This post may contain affiliate links or mention our own products, please check out our disclosure policy.

This Fully Electric RV Will Take You Off-Grid

Published on May 2nd, 2022 by Emily Lawrence

Australian Company Introduces New Fully Electric Caravan

Electric cars have been around for several years now, but larger vehicles are now starting to enter the space. Many RVs have relied on solar power and batteries as a backup, but for the first time, we now have a fully electric RV that’s commercially available!

The ERV is a brand new caravan that was created by the Australian company, Retreat Caravans. It was designed to be self-sufficient and operate as a sustainable home away from home. It’s perfect for off-grid camping, but it doesn’t sacrifice any of the comforts of home. It has a sleek modern design and all the amenities you would expect from a modern RV.

This new electric RV has the potential to change the industry, so it’s definitely worth exploring. Let’s look into its capabilities, design, and the reception it’s gotten so far. The next few years could show a rise in fully electric RVs, so let’s take a good look at the first of its kind.

Sign up for the newsletter today!

Please enter a valid email address.

An error occurred. Please try again later.

× logo

Thank you for subscribing to the Camper Report newsletter, keep your eye on your inbox for updates.

What makes this electric RV different?

Many of us have seen RVs with solar panels on the roof, so at first glance, you may wonder why this new model is noteworthy.

Well, for starters, it’s completely powered by a 14.3 Kw/hr lithium-ion battery. This is connected to a powerful 5,000-watt inverter. This combination can power all of the appliances in the RV for long periods of time. You can even run multiple appliances simultaneously without any reduction in power or performance.

The battery and inverter get their charge from the 16 solar panels that are installed on the roof. Together, they produce 1,700-2,000 watts. The battery is located underneath the camper, and it’s protected by a waterproof and crush-proof shell. This is useful, especially if you plan to take this RV through the rougher parts of the wilderness.

The combination of solar panels and a rechargeable battery is a powerful one. You won’t have to stay close to recharging stations. This technology enables people to stay out in the wilderness for long periods of time without sacrificing the comforts of home.

The ERV was also designed to go off-grid, so it has the size and protective elements to match. Each one is equipped with all-terrain tires and diamond plate protective trims. These trailers are also a little over 20 feet long. This makes them small enough to still be manageable, but large enough to provide a decent amount of interior space.

One of the most interesting parts of these new trailers is their price! Their base price is $113,000 in Australia. This is extremely affordable for a brand new all-electric vehicle. Usually, new electric vehicles are prohibitively expensive and the average person has to wait for the technology to become mainstream before the price goes down.

The ERV is a very strong initial offering in the world of electric RVs. Of course, it may be a bit more expensive if you want one shipped to America. However, keep your eye on this new innovation because you might start to see other manufacturers adopt this technology.

The ERV Design

Having an electric RV won’t do you much good unless it’s also comfortable to live in. Luckily, the ERV has 4 great floor plans and each of them is well designed. The floor plans are quite similar and the main change between them is the overall length and the arrangement of some furniture items.

In all of the designs, the bedroom is located at the back. The arrangements include a large bed, nightstands on either side, and overhead storage cabinets. A wall-mounted TV also faces the bed, so you can lay back and relax with your favorite shows.

interior of caravan

The specific placements of the kitchen and bathroom vary depending on the floor plan. In some, the bathroom is right outside the main bedroom. In others, it’s on the front end of the RV. Regardless, the bathroom amenities are similar either way. There’s a toilet, sink, vanity, and shower. Some designs have room for extra storage in the bathroom, but all of them have the essentials.

The center or rear of the RV generally holds the living room/kitchen accommodations. These include a large refrigerator, an induction stovetop, a sink, storage cabinets, and a dinette of some sort. Some are booth-style, while others wrap around a table.

One model is even specifically designed for family living. In addition to the main bedroom, there is a 3-person bunk bed located at the back. This model also comes with a washer/dryer so you can do laundry no matter where you are.

Every floor plan of the ERV is decorated in a similar style. The walls, floors, and ceilings are white. This helps make the space feel larger and brighter. The black furniture and cabinets contrast with this, creating a sleek and modern look. The metal fixtures are also matte black so everything blends together well. Swirled marble designs on the countertops bring a bit of visual interest to the space.

Even if you’re living out in the middle of the woods, you can retreat back to this modern and luxurious RV at any time. It has plenty of storage space and is perfect for small groups. If you get the family model, you can even bring a few kids along for the trip.

For a more visual walkthrough of this electric RV design, check out the video below! This video as well as many others are available on retreatcaravans.com.

Reception

An electric RV is a new concept for the industry. There have been hybrid models for a while, but the introduction of the ERV could change things. As such, it’s important to keep an eye on the reception it’s gotten from users and critics so far. The early stages are very important for a product like this.

