Tag Archives: rv

THOR x Harbinger test world’s first hybrid Class A RV with 500 miles range, fulltimers take note

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THOR Industries – the parent company of Airstream – has been at the forefront of plug-in-hybrid motorhomes, which could soon be on the verge of a new electric journey. In collaboration with electric vehicle company Harbinger, THOR has unveiled what it touts as the world’s first hybrid class A RV electrified for the future of RVing.

Range anxiety and long charging times have been deterrents in the acceptance of electric vehicles and electric RVs as a choice of living and traveling. With the hybrid motorhome chassis, built for THOR by Harbinger, the two are addressing the range requirements that have pestered the EV industry.

Designer: THOR Industries

The THOR test vehicle, built on this special plug-in hybrid electric chassis that mimics a truck or bus chassis, is tailor-made for the unique range requirements of the RV industry. The hybrid option could give RV owners that ultimate freedom each fulltimer desires from his Class A. This platform for RVs manufactured by Harbinger trades the usual gasoline and electric powertrain hybrid option with a low-emissions gas generator and electric option.

This range extender system allows the gas generator to power onboard a 140kWh battery, which means the RV users can get additional range in their trip and camp without the need of an EV charger at the campsite. The battery is also hooked to the rooftop solar panel, which also adds to the electric prowess of the powertrain. In collaboration, the entire unit can deliver up to 500 miles of range.

According to evidence from the test vehicle built on this new chassis, the electric powertrain not only offers unbelievable mileage but also delivers acceleration and torque almost twice that of a diesel engine. This means RVs based on this new system should be able to compete with the best in the market in power and performance, and outsmart them by miles in the range department. In addition to the range extender and solar power, the 800-volt electrical system of the Harbinger platform can be charged via a DC Fast Charger at traditional charging points. This option for quick charge means you will spend less time at the charger and more time on the road and camping in peace off-the-grid.

“Electrification will play a central role in the future of mobility, including RVing,” said THOR Industries President and CEO Bob Martin. Since, THOR Industries wants to be ready for the future well in advance, it is likely to show up RVs with this hybrid platform in 2025.

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Maxvan Access camper van is designed to maximize floor space for style, comfort, and function

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Maxvan has become a name synonymous with recreational vehicles, whether it is designing the Pathway, a Class B wheelchair-accessible RV, or now the Access, which is more than a traditional leisure vehicle with the space it has on the inside. This spacious floor plan is made possible by pushing the rear of the van back by a few inches, the liveable space thus created accommodates a queen Murphy bed, a hidden toilet, shower, and free-standing headroom.

Maxvan says, ‘Access can go where other Class B RVs cannot with its low-profile clearance and thoughtful exterior design,’ which is pretty boxy on the driver’s side, but has a slightly rounded appearance on the passenger side. On the inside is where the magic begins. The driver seat is fixed for obvious safety though the passenger seat can swivel around to face the living area.

Designer: Maxvan

The obvious space inside a van home is pretty compact, but this one has an excitingly open floor plan to make up fo the tiny room, especially through its interesting rear bed composition. This is a combination of the Murphy bed at the extreme end on the driver side, and the sofa placed on the passenger side. The two combine to form a queen bed that’s laden with a cushiony mattress.

When not being used as a bed, the sofa can be used usually or for dining with a stowable swivel table aligning well. The sofa has a direct viewing angle at the wall-mounted 24-inch TV with HDMI port and DVD player. A walk toward the cabin will take you into the kitchen with a stainless steel countertop, a portable single burner stove, a sink, a microwave in the overhead storage, and a 76L fridge. The counter space folds out ahead of the sink, which hides below a cassette toilet seat covered using a shower curtain when occupied.

The kitchen faucet is attached to a showerhead, which you can use in the recessed floor area ahead of the kitchen, which works as a shower pan with integrated drainage and also lowers the kitchen floor slightly, increasing the headspace for someone cooking in the kitchen. The Access can be prepared for off-grid living with optional solar panels and awning, but for its asking price of $99,800, it comes packed with an air conditioner, heater, 100Ah battery, and 1,000W inverter.

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Convert your Tesla Model Y into a micro-home with this utilitarian camper kit

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There are hardcore adventure enthusiasts who like to carry their home on wheels, and then there are ones who like to keep things toned down for the occasional skirmish into the woods for a day. For the former, there are countless options on the market, and for the latter, there’s a niche still left wide open for exploration.

A New Zealand startup wants to give Tesla Model Y owners a reason to head out of the city limits. The company wants to offer a simple yet efficient solution in the form of a sleeper platform that sits snugly behind the rear seats. When it’s time to set up a temporary camp, the make-shift camper platform flings up giving access to the trunk and expands into a two-berth bed. Thus, transforming your Model Y into a micro-home to catch a quick nap in the late afternoon.

Designer: Teraglide

We do love the idea of full-blown camper kits for hatchbacks and crossovers, but for occasional users, this is a practical solution that does what’s needed with maximum conviction and the least hassle. This makes sense for people who like to preserve their rear seat space. Ones who want to take along a camping stove and a compact tent. The extending camping bed is tailor-made for the Tesla’s mid-sized SUV, as it fits perfectly in the rear section with a few interlocking slats.

Once fitted, the lightweight platform (not heavy like the full-blown camper kits that affect range) slides on top of the folded rear seats and extends into a stable base to sleep two adults without breaking a sweat. To add more width, the two detachable front wings attach to both sides. This presents a bed platform measuring 73 x 50 inches that folds back down to a 36-inch platform fitting in the back of your trusted electric SUV.

