Winnebago, a maker of commercial vehicles better known for its motor homes, is launching a new all-electric RV platform, but the applications for the vehicle will be limited at first and therefore, it will not be used as an electric motorhome just yet.
The company partnered with Motiv Power Systems, a company developing electric powertrains for mid-size vehicles and better known for their work in Ford’s Electric Qualified Vehicle Modifier (eQVM) program.
They combined Winnebago’s Class A RV platform and Motiv’s Ford F53 based EPIC all-electric chassis to create this new electric vehicle.
Jim Castelaz, Motiv CEO & Founder, commented on the announcement:
“Motiv’s EPIC all-electric chassis, paired with Winnebago Industries’ highly regarded commercial shell, is the perfect fit for end-users who seek reliable performance and functionality. We are excited to collaborate with Winnebago Industries as we work together to grow the electric commercial vehicle market.”
They released this first image of the vehicle this week:
The vehicle will be offered in 33-foot and 38-foot lengths with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) up to 26,000 pounds.
It can be configured with two different battery packs for an expected range of 85 to 125 miles on a full charge, according to Winnebago’s “significant road testing.”
The company says that it has a “barrier-free interior” to enable all kinds of options like “slide rooms, alternate entrance door locations, wheelchair lifts and cargo doors.” They can also build integrated systems like “air-conditioning, generators, solar panels, inverters, power back-up systems, leveling systems, toilets, showers, and plumbing.”
With all those options, we are talking about something coming quite close to a motorhome, but the range is not ideal.
It’s why Winnebago says that the vehicle is best suited “for urban and semi-urban short range commercial applications like mobile medical clinics, bloodmobiles, mobile classrooms and mobile outreach vehicles.”
Nonetheless, all-electric powertrains are rapidly coming to increasingly bigger vehicles and motorhomes are expected to be electrified soon too.
We recently reported on a new fully-equipped RV powered by solar panels and 91 kWh battery pack being unveiled in Germany.
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