Thoughts on building a fully electric class A RV

[Captain8]

Originally Posted by bentjm

What coach is that? New 37' diesel pushers weigh in at over 35,000 lbs.

You're reading the GVWR or GCWR which is the max weight they can carry and not the actual weight. For instance my coach weighs 17k lbs but the GVWR is 27k and GCWR is 32k (allows 5k trailer).

Most spec sheets don't list UVW because so many options can change the weight.

[MartinC]

I've just read through the whole of this thread and, with all due respect, I think the proposed project is bananas. All I read is about motors and batteries. What about all the electronic control systems and modules you would need to design and manufacture for this very specific application. Think traction control, think regen. brake blending etc. etc. Stripping that kit from say a Tesla would never work. Then there's the subject of Campground Charging. If you want Level 2 you would need 40A (10kw) for many hours. I don't think the pedestal would be rated for that in addition to the rig loads.
Finally, I see that some folk have EV toads. We own a Kia EV6 which cannot be flat towed. I was just wondering which EVs these were.
PS, more finally, I think the idea of converting that bus is great. I can just see Prevost doing that.
PPS, I must change my profile - we've just sold our Tuscany. RV days are over.

[Captain8]

Originally Posted by Mark_K5LXP

Lotsa arm waving, assumptions and generalizations. I built a road EV years ago, before there were AC drives, lithium batteries and charging stations. The devil's in the details. None of this is plug and play. Where you mount things and how, sourcing or fabricating all the specialized components, modifications to the existing structures. Systems integration, instrumentation, controls. Detailed driveline characterization, design, fabrication. Systems thermal management. There are thousands of details to manage, none of this just falls together. There's facilities too, a work area with lifts and jacks, tools, machining and welding equipment. One observation I have is if this is a viable idea, then why hasn't anyone done it yet? When I built my EV, there weren't many doing conversions but there were some, so there was some precedent. There are I'm sure shops and fabricators that have the skills and facilities to build an RV EV conversion, and you don't see any. Doesn't mean it's impossible, but there's a reason. So it comes down to pulling the trigger and making it happen, anything else is conjecture and BS.

Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM

You're absolutely correct. It's not plug and play but it's also not me having to build motors and batteries from scratch. There's parts and components ready to be fabricated.

Fortunately I have clients who are machining shops and such along with me having access to full fabrication shop tools.

I see a few reasons there aren't any yet. Mainly the RV community is about a decade behind on tech and even custom shops aren't adventurous to attempt major transformations.

EV RVs have limited range and as I stated 24 hours of a full CG charge only charges about 280kWh which might only allow a few hours of driving before another day of charging.

RV industry is stuck on the "if it ain't broke" mentality. Why they don't run mini splits and lithium for all new class A DPs makes no sense. Hell I heard they just started putting TPMS sensors in Fleetwood RVs. When did they get adaptive cruise control, lane departure sensors, blind spot monitoring, auto wipers? My 2010 Porsche has all of this.

[Alpine36]

So you’re still going to call it a fully electric RV utilizing an internal combustion generator combined with moochdocking power from unsuspecting campgrounds. Got it.
Some would call that technology diesel/electric drive.
Gee, wonder why nobody has thought of that concept before?
Carry on….

[radar]

Originally Posted by MartinC

I've just read through the whole of this thread and, with all due respect, I think the proposed project is bananas. All I read is about motors and batteries. What about all the electronic control systems and modules you would need to design and manufacture for this very specific application. Think traction control, think regen. brake blending etc. etc. Stripping that kit from say a Tesla would never work. Then there's the subject of Campground Charging. If you want Level 2 you would need 40A (10kw) for many hours. I don't think the pedestal would be rated for that in addition to the rig loads.
Finally, I see that some folk have EV toads. We own a Kia EV6 which cannot be flat towed. I was just wondering which EVs these were.
PS, more finally, I think the idea of converting that bus is great. I can just see Prevost doing that.
PPS, I must change my profile - we've just sold our Tuscany. RV days are over.

Hi Martin. You might be referring to my comment as having an electric tow vehicle. By that I mean we tow a trailer with an electric vehicle. Hopefully that clarifies it.

[Captain8]

Originally Posted by MartinC

I've just read through the whole of this thread and, with all due respect, I think the proposed project is bananas. All I read is about motors and batteries. What about all the electronic control systems and modules you would need to design and manufacture for this very specific application. Think traction control, think regen. brake blending etc. etc. Stripping that kit from say a Tesla would never work. Then there's the subject of Campground Charging. If you want Level 2 you would need 40A (10kw) for many hours. I don't think the pedestal would be rated for that in addition to the rig loads.
Finally, I see that some folk have EV toads. We own a Kia EV6 which cannot be flat towed. I was just wondering which EVs these were.
PS, more finally, I think the idea of converting that bus is great. I can just see Prevost doing that.
PPS, I must change my profile - we've just sold our Tuscany. RV days are over.

