Outdoors

Living Vehicle's shiny new $500k camping trailer can charge an EV

Living Vehicle's shiny new $500k camping trailer can charge an EV
Californian outfit Living Vehicle has rolled out the latest version of its travel trailer
Californian outfit Living Vehicle has rolled out the latest version of its travel trailer
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A look inside the sleeping quarters of the Living Vehicle 2022
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A look inside the sleeping quarters of the Living Vehicle 2022
Bird's-eye view of the Living Vehicle 2022 on the road
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Bird's-eye view of the Living Vehicle 2022 on the road
The Living Vehicle 2022 features an upgraded energy system that goes big on solar
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The Living Vehicle 2022 features an upgraded energy system that goes big on solar
The Living Vehicle 2022 features 232 sq-ft (21.5 sq-m) of interior floorspace
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The Living Vehicle 2022 features 232 sq-ft (21.5 sq-m) of interior floorspace
Californian outfit Living Vehicle has rolled out the latest version of its travel trailer
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Californian outfit Living Vehicle has rolled out the latest version of its travel trailer
The Living Vehicle 2022 wears an anodized aluminum skin said to be three times harder than standard aluminum
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The Living Vehicle 2022 wears an anodized aluminum skin said to be three times harder than standard aluminum
View gallery - 6 images

Californian outfit Living Vehicle has rolled out the latest version of its travel trailer designed both for short-term trips and long-term getaways, kitted out with upgraded energy systems to push the boundaries of off-grid living. Available in four variants, the flagship model goes big on solar to enable charging of electric vehicles out in the wild, opening up some exciting possibilities for extended, remote adventures.

Living Vehicle first caught our eye back in 2017 with a shimmering aluminum-shelled trailer designed for off-grid living, and again with its 2020 version resembling a luxury mini-apartment, also wrapped in 100 percent aluminum. Similarly, the 2022 model wears an anodized aluminum skin said to be three times harder than standard aluminum to protect against aging, chipping and peeling.

The Living Vehicle 2022 features 232 sq-ft (21.5 sq-m) of interior floorspace
The Living Vehicle 2022 features 232 sq-ft (21.5 sq-m) of interior floorspace

Inside, there is 232 sq-ft (21.5 sq-m) of floorspace spread out across across a kitchen with a three-burner oven and all-electric solar fridge, bathroom with a rainfall shower, and a sleeping quarters with queen-sized bed and skylight for stargazing, which can also convert into a mobile office space.

Generous windows, skylights and sliding glass doors feature throughout for views of the surroundings from wherever the Living Vehicle is parked. A deck that can be lowered via a single button push also offers a chance to enjoy the outdoors in comfort, and can be easily raised up against the side of the trailer again when it's time to hit the road.

A look inside the sleeping quarters of the Living Vehicle 2022
A look inside the sleeping quarters of the Living Vehicle 2022

Like its predecessors, the Living Vehicle 2022 is designed to be capable of extended off-grid living, with a 100-gal (378-L) freshwater tank, 80 lb (36 kg) of propane, and a compost toilet. There are also waterproof and scratch-resistant floors to protect against damage from furry friends, and even a dedicated pet food area in a hallway cupboard.

Powering the whole operation on the flagship PRO-EV model is an upgraded energy system with new solar panels totaling 3,520 W that feed a 57.6-kWh storage system. This works with a 20-kW hybrid inverter to offer electric vehicle charging capabilities via an integrated 240-V charging station.

The Living Vehicle 2022 features an upgraded energy system that goes big on solar
The Living Vehicle 2022 features an upgraded energy system that goes big on solar

"Mobile living is a thrill all its own and one that is right for the times," says Living Vehicle co-founder Joanna Hofmann. "With our new 2022 Living Vehicle, owners have everything they need to discover the wonders that wait around the next bend, and enjoy them in luxury and style."

Sitting beneath the PRO-EV in the lineup are three other models with less powerful energy systems, all of which can be customized with bespoke energy upgrades, in addition to optional features like home theaters, mobile connectivity, hi-fi audio and remote security. Pricing for the entry-level CORE model starts at US$250,000, while the top-of-the-line PROV-EV will cost somewhere beyond $500,000, depending on options. Those looking to order a custom-made Living Vehicle for themselves can expect a 10 to12 month lead time.

Source: Living Vehicle

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8 comments
8 comments
christopher
3250w yields about 13kwh per day, so it would take 4.5 days to charge its own battery, or 10 days of sun to provide one charge of your car (as long as you don't use any power for anything else over all of those 10 days).
vince
Why on Earth sacrifice the safety of the mobile home using propane for heating or cooking when you have so much stored electrical energy you can cook using that and heat using that. Not smart.
jerryd
You could get 17kwh/day from the largest system but unlikely. Just look at the overhead pic and half of the panels are shaded enough to cut their output by 70%. you only have to shade 1 cell to do it.
And generally way too costly when one can get it done for $60k for a well shopped trailer and add solar to it, paying $500k is silly
Aross
For that kind of money I can spend a lot of nights at luxury resorts and hotels.
lbeck37
How come there are no slides? I've done some RVing in both a fifth wheel trailer and a class C motorhome and the addition of a couple of slides is transformative in terms of both living space size and functionality (like a kitchen island). Without any slides, it reminds me of an old school RV. I must be missing something.
vince
Great concept and then they go and ruin it by throwing in a propane stove and heater. Totally unnecessary with so much solar panels and battery reserve. Propane is dangerous and routinely dozens of MH's get blown to pieces every year from defective propane stoves and heaters killing dozens every year.
yawood
Those solar panels are very inefficient if they just sit flat. Your panels need to be angled at approximately the degree of latitude and face north or south depending on which hemisphere you are in. So Sydney Australia is at 34 deg S so panels there are most efficient if they face North and are angled at 34 deg. If the panels on this rig were on an adjustable mechanism for tilt, you could park the RV to face the right way and the efficiency would be maximised.
ljaques
I can't believe that they'd stick two of those godawful noisy roof A/C units on that thing instead of a mini-split (MS). The MS uses less energy and is 8x quieter, plus it leaves more room for solar up top. // Trying to drive long distances and charge your vehicle with that setup is a NO-GO, as Chris said. // I'd heat with the MS but cook with propane. // The glampers who buy one of these deserve to overpay because they didn't shop well at all. Half a mil? Sheesh!