As the world is trending towards going green and saving the environment, campers and RV manufacturers are trying to do their part in fighting the good fight. Since 2018, all-electric RVs and motorhomes were nothing more than a pipe dream that eco-friendly campers wished existed. However, there are some companies that are offering all-electric RVs and campers.
Some all-electric RVs that are available to you include the Iridium EV and the Winnebago Electric RV. Aside from these, there are a wide range of Class B motorhomes that come in all-electric models such as the Volkswagen Type 20, the Fiat Ducato, the Nissan Pop-top Electric Campervans, and the Mercedes Sprinter.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at some of the best and most exciting all-electric RVs and campervans. We’re also going to examine the importance of the all-electric RV, and some of the benefits they offer over other vehicles.
Iridium EV Electric RV
The Iridium was the first-ever fully electric RV and it hit the market in 2019. This innovative RV boasts everything that you could ever need in an RV including a kitchen, a bathroom, bedroom, dining area, a lounge, and an awning. It also features dual-swivel front seats for your driving convenience as well as the best in Bluetooth navigation.
During its original conception, it was thought that the Iridium would only have a range of around 140 miles. This sent the engineers back to the drawing boards and they managed to devise an RV that can go up to 249 miles before having to recharge. The Iridium offers one of the best batteries available in electric vehicles anywhere.
Winnebago Electric RV
What started out as a giant bus that traveled from hospital to hospital to provide mobile care to those in need has evolved into an all-electric RV. The 100% all-electric Winnebago RV boasts zero emissions, and can save you even more money by offering state, federal, and local incentives. These incentives come in addition to all the money you’ll save on gas.
The Winnebago RV is much larger than the Iridium and comes in lengths of 33 feet or 38 feet. If it’s made by Winnebago, you know it’s going to have first-class levels of leisure and comfort. With the chassis being made by Ford and the electric motor being made by Motiv Power Systems, the Winnebago Electric RV is bound to be a hit. Unfortunately, Winnebago doesn’t quite offer the distance of the Iridium and can only go a maximum of 125 miles before needing a recharge.
Class B Motorhomes AKA Campervans
Aside from the two Class A motorhomes mentioned above, the rest of the all-electric RVs fall to campervans. While campervans might not be as big and offer all the commodities of full-sized RVs, they’re big enough to fit a family of five or six, and are great for getting you to the outdoors that you crave.
Volkswagen Type 20 EV Microbus
Volkswagen is a German company known for producing famous cars like the Bettle and the Jetta, but with this spin on the timeless Volkswagen van, they’ve entered into a whole new playing field. The Volkswagen Type 20 offers the camping convenience of a van combined with the classic look of the Volkswagen van.
Fiat Ducato
The Italian Fiat company is best-known for their adorable compact cars that can squeeze in and out of traffic smoothly and swiftly. The Fiat Ducato is a van that is frequently converted into a campervan and for good reason.
You can travel up to 230 miles without having to recharge the batter, which is enough to get you to most campgrounds or recharging stations. The Ducato also has the ability of traveling up to 60 miles per hour which isn’t going to win any races, but then again, you’re camping and should be taking it easy.
Nissan Pop-top Electric Campervan
If you’re looking for a smaller, all-electric conversion van to turn into a camper, then the Nissan Pop-Top is for you. You’re not going to be able to fit more than one or two people into the back of this bad boy, but they’re perfect for weekend warriors who are looking for adventure.
The Nissan Pop-Top can travel up to 124 miles on a single charge and is by far the most affordable option when it comes to all-electric campervans and RVs. Incredibly, it also has the capabilities needed to add a kitchen that features a cooktop and other small kitchen accessories. You might not have much, but you’ll have everything you need for a good camping trip.
Mercedes Sprinter
The Mercedes Sprinter is far and away one of the most popular vans on the market. It’s ideal for anything from camping to working to driving people around. It’s size and versatility make it ideal for camping conversion. The converting of Mercedes Sprinter vans into campers has gotten so popular, that Mercedes themselves are planning to build a Sprinter camper specifically for camping.
Advantages Of All-Electric RVs
All-electric RVs are finally getting the attention that they deserve and with good reason. They offer advantages that other RVs simply don’t.
- Savings on gasoline costs.
I’m not sure where you’re living in the world, but in the United States, gas prices have gotten outrageous in the last year. Diesel fuel and unleaded gasoline prices have soared and they show no signs of stopping any time soon.
Whether you’re driving an RV or towing a camper with a truck, you’ll be lucky to get more than 10 or 15 miles to the gallon on a good day. These costs add up fast, especially if you enjoy traveling the country and want to camp your way across America. Before you know it, you can easily spend thousands of dollars on gas alone. All-electric RVs offer you the chance to save this extra money and spend on something that you want.
- Savings via incentives from your state, local, and federal officials.
As the government is putting more and more emphasis on going green and saving the planet, they are offering incentives to purchase all-electric vehicles. In the past, this used to only apply to cars, trucks, and vans. With the arrival of all-electric RVs, however, those same incentives and savings are being offered to RV owners.
- The freedom to camp anywhere and everywhere.
Believe it or not, there are certain areas that don’t allow gas-powered vehicles due to the damage that an idling engine causes. With an all-electric RV, you can avoid being ousted from areas such as these.
- You’re reducing your emissions and helping the environment
Aside from all the money you’ll save on fuel, the biggest advantage to driving an all-electric RV is saving the environment. All-electric RVs don’t release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere like gas-powered cars and RVs do. Carbon dioxide is a gas that contributes to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which is the chief component behind the acceleration of climate change.
Electric RVs also get their power from renewable sources of energy such as wind, water, and solar panels. If you’re concerned about the earth and want to reduce or eliminate your carbon footprint, then an all-electric RV is the way to go.
Cons Of All-Electric RVs
While there are definite advantages to driving an all-electric RV, there are also some disadvantages that you should keep in mind.
- Less engine power
It’s quite common for RVers to want to tow an extra vehicle or trailer behind them during their travels. All-electric vehicles don’t have as much engine power currently or towing capacity as their diesel counterparts, but with technological changes coming down the pipe, that may not be the case in the future.
- You’ll have to stop to recharge fairly often
Most of the all-electric RVs and campervans currently on the market can’t go farther than 100 or 200 miles without having to recharge currently. The Iridium EV is the exception to this rule and can go up to 249, but that’s pretty well the max when it comes to electric RVs.
Final Thoughts
It’s been a long time coming, but all-electric RVs have finally become a reality. While there are only a few options to choose from right now, there are hopes that companies like Tesla venture into the realm of camping and dazzle us with an RV. All-electric RVs could change the way we camp and the way we live our everyday lives. If you want to save money, the environment, and the cutting edge of technology, then you should consider purchasing an all-electric RV.
