A luxury RV maker says it created the world's first fully electric travel trailer — see inside the $310,000 home on wheels with Starlink connectivity

The Bowlus Volterra outside
  • Luxury travel trailer Bowlus has unveiled what it says is the world's first fully electric RV, the Volterra.
  • The new Starlink-enabled Volterra trailer starts at $310,000.
  • Legacy RV makers like Winnebago and Thor Industries unveiled concept electric RVs in early 2022.
Luxury travel trailer maker Bowlus has unveiled its latest build, the Volterra.
The Bowlus Volterra outside after sunset.
But unlike its other models, Bowlus says the shiny new trailer is the world's first fully electric production RV.
The Bowlus Volterra outside with the rear door open showing the bed.

Source: Bowlus

And this title will cost you: The new luxury tiny home on wheels starts at $310,000, making it the company's most expensive RV yet.
The kitchen, living room, and bedroom inside the Bowlus Volterra

Source: Bowlus

Bowlus has been a familiar face in the luxury road travel market for several years now.
Bowlus terra firma travel trailer
The Terra Firma edition.
In 2020, its $255,000 Endless Highways Bespoke Performance Edition travel trailer was listed in Neiman Marcus' holiday gift guide.
Bowlus Bespoke Customized Endless Highways Performance Edition
The Bowlus Bespoke Customized Endless Highways Performance Edition.

Source: Insider

And throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the company saw an immense growth in sales and popularity with growing waitlists for its builds, the company told Insider in 2021.
Bowlus Road Chief's Endless Highways Performance Edition. 2
Bowlus Road Chief's Endless Highways Performance Edition.

Source: Insider

The travel trailer maker may have carved out its own path in the RV industry, but it's not the only company dabbling in the red-hot fully electric (emphasis on "fully") RV market.
Winnebago Industries' e-RV with blueish purple lights on the underbelly.
Winnebago Industries' e-RV on the road.

Source: Insider

In early 2022, legacy companies like Mercedes-Benz, Winnebago, and Thor Industries unveiled electric RV concepts.
The Mercedes-Benz EQV with a pop-top roof and the side passenger door open. The van is next to a body of water and bridge surrounded by trees, nature.
The Mercedes-Benz EQV and Sortimo conversion concept.

Source: Insider

But these vehicles were just that: concepts with no firm release dates.
Winnebago Industries' e-RV on a road at night. There are houses in the distance.
Other electric travel trailers with off-grid capabilities are already available to consumers.
The exterior of the travel trailer as it sits on a brown field at dusk. The lights are on inside.
But according to Bowlus, these other models aren't actually fully electric because they have amenities like gas cooktops or propane tanks (Bowlus offers the latter for "backup" off-grid heating uses).
The exterior of the travel trailer as it sits on a brown field.

Source: Bowlus

"[Full electrification] isn't something you can achieve overnight, which is why you see so much concept work instead of actual production from the rest of the industry," Geneva Long, the founder and CEO of Bowlus, told Insider.
The Bowlus Volterra outside next to an outdoor dining set
According to Long, Bowlus has been shooting for complete electrification for several years now ...
The Bowlus Volterra outside
... and was able to achieve it before legacy companies because of its early integration of lithium-ion phosphate batteries, lightweight materials, and an aerodynamic trailer shape initially designed to increase the tow vehicle's miles per gallon.
The living room inside the Bowlus Volterra
If you've seen Bowlus' previous models, the 27-foot electrified Volterra might look familiar.
Bowlus Road Chief's Endless Highways Performance Edition. 1
Bowlus Road Chief's Endless Highways Performance Edition.
The exterior still retains Bowlus' signature shiny retro look. And inside, the trailer's kitchen, living room, and bedroom furnishings look similar to Bowlus' previous models.
The Bowlus Volterra outside with the rear door open showing the bed.
But the Volterra's innovations are in its details.
The top of the Bowlus Volterra
Compared to the company's previous models, the new electric model has increased battery and freshwater storage capacities …
The living room and dining room inside the trailer
… and the ability to charge while it's both parked and being towed using its "AeroSolar" system, allowing the trailer to stay off-grid indefinitely, according to its maker.
The top of the Bowlus Volterra
And it wouldn't be a Bowlus without interior luxury amenities like heated floors, bright wooden walls and ceilings, and a hotel room-like bathroom.
The kitchen, living room, and bedroom inside the Bowlus Volterra
Inside the kitchen, there's an induction cooktop, a sink with an extendable faucet, a refrigerator-freezer, and a battery-powered microwave, among other amenities.
The cooktop with a pot inside the Bowlus Volterra
Meals made here can then be eaten in the living room lined with seats that can turn into two separate dining tables, seating up to four hungry travelers.
The living room and dining room inside the trailer
The bedroom is just past this living room. Here, there's an en-suite bathroom and twin beds that can turn into one king mattress.
The living room inside the Bowlus Volterra
This obviously won't cut it for a family of four. So to sleep two additional people, the multi-purpose living room's sofa and armchair can convert into two additional beds.
The living room and dining room inside the trailer
And if you're an on-the-go digital nomad, you're in for a treat: The Volterra also has Starlink connectivity, a service more RV makers are now integrating into their builds.
The kitchen, living room, and bedroom inside the Bowlus Volterra

Source: Insider 

Starlink is a big plus, but Volterra's biggest sell is definitely its electrification.
The Bowlus Volterra being towed.
To support all of these interior amenities, the travel trailer has energy systems like an increased lithium ion phosphate battery capacity and the ability to charge its electric tow vehicle up to an additional 65 miles.
The kitchen, living room, and bedroom inside the Bowlus Volterra
And it's these electrification systems that could make the Volterra a hot product for the travel trailer company.
The living room inside the Bowlus Volterra
"We've already seen incredible reception for the Volterra and we expect that to continue and definitely be our best seller," Long said.
The living room with a dog and food bowl set inside the Bowlus Volterra
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