Winnebago Travato with Volta Lithium Battery System

[gerrym51]

Originally Posted by B Eventually

There has to be at least a handful of current Travato owners who are selling or trading in their T's for a Volta Travato. If we still didn't have a young family and if we hadn't already upgraded to lithium (we did with our Trend), I'd be jumping at the chance to upgrade.

How many is a 'handful'. I'm not saying nobody will buy them. I probably will-but i want both the floorplan and the lithium system.

I've always liked the 59K but nothing to do with an ONAN.

I have a zion the the second alternator system and can run everything including air conditioner -but not for a long time. the microwave without starting a generator is a big deal to us. Also our coffemaker

so know a 59K with a 'super lithium' system which i've researced is terrific

[wincrasher]

On #3 I installed 2 drop in lithium batteries (Stark) for a total of 250ah. I put in an Asco charger specific for lithium (with shutoff) and upgrade the solar to 260 watts and put in a 2 channel controller so I could charge the chassis battery. It was a pretty sweet rig and I hated to sell it. But owning two vans as the same time was pretty foolish.

My plan was to enjoy my Xplorer (which I also upgraded to lithum and a big inverter to run the AC) for another year and then go thru the process to build a gas Sprinter with ARV because I'm really keen on this Volta system.

Winnebago coming out with this unexpectedly threw me for a loop and distrupted my timeline. So since I'm spending 1/2 the money, I can do it right now.

[B Eventually]

Originally Posted by gerrym51

How many is a 'handful'. I'm not saying nobody will buy them. I probably will-but i want both the floorplan and the lithium system.

I've always liked the 59K but nothing to do with an ONAN.

I have a zion the the second alternator system and can run everything including air conditioner -but not for a long time. the microwave without starting a generator is a big deal to us. Also our coffemaker

so know a 59K with a 'super lithium' system which i've researced is terrific

The whole B market is so small, I imagine there doesn't need to be much interest right now for this to be a wise move by Winnebago. Some of Roadtrek's smarter potential-buyers are probably going to recognize a Travato (or Era) + Volta is superior to any of Roadtrek/Hymer's lithium solutions.

[wincrasher]

Originally Posted by B Eventually

The whole B market is so small, I imagine there doesn't need to be much interest right now for this to be a wise move by Winnebago. Some of Roadtrek's smarter potential-buyers are probably going to recognize a Travato (or Era) + Volta is superior to any of Roadtrek/Hymer's lithium solutions.

Goes to show you, sometimes being first is not the best. Tesla is going to experience this really soon. When people can buy a Mercedes that is just as capable an electric car, but much higher build quality and value, they won't be paying the exorbitant price for a Tesla.

[avanti]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

Goes to show you, sometimes being first is not the best. Tesla is going to experience this really soon. When people can buy a Mercedes that is just as capable an electric car, but much higher build quality and value, they won't be paying the exorbitant price for a Tesla.

Well, whether it is a good idea or not depends on your success criterion.

Elon is already a billionaire. Maybe his "save the world" rhetoric is sincere. If so, making Mercedes build electric cars for him could be considered victory. Don't forget, this is the company that gives away all its patents:

https://www.tesla.com/blog/all-our-p...no&redirect=no

[wincrasher]

Silly me and my 20th century brain! I just assume success means making money.

But we live in a world where GM's market cap doesn't even equal the cash they have in the bank, so what do I know?

[BBQ]

.

Hey I got it... this is a Travolta

[gerrym51]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

Silly me and my 20th century brain! I just assume success means making money.

But we live in a world where GM's market cap doesn't even equal the cash they have in the bank, so what do I know?

Ron did you keep your explorer and tiffin?

[wincrasher]

Originally Posted by gerrym51

Ron did you keep your explorer and tiffin?

Going to sell the Xplorer. The Tiffin will go when my project is over.

[wincrasher]

saw this posted on Facebook.

[wincrasher]

to add a little clarity, some info I learned today.

Winnebago is using the standard package from Volta - the 10,000 wh battery. Their marketing is quoting the "usable" wattage as 8700. Not typical of what you see from marketing folks, but I like the honesty of it.

[gerrym51]

I now have the order form for the KL.

it's base model MSRP price is 136,509

[wincrasher]

So the K is about $1000 higher than the G. Sounds right.

[Buford Wilson]

Can you post the order form.

[gerrym51]

Originally Posted by Buford Wilson

Can you post the order form.

it was sent to me as an e-mail attachment and for the life of me i can't seem to manipulate it. i can enlarge it to look at it but thats about it.

i will answer any question off of it you ask though

[wincrasher]

My dealer uses a standard 2019 order form and added the lithium package by hand. I’ve got to follow up with him on these new window shades system as Gerry is saying it’s not standard, but an option. I definitely want it!

[gerrym51]

Originally Posted by wincrasher

My dealer uses a standard 2019 order form and added the lithium package by hand. I’ve got to follow up with him on these new window shades system as Gerry is saying it’s not standard, but an option. I definitely want it!

What i said to be precise 'Rich Man' is that the Travato KL has a listing under options

'28D' Window Blinds (3)-Cab,Sliding/Pleated 218 dollars

the list is dated march 22 2018

[Technomadness]

TCO of LFP is a whole lot cheaper than AGM.

Stick to old school technology if you want, but let’s stop with the silly claims.

This constant FUD projects insecurity.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[avanti]

Originally Posted by Technomadness

TCO of LFP is a whole lot cheaper than AGM.

That's an interesting claim. I suppose you could make that case, but you would have to make a lot of dubious assumptions.

[booster]

Originally Posted by avanti

That's an interesting claim. I suppose you could make that case, but you would have to make a lot of dubious assumptions.

The lithium suppliers do that calc all the time, and it does look favorable to them for long time use, IF nothing bad happens and they get the projected life they have been using but hasn't been confirmed in real life campers yet. Accidentally freeze them, overheat them, or have BMS failure and the cost calcs could easily swap ends, I think.

Time will tell how it all shakes out.

A "prime" example of the slanted cost comparison is on this page of the Battleborn site.

https://battlebornbatteries.com/

Their comparison has the AGM batteries at only 300 cycles when taken to 50% instead of the normal 1100+ cycles that would be more typical, and at the same time show the lithium battery as able to use 100% of capacity (which is possible if the battery is really bigger than the rated, but most aren't). Their advantage is really very much smaller and tenuous if you use the real numbers.

The new systems are coming on strong, so we should be able to get some better feel for how well the general population does with batteries that need temperature control, but very little other attention. Unfortunately, it will be a long time before we start to see systems that have hit the 2000-3000 cycles to know how well the life predictions have worked out.