From a driving perspective I can report two very distinct impressions from behind the wheel. One, the Transit drives like any Class B I’ve piloted before—size-wise and in its road manners. Two, the balance and feel of this Transit is unlike any Class B I’ve driven before. By balance I mean how the body rides on the chassis, how it corners, and how it handles uneven surfaces. It’s rock-solid and rides dead flat. The key to this sensation is the placement of the Ford battery pack (and the house battery). Both are placed low in the chassis, and by spreading the weight evenly between front and rear axles, it gives the Transit a planted feel unlike any other conventionally powered van. This extreme low centre of gravity literally sticks the eRV2 to the road. It’s been said that it feels like its riding on rails—a comment I can attest to. Why did they build it? Winnebago says it developed the eRV2 in response to growing demand for more sustainable forms of road travel.
“Our primary goal in building the eRV2 was to help people comfortably explore the world around them with less environmental impact,” said Huw Bower, President of the Winnebago brand. “The user experience was at the heart of this prototype’s development, through the early days of market research and even now as it goes through field testing. The eRV2 embodies our pioneering legacy, representing not only an achievement in design, innovation, and sustainability, but also our commitment to continuously evolve with the changing needs of consumers and the world we share.”
Key Features and Benefits of the eRV2
• Both the powertrain and the house systems are powered by electricity, allowing for silent and environmentally responsible travel, and up to seven days of Boondocking, aided in part by 900-watt solar capacity. • It’s built on a Ford E-Transit chassis, which promises both powerful torque and smooth handling. The current generation of this chassis has a published range of 108 miles, well-suited for a pilot program. Winnebago is actively pursuing range extension opportunities to incorporate into a future commercial version. • Winnebago partnered with Lithionics Battery to create a proprietary IonBlade lithium house battery which is the most powerful, compact, and safe lithium battery system available today.
RV REVIEW
COAST TO COAST MAGAZINE SUMMER 2023 | 28
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