So far, people have been quite impressed with the design and engineering of the ERV. The battery, inverter, and solar panels all work well together and form an efficient and self-sustaining system.

The main concern is that the mechanical upkeep might be harder for the layman to accomplish. If something goes wrong, people would need to figure out how the circuits and wiring are laid out. More specialty repairs might be needed with a system like this.

In addition, the ERV is fairly heavy for its size. In most cases, it needs a truck to tow it. Some large SUVs could also get the job done, but you need some power to move this RV.

Overall, the reception has been positive. This is a comfortable RV with a great, user-friendly design. The caravan comes in a few different forms to suit the needs of various customers, and it has enough power to stay out for weeks or even months!

Keep your eye on the RV news for new electric campers entering the game. The ERV might be the first of many in this space.


One of the best parts about RVing is engaging with the community of traveling enthusiasts. iRV2 forums allow folks to chat with other RVers online, and get other perspectives on everything RVing, including products, destinations, RV mods, and much more.

Related articles:

About the Author:




10 thoughts on “This Fully Electric RV Will Take You Off-Grid”

  1. Simply trendy!
    1) Batteries must be first ‘manufactured’ and the environmental impact of the mining of these elements is a disaster, also primarily owned by China.
    2) Batteries all have an end-of-life. What’s the disposal policy for these mammoth environmentally toxic products. We’re all told at an early age that batteries, even the tiniest, must be managed and disposed of separately ……….. Environmentals disaster in the making.
    3) Fossil Fuels were used and required in the factories and equipment used to manufacture every single component. Savings??
    4) What is the cost of maintaining / replacing any of these components.
    5) What is being used to haul these trailers and what’s the range?
    6) Might be off-grid but still have water and sewer management issues, which limit the amount of time remote.
    7) Ain’t no sun – ain’t no charging!

    Summary = Trend by those playing or brainwashed by ‘green politics’ but not understanding the details. Battery technology is simply NOT THERE while other technologies have already proven better and ‘MORE GREEN’!

    Summary

    Reply
  2. That’s a ridiculous price for a rig that size no matter how much power it has. And you still have to add shipping from Australia to the U.S. on to the price.

    Reply
  3. Emily, you didn’t mention what size tanks this trailer has. Because it doesn’t matter that it has all that power if your black and grey water tanks fill up in a few days, forcing you to leave to find a dump station.
    We have 700 watts of solar and 4 large amp batteries and have been boondocking for 13 years. But we still have to leave usually in about 9 days to dump our two 35 gal. grey tanks and our 35 gallon black tank. (and that’s with me peeing outside a lot):)

    Reply
  4. Nice camper and I’ve seen RV’ers using induction cookers.
    I looked into one and discovered it needs to be 24″ from my pacemaker which would make using it impossible.
    I hope these RV salesmen mention that but I doubt it. Mine tried to sell me an insurance policy on the aluminum wheels which it didn’t even have 🙁

    Reply
  5. Thanks, but no thanks. Personally, I consider $113,00 prohibitively expensive. It is all electric – wow. Yet it has solar panels. Sounds to me like a more conventional rig, with a large and expensive battery, and a high price tag. How long will that battery last, and what will it cost to replace?

    I like to make what I can rather than buy. I have a high top van that will end up a camper, with solar, batteries, small DIY wind turbine (plan B), and a small DIY generator (another plan B, with a custom DIY exhaust to be almost silent). also a hookup to the van alternator, just in case. I will have fans instead of an AC unit, no electric water pump, in fact fans, lights, TV, computer, printer, maybe a microwave, possibly a electric skillet, and that’s likely it for electrics.

    It will be a K.I.S.S. project. that won’t break the bank. For the unknowledgeable that is Keep It Simple Stupid.

    Reply
  6. 113,00 Australian Dollars is approximately $80,000 United States Dollars. Hardly affordable. What is interesting is the use of automotive Electric Vehicle storage battery design to integrate the electrical system into the unit.

    Reply
  7. Just amazed that the U.S. doesn’t have this. The U.S. was a leader in RV’s.
    We just have big boxes that are pavement princesses that are stuffed way too close together in RV parks.
    Is that Camping? Really?
    As soon as they have a 1 ton electric truck with 500 range. Im dumping what I got! love my truck but i’m tried of losing family and friends and taxes paying for wars over fossil fuel. (huge natural gas deposits in Ukraine, interesting no one is talking about that)
    You would be able to charge your truck also with that power unit.
    Wake up America!

    Reply

Leave a Comment

Welcome! Please follow these guidelines:

  • Be kind and respectful.
  • Keep comments relevant to the article.
  • Avoid insults, threats, profanity, and offensive remarks.
  • Refrain from discussing gun rights, politics, or religion.
  • Do not post misleading information, personal details, or spam.

We may hide or remove comments at our discretion.