Camper manufacturer Colorado Teardrops released a small-footprint teardrop camper trailer last week that is configured to overcome the obstacles of drastically reducing the mileage when towing an electric car—carry extra batteries along the way to charge the EV .
This model, called Boulder, has a large number of 75 kWh batteries in its lower frame area-a few kWh away from the usable capacity of more and more tow-rated compact electric crossovers, including the Volkswagen ID .4, Tesla Model Y, or Volvo XC40 charging.
The company claims that once charged, using a CCS format DC fast charger, this setting will be able to provide up to 60 kilowatts of DC fast charging output, or may increase the range of 100 miles in 10 minutes. To clarify, this is at a rest station; the trailer cannot charge the vehicle while it is moving.
Colorado Teardrops Boulder EV Camping Trailer
In short, you may need to stop and charge twice as often, but you can still complete all the usual charging stops-you may need to charge two "devices".
This is different from the E.Home Caravan electric trailer announced by German travel trailer and electric car manufacturer Dethleffs last month, which is simpler while maintaining the original range and possibly even expanding it.
However, Boulder's advantages are not limited to charging electric traction vehicles. The 12 volt DC and 120 volt AC power output functions that may be included in the setup are solutions for off-grid camping and other uses-and may even be used as a home backup in future applications.
Including the battery pack, the dry weight of the trailer is only 1,950 pounds, and the tongue weight is 185 pounds. It states that the setup is built around a suspension that can withstand 3,500 pounds.
Colorado Teardrops Boulder EV Camping Trailer
For decades, "teardrop" travel trailers with an aerodynamic shape like this have long been a favorite of temporary campers because they can be towed with smaller vehicles without a huge impact on range and efficiency.
The company claims that in this way, it will restore the range of the electric car to the level before towing or better, so it may be used more frequently.
Colorado Teardrops stated that Boulder will be parked in the family garage, but the hard shell cabin is large enough for a family of four, including a queen-size mattress and bunk beds, a dining area with sofa, a hot shower, and indoor climate control. There is also a foldable external galley kitchen, and the company is developing a coordinated induction stove to avoid burning-a bonus for camping in fire-prone areas.
Prices range from US$45,000 to US$54,000, depending on the option, with the first delivery date in August 2022.
Colorado Teardrops Boulder EV Camping Trailer
Colorado Teardrops Boulder EV Camping Trailer
Colorado Teardrops Boulder EV Camping Trailer
This is not a new idea, but companies that claim to commercialize it in the past have not delivered more than a few such units. However, this time, a mature camper trailer company is taking on this task. Colorado Teardrops told Green Car Reports that it knew it might need to do some regulatory work so that the electric car market can continue to grow. Spokesperson Joshua Robinson said: "We are committed to serving the electric vehicle industry and are very happy to be part of its growth."
Although giants like Airstream are looking for electric travel trailers, there are no products that are as widely available or mass-produced today. For personal use and non-commercial applications, Robinson stated that it is not aware of any state or federal regulations that may hinder the product, and it will comply with UL, DOT and SAE rules and regulations.
Xos Charging Center for Commercial Vehicles
These commercial applications come too fast. Last week, Xos Trucks, an electric commercial vehicle startup, released the Xos Hub—essentially a semi-truck trailer filled with batteries and fast charging. The company said that Xos Hub can plug into existing infrastructure without permission and can charge up to five trucks at the same time.
Among these products and more, people are increasingly aware that mobile charging solutions may help some households or companies click on electric cars. It doesn't make much sense to carry a huge battery with you to achieve unnecessary long cruising range-like driving a car with an extra tank full of fuel throughout the year. But expanding this capability on special occasions—perhaps through solutions like leasing—is essential to persuade more people that they don’t need to keep gasoline cars around as trailers.
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