One feature that instantly resonated with me is the tilting-up hinged design that rises so that one can clear all the mess from the sunken space in the trunk. This also doubles as a two-tier storage system, as the upper shelf can be used to store frequently used cargo and the lower section to stash things that are not used frequently. Another feature other than this useful utility is a couple of slide-out tabletops that double as a bed or outdoor side tables.

The platform bed by Teraglide is crafted out of premium birch plywood with a protective soft-touch film for extra durability. Best of all, the assembly doesn’t rely on any hard mounting and can be easily done with the help of a buddy. The maker is serious about pitching its product worldwide and is looking for manufacturing associates in the US and Europe to bring down shipping costs. Priced at approximately $850 for the base model, the startup has also got a $970 version that comes prefitted with a self-inflating memory foam mattress.

 

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This 20-foot-long futuristic recreational vehicle has button-activated expandable walls to become a 400 sqft mobile home instantly

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eVTOL aircrafts may be the future of personal aviation but the future of adventures on the road would be an all-encompassing recreational vehicle that transforms from its minimal structure on demand. We have seen a few iterations of travel trailers – such as the Rockwood Roo – that fit the notion, but the smart expanding ability with sustainable features is yet to reach recreational vehicles.

That’s what we thought until going up and personal with the eTH, an Electric Transformer House, doing rounds at CES in its rendered glory. A sublime blend of comfort, smart tech, and sustainability; it is by far the most futuristic mobile living space present in Vegas, at the time of writing. Visioned with the future in mind, eTH is the brainchild of Italian design house Pininfarina and AC Future, a leading inventor of living solutions for the future.

Designer: Pininfarina and AC Future

This mobile living space is a green van that features an all-glass upper body. The developers have a proof of concept at CES, and from how we learn, the prototype could be on the way. The mass production for this ultra-capable, highly functional, and amazingly luxurious mobile home is aligned for the fourth quarter of 2025, that’s if all were to go as planned.

This out-of-the-ordinary electric recreational vehicle is different from the usual market-ready options in two departments: first, its expansion ability and second, the vivid sustainable functions on board. The eTH aligns in the former segment with movable walls, which allows the structure of the modular living space to expand from 20-foot-long, 11-foot-high to a good 400 square feet abode on the push of a button.

While the expanding form factor of the eTH would allow the RV to redefine the concept of living on wheels, it will be the inherent off-grid features that would make it a haven for adventurers. To that end, the modular RV features retractable 25kWh solar panels on the roof and onboard batteries to power it for a week of off-the-grid living. Details on the sleeping facility, washroom, and kitchen are scanty at the moment, but the Electric Transformer House has an Atmospheric Water Generator that produces fresh drinking water from the air every day.

The fascination extends further into the inside of the eTH where folding furniture enthralls with the convenience it renders while driving or when halted for the night. The lux interior allows this RV to be used as a full-time residence or mobile home by nomadic workaholics. For the latter, the inventive cockpit with driver assist technology and entertainment hub has a dashboard that doubles as an office desk. The steering wheel retracts under and the space above becomes a functional workspace while Starlink and Co-Pilot take care of the connectivity requirements.

The post This 20-foot-long futuristic recreational vehicle has button-activated expandable walls to become a 400 sqft mobile home instantly first appeared on Yanko Design.

This 20-foot-long futuristic recreational vehicle has button-activated expandable walls to become a 400 sqft mobile home instantly

Posted on by

eVTOL aircrafts may be the future of personal aviation but the future of adventures on the road would be an all-encompassing recreational vehicle that transforms from its minimal structure on demand. We have seen a few iterations of travel trailers – such as the Rockwood Roo – that fit the notion, but the smart expanding ability with sustainable features is yet to reach recreational vehicles.

That’s what we thought until going up and personal with the eTH, an Electric Transformer House, doing rounds at CES in its rendered glory. A sublime blend of comfort, smart tech, and sustainability; it is by far the most futuristic mobile living space present in Vegas, at the time of writing. Visioned with the future in mind, eTH is the brainchild of Italian design house Pininfarina and AC Future, a leading inventor of living solutions for the future.

Designer: Pininfarina and AC Future

This mobile living space is a green van that features an all-glass upper body. The developers have a proof of concept at CES, and from how we learn, the prototype could be on the way. The mass production for this ultra-capable, highly functional, and amazingly luxurious mobile home is aligned for the fourth quarter of 2025, that’s if all were to go as planned.

This out-of-the-ordinary electric recreational vehicle is different from the usual market-ready options in two departments: first, its expansion ability and second, the vivid sustainable functions on board. The eTH aligns in the former segment with movable walls, which allows the structure of the modular living space to expand from 20-foot-long, 11-foot-high to a good 400 square feet abode on the push of a button.

While the expanding form factor of the eTH would allow the RV to redefine the concept of living on wheels, it will be the inherent off-grid features that would make it a haven for adventurers. To that end, the modular RV features retractable 25kWh solar panels on the roof and onboard batteries to power it for a week of off-the-grid living. Details on the sleeping facility, washroom, and kitchen are scanty at the moment, but the Electric Transformer House has an Atmospheric Water Generator that produces fresh drinking water from the air every day.

The fascination extends further into the inside of the eTH where folding furniture enthralls with the convenience it renders while driving or when halted for the night. The lux interior allows this RV to be used as a full-time residence or mobile home by nomadic workaholics. For the latter, the inventive cockpit with driver assist technology and entertainment hub has a dashboard that doubles as an office desk. The steering wheel retracts under and the space above becomes a functional workspace while Starlink and Co-Pilot take care of the connectivity requirements.

The post This 20-foot-long futuristic recreational vehicle has button-activated expandable walls to become a 400 sqft mobile home instantly first appeared on Yanko Design.