New Roadtrek RS E-Trek

[markopolo]

The new E-Trek includes the following features:
• Mercedes Sprinter Van (170 inch wheelbase), with Bluetec technology, and Bio-Diesel Fuel Capability.
• Propane Free Operation.
• New Interior styling, including touring captains seats in second row.
• New Exterior Styling, Full Body Paint, tone on tone colours!!
• 250 Watt Solar charging
• EFOY Fuel Cell generator option
• Engine generation using additional engine generator/alternator
• 2500 Watt Inverter
• Surge protection and Power monitoring
• Optional Lithium Ion batteries

[markopolo]

I'm guessing diesel furnace and hot water.
Lithium batteries and EFOY Fuel Cell options will be expensive (and you'll probably do just fine without them) http://www.efoy.ca/introduction.html
250 watts solar is great.
Engine as a generator is interesting. I'm trying that now: http://www.classbforum.com/phpBB2/vi...hp?f=12&t=2295
I'd guess they used a Trimetric for battery monitoring.

I wonder how big the battery bank is...........

It'll be interesting to find out how they handle coach air-conditioning.........

[markopolo]

Originally Posted by Jim Hammill

...........you have enough battery to run for a long long time........

Originally Posted by Jim Hammill

.............engine alternators/generators now generate as much as 3500 watts..............

[markopolo]

Originally Posted by Jim Hammill

.........Eight Deep Cycle AGM batteries, or two deep cycle lithium ion batteries...........

[markopolo]

The EFOY 1600 outputs 65 watts.
130 Ah per day.

The EFOY 2200 outputs 90 watts.
180 Ah per day.

A 13,500 btu rv air conditioner uses approx 2,800 watts at startup and 1,800 watts when running (source: http://powerequipment.honda.ca )

So, if you run the air conditioner for 1 hour then the Efoy 2200 would have to run for 20 hours to recharge the batteries.............
In practice, you wouldn't do that. You'd start the van engine instead.

[wabbit]

Very interesting. I don't see it on their web site yet, but I'd love to learn more.

[Davydd]

Most likely it is diesel hydronic heating and hotwater. Great West Vans started putting that in their Legend last year and it isn't taking long for others to take notice. All of a sudden the B converters seem to be waking up and starting to think more outside the box.

I'd like to see more thinking outside the box in plan design. So far only Leisure Travel Vans with their Free Spirit SS has managed that. I'm curious to see what Advanced-RV comes up with.

[markopolo]

250 watts of solar installed flat on an RV roof will give you between 60 and 100 amp hours per day depending on the weather and the latitude where you are. I'll average it at 80 amp hours.

1 hour running of a 13,500 btu air conditioner on an inverter could draw 150 amp hours from your battery bank. Solar panels will give back 80 amp hours (per day) leaving a deficit of 70 amp hours. You'd have to run the Efoy 2200 for 9 hours just to recoup the 1 hour air conditioner use ............. Here again, you'd run the van motor instead.

I can't wait to see more detailed specs on the new Roadtrek RS E-Trek to see how they are handling stuff like this.

[markopolo]

Photos of the new Roadtrek RS E-Trek should be out soon. They'll be interesting to see but it is the shift in the use of technology that will really differentiate the E-Trek from other models.

[markopolo]

Some info and a video of the EFOY Fuel Cell here: http://www.classbforum.com/phpBB2/vi...php?f=9&t=2348

I think I was mistaken in some of my earlier comments about not wanting to run the EFOY for many hours. Now I think that it exactly how it is intended to be used. Set it to automatic and let it run as long as it needs to.

[Mike]

The earlier link that you posted to the EFOY website implied that it's a fully automatic system that senses when you need a top up and kicks itself in. Like the similar automatic charging sysem a forum member (Firehawk335?) mentioned he had added to his Roadtrek 190V a few years ago. From AMSolar as described in his post, and the automatic part is an Onan add on, if i understand his setup.
viewtopic.php?f=12&t=1695&p=7541#p7541

[Mike]

Originally Posted by markopolo

I'm guessing diesel furnace and hot water.
Lithium batteries and EFOY Fuel Cell options will be expensive (and you'll probably do just fine without them) http://www.efoy.ca/introduction.html
250 watts solar is great.
Engine as a generator is interesting. I'm trying that now: http://www.classbforum.com/phpBB2/vi...hp?f=12&t=2295
I'd guess they used a Trimetric for battery monitoring.

I wonder how big the battery bank is...........

It'll be interesting to find out how they handle coach air-conditioning.........

I wonder how expensive the EFOY/lithium options will be as a percentage of the cost of the entire RV?

[markopolo]

I think the larger EFOY unit could cost up to $6,000.
600 amp hours of lithium ion 12v batteries (2 x 300ah) is another $6,000.

So those options would add 10% or so to the cost of the RV.

[Mike]

It looks like it could be added to an existing conventional class B, if space were available. Retrofitting might be an interesting challenge, but if you were comfortable with your current RV, and wanted to extend it's dry camping capability, it might be worth it to some, particularly the adventurous class B "full timers". I think Firehawk335's setup was as good at maintaining batteries while automating the basic functions of the A/C in his situation. Lot cheaper, too.

[markopolo]

I wonder if the E-Trek has a feature to start the van engine automatically to recharge the house batteries at a set point like Firehawk335 did with his Onan generator?

[Davydd]

Most all these ideas have been out for a while. If you do a Google search on RV fuel cells you'll find plenty of mention of the EFOY system. A quick glance I see it was in RV shows in 2009. It's a German product and not proprietary to any RV converter.

