Lordstown Motors Corp., in conjunction with Camping World, announced plans to introduce electrified RVs to the industry as soon as 2021.
During a Dec. 15 joint press conference at the Lordstown Motors headquarters in Ohio, CEO Steve Burns and Camping World CEO Marcus Lemonis revealed a plan to explore new electrical vehicle (EV) solutions and products for the RV marketplace based on the Lordstown Endurance platform, the companies stated.
“The future is now, and the realization of electrifying RVs and the outdoor community is within our grasp and will only grow from here,” Lemonis stated.
RV focuses include a lithium-ion battery pack to replace conventional gasoline generators in travel trailers, which will begin testing next year with expected customer availability as soon as 2021.
Further information about the lithium batteries was not made available. Lordstown said more details will be released in the coming months.
“We’re starting with just putting batteries in these pull-behinds … but eventually, we want to go all the way up to all things RV,” Burns said.
In the press conference, Burns said the first travel trailers and fifth wheels to be electrified would come “sometime in 2021.”
“I would hope by summer we would see some prototypes,” Lemonis said. “I would hope that a 2022 model would have electrification in it.”
In addition, the partnership will tackle design and construction of the industry’s first electric motor home – referred to as “Class E” or “eRV” – which will include a Good Sam charging network installation at Camping World locations.
Lemonis noted that the companies plan to offer the electrified unit at an “affordable” price to make it a realistic purchase for younger buyers and retirees.
“Working with Marcus and his team to bring EV solutions to the RV market is quite exciting, and I’m excited about the first-to-market opportunities this partnership affords us,” Burns said.
Developing the battery technology to electrify towables will take place at Lordstown’s 6.2 million square foot facility in Ohio. Burns said at the press conference the company, which has 250 employees, is expected to grow to 500 employees by 2020’s end and 1,500 by 2021’s end related to its battery production.
