Leading The Charge

Alternative Subsidy Roadkill 31 Comments

The prototype Winnebago ERV2 “features a clever and well-appointed interior”…

As I crawled around in the dark, checking the connections to the electrical hookup, my neighbor told me the power was out across the entire campsite. This was a problem. While other campers began using their gas-powered tow vehicles to run their appliances, I had no such luxury. The eRV2—which follows the 2022 e-RV concept and previews a production electric RV—is based on the Ford E-Transit and uses that vehicle’s stock 68.0-kWh battery.

While the chassis battery can transfer juice to the so-called house battery, the trip out to the campsite made me hesitant to sacrifice precious driving miles. Even sticking to 60 mph in the right lane, I still drained nearly half of the charge on the approximately 40-mile trip to the campsite. Ford quotes a 108-mile range for the high-roof E-Transit, and Winnebago says its testing revealed an average range of 120 miles. But the eRV2 traveled just 70 miles at 70 mph—we couldn’t do our standard highway test at 75 mph as the Winnebago tops out at 74 mph—and the dashboard readout never displayed more than 90 miles during our time with the vehicle, possibly due in part to the cold weather.

If you prefer to build your own, that E-Transit is still sitting on the lot in Rosetown.

31 Replies to “Leading The Charge”

  1. Well, at least you have all the amenities of home while sitting curbside wondering….
    What on God’s green earth are we thinking?

    1. “The new models might rekindle GM’s EV growth strategy after the Bolt fizzle”

      Yeah, it might. But only with massive subsidies to GM and EV purchasers; and punitive legislation against owners of ICE vehicles.

    2. This is not surprising given the amount of loss they took on the Bolt after it’s battery recall

  3. We’re researching an RV lifestyle for our retirement and everywhere we look, Winnebago is always in the top five worst RVs. ERV2 will put them at number one.

    1. Go With a Pleasureway or a Leisure Travel Vans class B van. Both assembled in Saskatchewan on Ford Or Mercedes chassis. Either company is well regarded for quality and support.

      1. Had a Pleasureway – I’d say too small if you’re full-timing – we traded for a 5th Wheel and an F250 Diesel truck.

      2. I’ve heard good things about those two brands. One of the dirty secrets of the RV world is how bad the quality generally is and the more complicated the RV (think large class A), the worse it gets. We have a 10 year old Airstream which has been pretty good (almost 100,000 km. on the trailer including three years full-timing) but the newer ones seem to have their problems notwithstanding the now outrageous price.

        1. I purchased a 1996 Bigfoot truck camper on a 96 Chevy 2500 long bed truck, for exactly that reason. Heavy and comfortable and can get the Falcon fixie, the Pinarello, the Gary Fisher, and the Brompton to great places for all of them.

    3. I’d probably look for a converted bus if it were me. Something that was built around a chassis and drivetrain that was expected to go a million plus miles.
      Even better would be a ‘toterhome’, but those ain’t cheap.

  6. I see ads for high EV Mercedes cars. All those gadgets inside, but could you use any of them without adding to your stress? Imagine turning off the premium multi-speaker system, and listening to your phone.

  7. On BNN the other day, the host asked the head of General Motors “who wants a 9,000 lb battery powered Hummer anyway?”. The answer was “well … actually … a lot of people”.

    You can’t fix stupid.

    But I note that 40 miles was a two-day ride in 1863. So we aren’t back to the middle ages – yet.

  9. LMAO

    Just another Total FOOL thats bought into the woderful world of EV’s.

    Zero fks given. 40 miles on a fully charged battery with 50% left…?? Awesome..!! Am just giggling at the abject idiocy these “believers” have in their 100k boat anchors.

    Just another religion sucking in the STOOPID.

  11. Good Lord what the hell is up with the ugly paint scheme? Rorschach test on wheels.
    From the comments: “Who would be lacking enough common sense to buy one of these?”
    Oh, they’re out there.

  12. Every time we read one of these E diaries they’re always full of anxiety.
    Who the truck wants all this angst when travelling, be it work but especially pleasure?
    WTF is fun about that?

    1. Buddy

      Have you seen the video of a new EV Hummer pulling and trailer?

      What a laugh. They couldn’t even hit 100 miles before panic time.

  13. EV’s may be great for virtue signalling grocery shoppers in town, but it’s not for actual driving more than ’15 minutes’ away from your domicile ..

    EVs provide the illusion that one cares about the delusion of global-warming and is dumb enough to toss out a shitload of dough to prove it.

    1. ” … dumb enough to toss out a shitload of dough to prove it….

      please let me finish that sentence:

      … and so devoid of ethics and pride that the idea of cash-strapped taxpayers subsidizing their ride doesn’t bother them.

  14. I love this part. We are working on a even bigger battery. The part they failed to say. MORE dang weight to carry and more power to burn up. Not even thinking about the tire and brake wear.

    Dumb-really dumb.

  15. Wait until the Yanks shut down the VW battery plant in St Thomas Ontario. The Yanks were in on the bidding for the plant and lost out to Canada. The Bong immediately set about bragging and tossing the loss of the plant back into the Americans face. It never occurred to the dumb fcuk that the Americans can shut it down with the following statement: All Ev’s produced in the US will be powered with batteries made in the US.

    1. “Wait until the Yanks shut down the VW battery plant in St Thomas Ontario.”

      I hope they do it before the Prime Dipshit pisses away a few billion $$$ of taxpayer money.

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