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100 percent electric RVs are indeed cool, but they are so very different.
In the past, your RV had the 110v “shore power” electrical system, the 12v electrical system, and a propane system that handled the bulk of heating/cooking/refrigerating duties. This setup has been reliable for RVers for decades. 100 percent electric RVs are the new kids on the block.
That isn’t entirely accurate, as both RV manufacturers and home-grown cottage builders and retrofitters have been going full-electric in various ways through the years, but now we’re seeing a push to get all-electric RVs down manufacturer production lines and onto dealership sales lots.
Much like in the automotive and even airline industries, RV manufacturers are looking to the new technologies that are arriving on the market to satisfy current customer interests and sentiments. Much to the chagrin of many, and yet still to the delight of many others, 100% electric vehicles of all types, including RVs, are starting to gain a foothold in their markets.
What are the perceived pros of going with a new 100 percent electric RV?
Well, as with anything in the last 30 years of the digital, technological, and energy revolutions that we’re currently living in, battery technology and management have driven the imaginations of both engineers and consumers wild. This isn’t necessarily good or bad; it just is what’s happening, and there’s some good and some bad to be considered with it.
Systems that incorporate combustible elements, whether it be gas-powered vehicles, gas grills or ovens, clothes dryers, Zeppelins, you name it, have always piqued a little safety concern. There are very reliable sensors, fail-safes, and alarms that have been developed for propane use in RVs, and the technologies are widely regarded as safe these days. So, for those who can’t shake the nagging fear of a propane-related incident, a 100% electric RV might be for you! (more on this later…)
In a use-case scenario, when and where the solar and lithium technologies are being used for their intended consumer purposes, the tech can be looked at as clean energy. Most of the time, the users plan to recharge while camping using either solar power or campsite shore power. Now, propane isn’t a very dirty fuel, comparatively. It’s considered significantly cleaner than gasoline and diesel fuels.
The use of electricity doesn’t introduce more humidity to the camping environment the way burning propane does. This fact doesn’t necessarily bother everybody the same amount, but this is a quick mention as a nod to those who battle humidity-related issues in their travels.
Altitude issues can be mentioned here, too. At higher elevations, some components in a propane system can be significantly less efficient or outright unusable. Most of us don’t spend great amounts of time camping in locations like these, but I admit to wishing I did a lot more.
In some ways, you lose space inside a camper going all-electric. This is usually due to locating battery banks, inverters, chargers, shunts, and other associated equipment inside to protect them from various elements. But, sometimes, more space is gained back in some unexpected areas. 12-volt compressor refrigerators get significantly larger. Some induction cooktops aren’t as “deep” or “tall” in a way that allows for more space beneath them, under the counter, for storage. So, this issue may be a little bit of a wash.
But, where might there be issues with 100 percent electric RVs?
Weight, complexity, cost, and math. Propane systems, even with their tanks, canisters, piping, and sometimes more bulky appliances, can weigh less than an all-electric system that fits your camping needs. You may need a rather large battery bank, coupled with a sufficient solar charging array, and quite possibly equipment like inverters, shunts, etc. There’s an emphasis on the word can, though.
Maybe the largest issue is the need to fully understand the equipment of an all-electric RV system, and some fundamentals of electricity in general. It isn’t as easy as buying a new all-electric car and driving it pretty much the same as you would any internal combustion powered car, minus the engine noise and transmission nuances. Not everybody is interested in having continuous thoughts running through their minds about incoming energy, storage, and expenditures. Some people live for that sort of mental exercise (looking at you, engineers and mathematicians), and others simply want their stuff to do their bidding. When propane runs out, in an otherwise healthy system, you switch tanks or get a refill. It’s a different kind of hassle, but very little thinking and math are involved.
Expense. At this stage, I don’t think anybody should be surprised that fully electric RVs tend to be more expensive. The components are generally more expensive than the propane equipment they’re designed to replace.
Now, I mentioned that I’d come back to the nagging fear of combustible propane vs. lithium-ion or LiPo4 batteries. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that we’ve all seen battery fires of cell phones, electric cars, and trucks, and yes, a few RV batteries. Those are verifiable instances, so they shouldn’t be denied. They’re anecdotal, and true, in the same way that fires at gas station pumps do occur. It’s just something to be mentioned here. I currently run a LiPo4 battery in my trailer, and I don’t give the danger a second thought.
Are we excited about 100% electric RVs?
Yes. We certainly are. We already see ourselves camping with the tried-and-true systems that have been standard in RVs through the years. Our memories are full of trips with propane equipment. But, new technology is exciting, and we think it’s only a matter of time before it’s commonplace.
