A host of companies have been building and selling upfitted vans based on the Ford Transit for years – including Winnebago, while The Blue Oval itself is working to capture a piece of that market via the recently-revealed Transit Trail. However, Winnebago is also exploring the idea of all-electric camper alternatives, having previously shown off its eRV concept roughly one year ago. Interestingly, that model was based on the regular Transit – not the all-electric E-Transit, but that isn’t the case with the new Winnebago eRV2 concept.
The new Winnebago eRV2 is quite literally a sequel to the company’s first electrification effort, and is a fully-functioning prototype that’s equipped with the E-Transit’s chassis and 68 kWh battery, which is good enough to provide a 108-mile range in high-roof configuration – surprisingly, a bit lower than the eRV’s claimed range of 125 miles, though that model employed a larger 86 kWh battery pack supplied by Lightning eMotors.
Regardless, Winnebago notes that it expects to raise the eRV2’s range by the time it enters production, as the company is aiming to provide owners with three hours of driving at normal highway speeds in between charges. Meanwhile, DC fast charging capability allows the camper to charge to 80 percent in around 45 minutes, while output comes in at 266 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque.
A second, 15 kWh battery powers the eRV2’s many amenities, including its 48-volt air conditioning system and appliances, giving owners enough juice to go off the grid for up to seven days, while an array of 900-volt solar panels adorning the roof support that effort. As one might imagine, the camper is also full of pretty much anything one might expect to see in an ICE-powered variant these days – including a shower, sink, cooktop, and a bathroom with a toilet and a shower.
As for when we can expect the production version of the Winnebago eRV2 to launch, the company admits that it’s still undergoing testing, but notes that the final configuration will be announced later this year, and said that it will indeed cost more than its ICE-powered brethren, as one might expect.
We’ll have more on the e-RV soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Transit news and non-stop Ford news coverage.
Comments
So, my trip from Charlotte NC to new York city should be 10 hours with ice , 5 minutes to fuel, but now I need to stop and charge every three hours for at least 45 minutes, let’s say an hour, so now my trip is 13 hours, no thanks!! Plus what’s does this thing cost? 200k? Take a private jet and helicopter to your location, much greener!
More big little ideas and nonsense from benzene sniffing Steve.
When ICE vehicles first appeared, drivers had to buy fuel in apothecary shops. Blacksmiths and feed shops laughed at the fools in their fragile little rattle traps.
Big deal and so what? Eventually, things developed and settled out into what we see today.
I find it interesting how the bad faith clowns on the site in their zeal to spread FUD love to hype worst case details or paint scenarios as if their edge cases will apply to most users until the end of time.
Just as the feed gave way to gas, so will gas give way to amps.
I suppose though, in the meantime we will have the Big Oil FUDsters frightening the perspective-less Luddites.
I was surprised when the eRV concept came out that W had decided to develop their own powertrain as this seemed quite far out of their experience.
Perhaps it was a joint effort with the motor and battery suppliers to showcase a concept.
But to me it didn’t seem that there would be proper economy of scale to compete with an eTransit once the latter went into mass production.
This vehicle eRV2 makes more sense than the home grown eRV1, and while it has range limitations, which will improve as next gen EV powertrain design and chemistries arrive, inside it’s a nice looking effort.
As for the stops and charge times, I’m kinda thinking the demographic that buys such a rig is more likely to be taking time to sniff roses than traveling under strict time pressure.
If you need a senior citizen opinion on a test model, we would love to help you out.