RV News: Electric RVs Come of Age and a New RV Brand Emerges
E-RVs, emerging manufacturers, new accessories, and the largest collection of RVs on the planet are all part of this week's news.
Image Caption: Photo Credit: Lightship
There was plenty of news coming out of the RV and camping industry this week, and as usual, we have a lot to cover. Here are a few things that went down over the past few days that you might want to know about:
Photo Credit: Lightship
- WaPo Says Electric RVs are Revolutionizing the RV Industry: We’ve been following the development and growth of all-electric RVs, like those from Lightship and Pebble, for several years, but now those rigs are getting attention from the mainstream media. This week, the Washington Post published a story about those manufacturers and how their approach to building a high-tech, software-driven, e-RV is changing the industry. Our friends over at RV Business have an excerpt from the article, which you can read in its entirety here, provided you have a WaPo digital subscription.
Photo Credit: Pebble
- Pebble Electric Travel Trailer Towed by Tiny TELO Truck: Speaking of Pebble, the electric travel trailer manufacturer showed off one of its Fsignature features this week in dramatic fashion. The Flow travel trailer can be optioned with its own Easy Tow electric drive system that is not unlike those found on electric cars and trucks. That e-drive system assists the tow vehicle in moving the trailer, which has a dry weight of 5,800 lbs, down the road. This allows it to be towed by a wider range of vehicles, including some that you might not expect. To demonstrate just how effective Easy Tow is, the company pulled it using a TELO MT1 truck, which measures just 152″ in length, and has a range of 350 miles and can go from 0-60 MPH in 4 seconds. To be fair, the MT1 does have a tow rating of 6,600 lbs, but it is still impressive that it can pull the Pebble travel trailer. Electrek has the full story here.
Photo Credit: Vantrack
- Kia’s PV5 EV Gets a Camper Van Conversion: Staying on the theme of electric RVs, this week we got a glimpse of the potential of the Kia PV5 electric van as a Class B model. A company called Vantrack is working on a conversion option for the EV, which it calls the LightCamp. This model comes with a pop-up rooftop tent, along with a slide-out kitchen with a sink and an induction cooktop. Under the rear hatch, you’ll find an elevated bed that maintains storage and provides room for two additional people. The PV5 itself comes with a “Camp Mode” that allows owners to run the climate controls directly from the battery pack, ensuring comfort at the campsite. That battery comes int tow sizes, the 51.5 kWh Standard Range version or 71.2 kWh Long Range edition, delivering an advertised range of 183 miles or 258 miles, respectively. That said, real-world testing shows the EV has much longer range than expected, with one test showing it could travel 434 miles on a single charge. Pricing for a US model is rumored to start around $44,000, although Kia has yet to confirm that it will come stateside. The Canadian version starts at $46,995 CAD, so the van will definitely hit the road in North America. Gear Patrol has the full story.
Photo Credit: Boundless Recreation
- New RV Brand “Boundless Recreation” to Focus on Luxury Fifth-Wheels: A new RV manufacturer—founded by a team of industry veterans—is preparing to make its public debut. The company is called Boundless Recreation and is now in the ramp-up phase and is focused on starting production of a line of premium fifth-wheel models, while also building a dealer network and a customer care program. The goal is to build RVs that are durable and long-lasting, while also delivering a top-tier customer experience with a focus on taking many of the obstacles and hassles out of RV ownership and travel. I’d expect the brand to make a public appearance at the Hershey RV Super Show in September, so stay tuned to learn more. For now, you can learn more from RV Pro and keep an eye on the company’s website for further updates.
Photo Credit: Camco
- Camco Shows Off Battery-Powered RV Macerator Pump: We all know that dealing with a rig’s black tank is probably the least enjoyable part of owning an RV. If not done properly, it can be a smelly, messy, frustrating affair, which is why anything that can help make the process easier is a welcome addition. To assist with that task, Camco has introduced a new device designed to make everything faster, easier, and cleaner. This week, the company revealed the Rhino 18V macerator pump, which uses its own lithium battery for power, eliminating the need for any wiring or connecting to a vehicle battery. RV News has further info here, including a video of the device in action. The unit is available for $400 at Camping World.
Photo Credit: Caravan Salon
- 2026 Caravan Salon Show to Host World’s Largest Selection of RVs: Here in the US, we certainly have a few big RV shows that draw all of the major manufacturers and tens of thousands of attendees. But the largest of those shows takes place in Düsseldorf, Germany each year, where the massive Caravan Salon event takes place. This year, that show will run from August 28 through September 6, and according to organizers will host the largest collection of RVs in the world. In other words, it will likely be an amazing event for RVers across the globe. You can learn more here.
And that’s a wrap for this week’s edition of our RV news roundup. Drop by again next Friday for another end-of-the-week review of all the latest information from the RV and camping industries.
Kraig Becker is a writer in the RV, outdoors, and adventure travel space. Over the course of his career he has contributed to such outlets as Popular Mechanics, Outside Online, Business Insider, TripSavvy, Digital Trends, GearJunkie, The Adventure Blog, and countless others. An avid runner and cyclist, he enjoys camping, hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, and just about any other outdoor activity. His travels have taken him to seven continents and on many amazing adventures.
