Solar-Powered ERV Camper Trailer Is a Luxury, Rugged Home Away From Home

It was only a matter of time before the electric revolution came to campers, and the ERV is a good example of that. Not only is it fully electric and solar powered, but it’s entirely self-sufficient, allowing you to go completely off the grid for months in a row.

If saving the planet is not your thing (though it should be, by all means), then know that the ERV is also as fancy as a 5-star hotel. So you can go on adventures without adding to the very pressing problem of climate change, and still be living large. How’s that for an enticing selling point?

The ERV is the latest offering from Australia-based Retreat Caravan, using technology from OzXCorp. It was unveiled at the end of last year and then officially introduced in February 2020. As of the time of writing, interested parties can inquire directly with Retreat Caravan about delivery dates, customization options and price range. The company has not made any dates public yet.

The ERV is the (not-so-) little camper that tries to do it all and actually succeeds. With a focus on making it fully sustainable, Retreat Caravan also strove to deliver a trailer that would do well on rough terrains and, just as importantly, that would double as a home away from home. So what you get is a fully-electric, luxurious, all-terrain-capable camper that could very well change the way you think about off-road adventures.

Fitted with a rooftop solar panel that produces 2,033 watts that charge a 14.3-kWh lithium battery, the ERV can go for long stretches off the grid. This is more than enough juice to power all the appliances on board, which, to be fair, are not few. It comes with everything you could possibly need, from a washing machine, hair dryer and television set, to cooking top and electric barbecue, air conditioning and heating, and fridge and slow cooker. You can even use them all at once and you would still not run out of power, Retreat Caravan says.

When you’re not stopped in isolated areas, you can charge the ERV the same way you would an electric car or bicycle, using a wall outlet. ERV is also designed to harvest energy while on the go, while thermal insulating properties ensure it stays warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Made with all-terrain capabilities, the electric camper trailer is fitted with tuned suspension and heavy-duty tires that turn any journey into a smooth ride. The cabin is made from composite material that doesn’t use timber, so it’s guaranteed to be rot-free for a lifetime.

Inside, the ERV is way fancier than its rugged exterior would have you believe. It comes with a full-size kitchen packed with appliances and fixtures with plenty of storage space, an entertainment and dining area, and a sleeping area with a king-size bed and a separate bathroom.

With black and white finishes, and plenty imitation marble and pleather, the interior comes in sharp contrast to the outside. As far as trailer campers go, this one is definitely on the posh side.

Retreat Caravan says the ERV has been tested on the road and was able to complete a plug-free journey of 20,088 km (12,482 miles) and 176 days across Australia, which should convince you of the accuracy of their “off-grid capability” claims.

“This was completely ‘off-the-grid’ traveling,” ERV national sales manager George Drak said at the official unveil in December 2019. “This was a class-leading six-month test, not a week-long sprint that most caravan manufacturers do.”

Of course, all these awesome features packed into a single camper trailer come with a price to match. The Retreat Caravan website does not list the exact amount for the basic model, but they did say back in December that it would sell for upwards of $109,000 AUD, which is roughly US$68,000. Uncrate notes that pricing starts at $75,000.