What spiking gas prices? Winnebago is further testing its functional and revolutionary concept, the e-RV, and reporting crossing a new milestone: the completion of a 1,400-mile journey in the U.S.
Winnebago became the first major RV manufacturer to present an all-electric motorhome in January this year. The e-RV might not get too many points for creativity as far as naming goes, but its goal is admirable: to serve as the foundation for the development of a future electric RV.
To that end, earlier this month, Winnebago took the e-RV for further testing, setting a bunch of U.S. records in the process. The e-RV completed a nearly 1,400-mile journey, its longest continuous drive so far and the first known drive of 1,000 miles (1,600 km) in an electric RV. Average speed was 53 mph (82 kph), and total charging cost of $275, representing a 60% saving over a gas-powered road trip.
The trip, which consisted of 26 hours of driving but unspecified charging time, started in Washington DC and ended at Winnebago HQ in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. It served to highlight the functionality of the existing concept, as well as the fact that all-electric RVs should be an industry goal. Due to the short range of the e-RV, it also helped to underline the challenges Winnebago and other industry players are still facing in their quest to offer sustainable, green solutions for RV-ers.
Based on a Ford Transit van, the e-RV has a range of just 125 miles (201 km). Winnebago tried to soften the harsh reality of the limited range in January, saying that recent figures indicated most RV buyers preferred to make trips under 200 miles (322 km). The Winnebago e-RV could fit right in that category with some future upgrades.
The e-RV remains a concept for the time being, but Winnebago will use what they learned on this road trip to finetune and improve it. “We are excited to apply learnings from the road trip as we continue refining, exploring, and innovating future iterations of the vehicle,” Ashis Bhattacharya, Winnebago Industries senior vice president, Business Development, Advanced Technology and Enterprise Marketing, says in a statement.
To that end, earlier this month, Winnebago took the e-RV for further testing, setting a bunch of U.S. records in the process. The e-RV completed a nearly 1,400-mile journey, its longest continuous drive so far and the first known drive of 1,000 miles (1,600 km) in an electric RV. Average speed was 53 mph (82 kph), and total charging cost of $275, representing a 60% saving over a gas-powered road trip.
The trip, which consisted of 26 hours of driving but unspecified charging time, started in Washington DC and ended at Winnebago HQ in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. It served to highlight the functionality of the existing concept, as well as the fact that all-electric RVs should be an industry goal. Due to the short range of the e-RV, it also helped to underline the challenges Winnebago and other industry players are still facing in their quest to offer sustainable, green solutions for RV-ers.
Based on a Ford Transit van, the e-RV has a range of just 125 miles (201 km). Winnebago tried to soften the harsh reality of the limited range in January, saying that recent figures indicated most RV buyers preferred to make trips under 200 miles (322 km). The Winnebago e-RV could fit right in that category with some future upgrades.
The e-RV remains a concept for the time being, but Winnebago will use what they learned on this road trip to finetune and improve it. “We are excited to apply learnings from the road trip as we continue refining, exploring, and innovating future iterations of the vehicle,” Ashis Bhattacharya, Winnebago Industries senior vice president, Business Development, Advanced Technology and Enterprise Marketing, says in a statement.