Great West Vans has already built Bs with lithium batteries, solar panels, diesel hydronic heating and hot water, large inverters, etc. Advanced-RV has been investigating all this too. We'll soon see how far they've taken it. Roadtrek is taking note of all this and putting it all together in one B model. Since they use the "RS" name I suspect it might be a modified RS Adventurous thus no mention of plan design layout or any urgency to show that aspect.

[booster]

Just got an e-mail from Roadtrek about the E-Trek. Had a link to Roadtrek.com to learn more about the new model. Of course, there is no information there to see. They need to get there info in line before they publicize. All these announcements that don't happen and info that isn't there doesn't do great things for their credibility.

[markopolo]

The news release is now on Roadtrek's site:

New Model Introduced By Roadtrek, The RS E-Trek
http://www.roadtrek.com/news_details...bLMjl5%2bns%3d

E-Trek Photos must be coming soon.

Kitchener, Ontario, CANADA – September 21, 2012 – Roadtrek Motorhomes Inc is pleased to announce a new model, the RS E-Trek. This new model, built on the renowned Mercedes Sprinter chassis, incorporates the latest technology into Roadtrek’s best-selling RS platform. Using our latest approach to design, the van incorporates the very latest engineering to provide campers and travellers with world class features, comfort, and style.

"Roadtrek’s design incorporates technology that will give the owner greater ability to be independent, have full capability to dry camp for extended periods, all while being environmentally conscious. There has never been an RV like this, and we are extremely pleased to offer this new product." quoted Jim Hammill, President of Roadtrek.

Hammill went on to comment "The introduction of this model is industry leading, environmentally responsible, all electric, all with no loss of functionality. This unit requires no compromise, as the owner can do everything to utilize the benefits, with less friction, and not be required to be an RV expert."

The E-Trek was built using the most environmentally conscious materials that are e-certified, and are manufactured using high levels of recycled materials.

The new E-Trek includes the following features:

Mercedes Sprinter Van (170 inch wheelbase), with Bluetec technology, and Bio-Diesel Fuel Capability.
Propane Free Operation.
New Interior styling, including touring captains seats in second row.
New Exterior Styling, Full Body Paint, tone on tone colours!!
250 Watt Solar charging
EFOY Fuel Cell generator option
Engine generation using additional engine generator/alternator
2500 Watt Inverter
Surge protection and Power monitoring
Optional Lithium Ion batteries

Andy Weller, Roadtrek's Co-Chairman and CEO stated, "This unit utilizes the latest electrical capabilities available to achieve the environmental improvements and camping independence that our customers have been demanding. Our Engineering team has worked extremely hard to create something not just new, but actually a much different and easier product to use for the consumer."

Roadtrek has begun Manufacturing of the E-Trek and is taking orders through its dealer network.

Based in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, Roadtrek Motorhomes Inc, is the leading manufacturer of Class B Motorhomes and Camper Vans in North America. For more information, please visit Roadtrek.com/PR or contact Paul Cassidy, Vice President of Sales and Service at paulc@roadtrek.com and 519-745-1169.

[markopolo]

Originally Posted by Davydd

Most likely it is diesel hydronic heating and hotwater. Great West Vans started putting that in their Legend last year and it isn't taking long for others to take notice. All of a sudden the B converters seem to be waking up and starting to think more outside the box.

I'd like to see more thinking outside the box in plan design. So far only Leisure Travel Vans with their Free Spirit SS has managed that. I'm curious to see what Advanced-RV comes up with.

I think you're right about it being diesel hydronic heating and hotwater in the RS E-Trek.

Some info:

The HYDRONIC heater operates off the motorhome’s own fuel tank and battery, but also has the capability to run off an electrical outlet in an RV park as an alternative power source. The large Mobile Comfort System, the MCS16, operates on diesel, while the small Mobile Comfort System, the MCS5, can operate on gasoline or diesel and is ideal for more fuel-efficient Class C and Class B motorhome owners. These systems operate by heating the system coolant (i.e., antifreeze and water) and circulating the coolant through the vehicle’s fan/outlet system to provide heat to the interior cabin and also creating hot water (hot water is available instantly without having to be stored). On larger Class A coaches or those with an engine loop, these heating systems can also pre-heat the engine on the vehicle.

and the benefits:

HYDRONIC Heater Benefits

Quiet operation and an even distribution of heat.
Espar Heater Systems warm the cabin gradually and maintain a constant heat output, regardless of the temperature outside. By eliminating a propane furnace and using an Espar HYDRONIC heater, you free up a lot of storage space.

Abundance of hot water for multiple uses, like showering and doing dishes.
The Espar HYDRONIC heater can provide as much hot water as the RV can store by using a double-wall “flash” exchanger to instantly turn cold water into hot. The Mobile Comfort System, MCS16, produces 2.5 gallons of water per minute and the smaller MCS5 produces 1 gallon per minute, enough water for everyone to have a shower without waiting for the water to heat up in between.

Timers and remote key-chain starters allow programming up to seven days in advance.

[Mike]

To someone looking to spend $100,000+ on a class B motorhome, not much really "industry leading" in the new model that I can see. Looks like they've added average solar capability, and engine/alternator power co-generation, as well as some expensive options for additional power management (EFOY/Lithium batteries).
And luxurious "Corinthian leather" second row captain's chairs. Had them in my 1979 E150 Econoline van. I thought they'd be a nice addition for people moving. They rarely got used.

I'm sure there are some industry following features buried in the equipment/appliance list, but not exactly jaw dropping stuff, IMO.