Bowlus® Is Ready For An Ev Nation

The writing is on the wall for gas powered vehicles. Europe has set a goal of phasing out the sale of gas cars by 2035. So has the state of California. New Jersey has called for 90% of all new vehicles sold to be electric by 2040. New York, Washington state, Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, and several other states are working on similar legislation. At this pace, it won’t be long before the internal combustion engine is put on the endangered species list.

Without question, the transition from fossil fuel to electric vehicles (EVs) is a great step for the environment. We got a taste of this during the pandemic when we saw air pollution levels decline as people ditched their daily commutes and worked from home.

If you love the outdoors like we do, then you’re excited about camping in cleaner air. Are you ready to pull your RV with your EV and experience zero-emissions camping? Well you will be if you’re camping in a Bowlus.

Towing With An Electric Vehicle
Towing capacity is a big concern for most electric vehicle owners. If you were to show up at your local RV dealer with your Tesla Model X, most likely the first question they’d ask is “what are you going to tow your trailer with?” Most of the campers on the market today are simply too heavy to be towed by an electric car, and RV dealers know it.

Many small electric and plug-in hybrid luxury SUVs have a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. If you overload your EV and exceed the rating, your range will immediately suffer, handling becomes harder, you risk a tire blowout, and you could damage the structural integrity of your tow vehicle.

A Tesla Model X is an example of an EV with a 5,000 pound towing capacity. That’s not nearly enough to pull a 7,000 pound Airstream. Sure, you could go for one of the lighter weight RV models, but be prepared for some big tradeoffs. One of the primary ways manufacturers cut weight is to shrink the length of the unit. To find a conventional camper that’s less than 5,000 pounds, you’re likely looking for something in the 20-foot or less range. That can make for some very cozy camping if the rain drives you inside.

But a vehicle rated with a 5,000 pound towing capacity can safely pull a Bowlus. At just 3,200 pounds dry weight, you can fill the water tanks and pack all of your necessities in either the Endless Highways Edition or the Terra Firma, and have capacity to spare for souvenirs. Hook up your Tesla Model X, Porsche Macan, Audi Q5, Land Rover Discovery, or an EV model from any number of other high end manufactures, and you’re ready to roll. Plus, with a well-designed, spacious interior, you won’t feel cramped in your luxurious towable home away from home.

Towing With An Electric Pickup
There are a number of manufacturers bringing electric pickups to the market. Rivian and Bollinger are two companies disrupting the space with big promises, while Tesla’s looking to make their mark with their Cybertruck. Detroit’s Big 3 automakers are also in the EV pickup game. Ford’s electric F-150 is expected to hit the market in late 2022. GMC is reimagining the Hummer as an EV, Chevy’s launching an EV version of the Silverado, and Dodge is transforming its Ram pickup into an EV.

Details on these new larger, more powerful electric trucks are limited, as many are still in the testing and development stages. Most experts expect their towing capacity will be between 7,500 and 11,000 pounds, so while you could pull a larger RV with an electric pickup, going bigger will likely negatively impact your range.

Towing Range With Your Electric Vehicle
Many electric car owners have range anxiety, but the charging infrastructure in the US is improving quickly. Tesla has over 4,500 superchargers across North America. Rivan is planning on having 3,500 fast chargers in place by 2023. They’re also preparing another 10,000 Rivian Waypoints (accessible to all vehicles) in places like campsites, parks, and other locations frequented by RVers. Joining the party are a number of other companies quickly working to install more universal charging stations. So while being range aware is a good thing, taking a road trip in an EV won’t be that different than it was in a gas vehicle. Just like you’d plan your route for fuel stops, you’ll need to plan for charging stops.

There are a number of factors that impact the range of your EV’s battery pack, especially when you’re towing an RV. Weight is one of the biggest issues. The heavier the camper, the more power required from the electric motor. The more power consumed, the shorter the range.

We’ve already talked a bit about how the RV’s length impacts its weight. But that’s not the only way manufacturers lighten the load. Featherweight campers also tend to be light on the amenities and the finishing touches. Cheap laminates abound in most of the “lite” campers on the market. Bowlus is unique in the RV industry because we don’t have to skimp on the finer things – our aluminum RVs are purposely designed to be lightweight without sacrificing any luxury or style.

Many of the same design features that make the Bowlus so lightweight yet strong are inspired by Hawley Bowlus’ history in the aviation industry. You can see our design DNA in the unique shape of our high end travel trailers! We select high quality construction materials that are lightweight, luxurious, and designed to last. That means real wood for our walls and ceiling and aerospace grade aluminum throughout. With a Bowlus, your camping experience won’t be lacking any of the luxuries you desire.

A Tesla Model X pulling a Bowlus gets up to 200 miles per charge. Hook up to a Tesla supercharger and you’re back on the road in around 15 minutes – about as long as it would take you to get a tank of gas. With a Bowlus, a zero-emissions camping adventure can be a reality. And if you find yourself running low on range, we’ve got you covered. Plug your EV into the Bowlus’ external 110V outlet for an emergency microcharge.

In a world that’s quickly going electric, Bowlus is here to make sure you can still enjoy camping in the great outdoors – emissions free!