and into mASS transit or short-distance, easily-controlled electric vehicles.
ECs use MORE overall energy and pollute MORE, due to depending on the GRID for recharging..& not to mention taking 45 minutes at least to recharge..IF you can find a “station”. Not to mention the environmental WASTE generated by 10000s of used batteries! What crap! PLUS I can carry a spare can or two of gasoline in my IC truck and refuel in 5 minutes. EVs are crap.. HaHa try carrying a spare charged battery LOL
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Someone has been giving you incorrect information. The false claim that EVs pollute more than ICEs has been debunked many times. The fact is that, even if 100% of the electricity used comes from fossil fuel generating plants, it is still more efficient to produce the electricity at a central power plant and then distribute it to a thousand vehicles than it is to distribute fossil fuels to a thousand vehicles with each one carrying its own power plant. Add in the fact that some of the electricity comes from renewable sources (50% hydro in the Pacific NorthWest), and it’s no contest. EVs are more efficient and less polluting, even when you include the environmental cost of manufacturing.
You are welcome to speculate all you want about conspiracy theories involving the hidden motives of politicians. But your theory doesn’t hold water when it’s propped up by incorrect information.
As for refueling times… I own an EV and also an ICE. In the past month, I’ve spent a total of approximately 30 minutes sitting in my ICE waiting for it to be refueled, and ZERO minutes sitting in my EV waiting for it to be refueled. Once a week, I plug in my EV in the driveway when I get home and it’s fully charged in the morning. That is *much* easier than going to a gas station.
Sbunny8, This is a really helpful, cogent response–thank you.
I’m actually trying to get some insight into how people who are interested in RVs are approaching the topic of electrification (or the potential for electrification?) of RVs. Do you know if there is a forum of sorts where people are exchanging ideas?
Wow Fred… you are one toxic guy. Have a suggestion for you – stay off the conspiracy sites – ditch Faux ‘news” and Breitbarf… and accept that learning is a life-long endeavor. Even for you.
I realize this comment is old, but it’s still largely incorrect. The source of electrical energy depends heavily on location, with some areas almost entirely fossil-fueled but other areas almost entirely hydroelectric, with substantial nuclear power in some areas and varying contributions from wind and solar almost everywhere. Considering the source is important, but assuming that it is fossil fuels is simply wrong.
100 – 125 mile range! Absolutely a non-starter. My internal combustion engine RV “will be gone 500 miles when the day is done”. Incredulous they put this stuff out there. Also not a hint at the price range. I wonder why.
EVs cannot compete.. LOL 45 minutes to’ partially’ recharge LOL no way to carry extra fuel and uuuge “taxpayer subsidies” to make them even cost close to the low cost of IC vehicles. My car gets 48 mpg on the road and my V6 truck hauls my travel trailer 400 miles in one day easily..and refuels in FIVE minutes.
Edward Wood says
January 6, 2019 at 11:15 pm
From fossil fuel to battery power and then to hydrogen cell,.Is this the path??
What good is information like this if a price tag is not included. Believe it or not many RVers have limited funds and it would be nice to know if the article is referring to something affordable.
It’s not really a production model, just a publicity exercise… so there’s no price. My guess is that for a rough idea of a production price, add perhaps $50,000 to the price of the regular version.
Pure hype by the author. As the article says, “Travel distances aren’t as much of a problem in the densely populated areas inside Europe.“. Yeah, 125 miles range is two hours of driving (That 125 miles would have to be with NO wind resistance), then you’re done and have to find a charging station and wait hours before you can get back on the road. The charging stations infrastructure in this country is barely established enough to serve autos, let alone a bigger vehicle like this. All the charging stations that I have seen are in parking lots for cars, From my experience traveling in the plains and desert southwest of the USA, there are pretty long stretches of highway in this country where 125 miles puts you in the middle of nowhere. Even if by some technical miracle they were able to double the range to 250 miles that’s still less tha 4 hours of range. As for the fossil fuel argument, not all areas of this country rely on fossil fuels for power generation. Many areas rely on hydroelectric, natural gas, wind, solar and nuclear.
It seems logical in a motorhome to charge at serviced campsites – hopefully with 50-amp service – rather than typical charging points. The range is still a huge issue, because it is a severe restriction to require a serviced site, and another severe restriction to travel no more than this short distance in a travel day. These are reasons that the Winnebago vehicle is not proposed as an RV, only as a special-use vehicle.
I agree, baloney. Most Class A drivers tow cars behind them. Can you imagine what that would do to the already skimpy 125 mile range? How many campgrounds will be pleased to see campers recharging their motorhomes from the already overtaxed campground electrical systems? Sorry, for the foreseeable future this is pure fantasy. Not feasible in this decade, or the next or the next after that.
“Most”? While many Class A’s tow cars (and some tow trailers), I doubt that it’s the majority. Also, that Iridium is a small Class C motorhome, not a Class A.
Where is very good and relatively cheap option available for motorhomes right now – 48V mild hybrid system. This 48V battery should have three purposes: engine hybrid, Solar and RV energy storage.
This is certainly a workable idea. Mild hybrids like this come and go. Currently, Ram is pushing their mild hybrids, but not Ford; perhaps when Ford’s promised mild hybrid trucks go into production, and make it to the SuperDuty series, it will be offered on the Ford motorhome chassis. Unfortunately, large numbers of RV buyers are unlikely to be willing to pay the cost premium, so RV manufacturers are unlikely to order them… especially since they want all chassis to be the same to make inventory manageable.
Since most motorhomes include a generator anyway, wouldn’t a hybrid make sense? Then the generator could kick in if the batteries begin to get low?
The most practical future of electric RVs would depend on its own solar panels to supplement the battery, along with 200 mile stops for charging. We have some solar in our RV and certainly can vision this a few years down the road.
Especially like the idea for now, the hybrid concept, supplementing the mpg. It’s coming folks! We already have electric trucks that can tow 10,000 lb trailers and Ford eco vans getting very close to a finished small RV.