LOUISVILLE, Ky., November 29, 2011-- MVP RV, Inc. is showing off an all-electric, zero-emissions Class C motorhome at the National RV Trade Show that opened today. The 24-foot pre-production E Tahoe is powered by lithium-ion batteries.MVP is showcasing a similar, all-electric Class A vehicle in China.
The RV is fitted with a drive train, external charger, and battery system developed by Harbor City, Calif.-based Balqon Corporation, which develops zero emission heavy-duty electric trucks, lithium battery packs and electric vehicle drive systems.
According to Scott Degnan, MVP vice president of sales, production models will produce more power than the pre-production model. The pre-production E Tahoe uses 96, 260-amp-hour-batteries to generate 332 volts DC. The production model will have 1,000-amp-hour-batteries.
Depending on options and use, the coach should travel about 100 to 250 miles on a charge. A full recharge takes about 90 minutes. The pre-production coach requires a 240 volt AC shore line connection for charging. The company is exploring various on-board recharging options. MVP expects the batteries to last 10,000 cycles.
The battery system is liquid cooled. Unlike present day RVs, the entire coach will operate off the 96 batteries instead of separate automotive and house systems.
The coach has about 10 percent less storage space than a traditional Tahoe due to space occupied by the batteries. The batteries weigh about 3,000 pounds. The extra weight is offset by the absence of a powertrain: the company has not released the actual difference.
Degnan would not discuss price, but said the coach should be available for retail sale by the third quarter of 2012.
EDITOR'S NOTE: We will have more detailed report on this RV within a week or two. Our big question: is this "for real" or a gimmick? It's hard for us to imagine why anyone would buy an RV that needed constant recharging, especially when such facilities are rare.
8 comments:
Love it!
The cost is probably astronomical, but it is a great step in the right direction.
I'll keep my internal combustion.
More from the "Gee...look how green we are!" movement. Electric-only vehicles, other than speciality vehicles are utter nonsense.
I wonder how much of a subsidy our government will give me to buy one...hmmm.
For the week end camper maybe.
We have a long way to go before all-electric vehicles have sufficient range for most uses. The all-electric Ford Transit Connect Van has only about a 60-mile range. Gasoline/Electric hybrids lack the GVW ratings for many applications, but their range makes them the most practical of the high-MPG vehicles.
I can't imagine having to stop for an hour and a half every 100 miles on a cross country trip. Six months from FL to CA ??
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