Bowlus has launched a new version called the Volterra with an integrated 17kWh battery pack to power the trailer and if needed, charge an EV. Their website show it being towed by a Model X and a Rivian truck, so it’s clear what the target market is for the Volterra.
It includes the capability for OTA updates of the trailer software, probably a first for an RV but obviously old news to Tesla owners. I like the 2-burner induction cooktop, the 50 gal freshwater tank, and the 20A external outlets to give an EV tow vehicle a few miles in emergency situations.
Bowlus marketing amuses and irritates me:
Many RVs have been able to do that for years now. It’s hardly an innovation.
What does “ready” mean in this context? Every RV is “ready” for Starlink; plug the router into a 110V outlet and it just works. I did not need to make my Safari Condo Alto trailer “ready” for Starlink.
What the Bowlus Volterra does not do is use the battery pack to power an electric motor to power the trailer wheels. The pack is a bit small to assist the tow vehicle and extend towing range, but electrically driven wheels would be useful for backing the trailer up after unhitching and positioning it in a tight campsite.
The next step in trailer design is to power the wheels to extend the range of the tow vehicle. This would be a real help for those towing with an EV. And there are at least three companies developing such a trailer; Dethleff’s (Germany), Airstream, and Lightspeed, a startup in San Francisco.
It includes the capability for OTA updates of the trailer software, probably a first for an RV but obviously old news to Tesla owners. I like the 2-burner induction cooktop, the 50 gal freshwater tank, and the 20A external outlets to give an EV tow vehicle a few miles in emergency situations.
Bowlus marketing amuses and irritates me:
AeroSolar charges as you drive and while you camp, with no need for set up or activation. It is the ultimate user experience.
Many RVs have been able to do that for years now. It’s hardly an innovation.
Volterra is the first travel trailer that is high-speed satellite internet-ready.
What does “ready” mean in this context? Every RV is “ready” for Starlink; plug the router into a 110V outlet and it just works. I did not need to make my Safari Condo Alto trailer “ready” for Starlink.
What the Bowlus Volterra does not do is use the battery pack to power an electric motor to power the trailer wheels. The pack is a bit small to assist the tow vehicle and extend towing range, but electrically driven wheels would be useful for backing the trailer up after unhitching and positioning it in a tight campsite.
The next step in trailer design is to power the wheels to extend the range of the tow vehicle. This would be a real help for those towing with an EV. And there are at least three companies developing such a trailer; Dethleff’s (Germany), Airstream, and Lightspeed, a startup in San Francisco.