Most of these electronic systems are built into the e-axle. Not concerned with traction control and such but these are easily obtainable. I plan on buying something like a Zero-8 e-Axle from Dana for drive which controls most like Regen braking. Yes adding front e-axle complicates things but isn't necessary.

It's not nearly as bananas as it sounds. Definitely a project and something that'll take a long time.

Pedestals are rated for 50 amps 240V so that's fine.

Many toads are on flat trailers.

Busses are too long for our needs. We want 40' or under so we can fit in basically any CG. Our state parks have 40' limit and we usually stay there.

[MartinC]

Originally Posted by radar

Hi Martin. You might be referring to my comment as having an electric tow vehicle. By that I mean we tow a trailer with an electric vehicle. Hopefully that clarifies it.

Thanks radar. That's a real neat set up

[burgmark]

Originally Posted by Captain8

Do the people at CG's look at your RV? I'm pretty new to the RV world and only stay nightly but in the 30 or so one's I've been to there hasn't been a single person who looked at the RV. Half the time we get to a state park when its closed and the other half we park, shut off and walk in to get the info.

I guess I could just run my genny when I get to the checkin just to blend in

Many campgrounds I've stayed in escorted me to my camping spot, so they certainly have some exposure to the RV. Probably would be easy to tell its not burning Diesel.

I've also been to a few campgrounds that do in fact have electric meters on every pedestal. I wondered why they had them, maybe for longer term renters?

[Captain8]

Originally Posted by Alpine36

So you’re still going to call it a fully electric RV utilizing an internal combustion generator combined with moochdocking power from unsuspecting campgrounds. Got it.
Some would call that technology diesel/electric drive.
Gee, wonder why nobody has thought of that concept before?
Carry on….

This is how trains work. But no I don't think the generator will be nearly large enough to power the electric drive. This is for boondocking or emergency where I might need to spend a few hours/days on Genny to charge so I can hit the road again.

And they have thought of it. Electric cars have been around for a long while and now electric semis are coming out. Just getting ahead of the curve and not waiting 5+ years for electric RVs to come out.

[Captain8]

Originally Posted by burgmark

Many campgrounds I've stayed in escorted me to my camping spot, so they certainly have some exposure to the RV. Probably would be easy to tell its not burning Diesel.

I've also been to a few campgrounds that do in fact have electric meters on every pedestal. I wondered why they had them, maybe for longer term renters?

Note to run Genny when I'm pulling into the GC yes I've seen long term renters have metered service, which I wouldn't be opposed to, electric is much cheaper than diesel

[BayRunner]

Originally Posted by burgmark

Many campgrounds I've stayed in escorted me to my camping spot, so they certainly have some exposure to the RV. Probably would be easy to tell its not burning Diesel.

I've also been to a few campgrounds that do in fact have electric meters on every pedestal. I wondered why they had them, maybe for longer term renters?

The campgrounds that use the lighthouse style power pedestals such as from Eaton do I fact have built in meters. Others make these as well. These pedestal types also can have built in transponders as well that allow remote control and wireless meter reading. Been doing this in the marine industry for years where power is charged per use on a transient and long term basis. The same pedestals have the same capability in RV parks as well.

[radar]

I think it’s an ambitious project that would be a huge learning experience. It’s way above my skill level but it’s the kind of thing I would tackle if I was working with someone that knew what they were doing.

And who cares if it never comes to fruition. You are having fun, you obviously have the discretionary funds. Enjoy the project. Work safe and build some memories. Kudos and good luck.

[Captain8]

Originally Posted by radar

I think it’s an ambitious project that would be a huge learning experience. It’s way above my skill level but it’s the kind of thing I would tackle if I was working with someone that knew what they were doing.

And who cares if it never comes to fruition. You are having fun, you obviously have the discretionary funds. Enjoy the project. Work safe and build some memories. Kudos and good luck.

Thanks, I'm still in discovery phase and we have a huge plan of traveling all summer with our current coach so will have a good idea of everything we need. I plan on it being a slow fun project over the next year+

[radar]

Originally Posted by Captain8

Thanks, I'm still in discovery phase and we have a huge plan of traveling all summer with our current coach so will have a good idea of everything we need. I plan on it being a slow fun project over the next year+

I have zero to contribute on the coach itself but we have dragged our trailer all over Canada and extensively in BC with an electric vehicle so we are well versed on charging in all its formats. L1, L2, DCFC, Tesla, CCS, Chademo, Campground charging on L1 and L2. Happy to answer any questions.