Two major players in the Class B van space have announced new electric camper prototypes.
Mercedes EQT Marco Polo Camper Van
Mercedes debuted its EQT Marco Polo Camper Van last week, and Winnebago exhibited its eRV2 at the RV SuperShow in Florida on Monday.
“For us, the future is electric – regardless of the size or purpose of a van,” said Klaus Rehkugler, Head of Marketing and Sales at Mercedes-Benz Vans. “The latest proof of this strategic direction is our new EQT with all-electric drive. With the Marco Polo Module, we also have a first, simple solution for the all-electric camping trip on offer in 2023.”
Rehkugler added, “In the second half of 2023, we plan to expand our range even further with a fully electric micro camper. The Concept EQT Marco Polo gives a glimpse of the upcoming series production vehicle. As the name suggests, we are expanding our Marco Polo family with both products, based on the EQT.”
The camper van will be powered by an electric motor with a peak output of 90 kW (122 hp) and a maximum torque of 245 Nm (180 ft-lb.). The lithium-ion battery is installed in a crash-protected location in the underbody in front of the rear axle and has a usable capacity of 45 kWh. The EQT can be charged at 22 kW with 110-volt alternating current (AC) using an onboard charger. It can be rapid-charged using direct current (DC), depending on the SoC (State of Charge) and the temperature of the high-voltage battery. If the EQT is equipped with an 80 kW DC charger, the charging time will then be 38 minutes from 10-80 percent.
Mercedes indicated that the price of the EQT will start at around €49,000, or approximately $53,294 for the EQT with 90 kW e-motor and standard length. A long wheelbase variant is planned for later in 2023.
Winnebago eRV2
For its new eRV2 prototype, Winnebago made a big change in its starter vehicle. The company initially based the concept van on a regular Ford Transit chassis with an electric powertrain developed by Lightning eMotors, a company which specializes in commercial vehicles. The current eRV2 is built on the Ford E-Transit platform, Ford’s proprietary all-electric cargo van which debuted last year.
Winnebago earlier published the range of the eRV2 as 108 miles, because that is the range stated in the technical specifications for the E-Transit high roof commercial vehicle. The short range has raised eyebrows among RVers, and Winnebago said in a press release at the Florida SuperShow that they’re “actively pursuing range extension opportunities.”
Winnebago has entered into an agreement with Lithionics Battery® on a proprietary “house battery” that will power appliances like the refrigerator, which it says “features a 48V system with more than 15,000 usable watt-hours, and a unique thin lay-flat design stored beneath the floor to maximize interior space.”
The eRV2 will be equipped with solar panels that can reportedly provide up to seven days of off-grid camping.
Winnebago said they are working to lock down the final chassis configuration for the eRV2 “later this year,” and that the “model could change significantly from this current prototype.”
Winnebago has not yet released pricing information for the production eRV2.
##RVT1088b
No way! Just ask the Ford E 150 pick-up owner that was stranded in the California desert, and it took several portable generators 4 days to charge it, just to drive the electric pickup truck to the nearest charging station. Tow trucks are making announcements, that if you need roadside service and have an EV, they cannot provide any charging services to help. Too little available electricity from the grid, too much social experimentation to eliminate petroleum, and all causing higher expense burdens for citizens, when there needs to be a true balance of all sources of energy from; Solar, Wind, Natural Gas, Coal, Nuclear and Hydroelectric to meet the actual demands of electricity production. Remember over 700,000,000+ people in the world don’t even have clean drinking water. That requires petroleum to pump it, to run water treatment facilities to distribution pumps to reach humans. A nice thing to think about, but let’s focus on the big picture of providing needed electricity first.
Class B camper vans are notorious for having very very low NCC. I would like to see what having the battery/ electric motor does in that regard vs a gas or diesel and transmission.
The torque value looked incredibly low. Also still waiting on the impacts of cold temps…have read some real life info on much faster discharge rates and difficulty charging.
I’m not anti-electric but it’s no where near ready for my needs. For those who can use it now and want it, good for them.
In Lancaster Farming , there is a 2022 Ford E-Transit 350 cargo van advertised for weeks. The ad indicated it only has 126 mile range. Not enough miles for most campers.
They can fight over the name “California Special”.
More like California Special Needs comes with helmets and is only available in the color yellow.
And while waiting at non-existent charging stations that might be within your driving range, what will you do? No power equals no fun. Lots of very isolated sections of Interstate Highways without any services now. Thinking West Texas, New Mexico, Arizona. You can add to the list
We’ll let’s see, we have to stop every 2 hrs and charge for an hr, then drive 2 more hrs and stop for an hr, how convenient for a vacation, 1/3 of your vacation sitting while charging. Nope give me an ICE vehicle where I can drive several hrs, stop refuel in 10 minutes and continue my vacation. I’m sure they’ll sell many of these as there are millions of people who rush out and buy anything new on the market just to say they bought the newest that was made.
Make it one hour maybe if you’re towing a boat.
Small step. Still want to see Class A with 400mi range and charges in <1 hour. 5+ years away but the tech is getting there with the recent semis from Tesla/Nikola.