Genesis Products, a manufacturer of interior components, and its European partner, VÖHRINGER, which specializes in lightweight RV construction components, are showcasing the first fully electric prototype RV suitable for series production in cooperation with Winnebago Industries.
The exhibit is happening at the Caravan Salon show in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The Winnebago erv2 is on the VÖHRINGER exhibition stand through Sept. 3. The unit features innovative interior components engineered for lightweight, contemporary, cohesive design and sustainable interior trim. Genesis hopes to raise awareness for the viability of alternative materials in American markets.
“We’re here to solve complex problems for our customers and we’re looking beyond today – we’re already solving for the challenges of the future,” said Jon Wenger, Genesis president and CEO.
The battery required to power electric RVs weighs a little over 1,000 lbs. – making ultra-lightweight interiors critical, the companies said. Winnebago said it turned to Genesis for its leadership in lightweight panels and strong ties to Europe, where alternative lightweight solutions are popular.
“Once we understood the need, we sourced VunderTech, an ultra-lightweight engineered panel, from our German partner VÖHRINGER,” said Nic Bontrager, product manager at Genesis.
VunderTech is designed as a composite sandwich panel made of partly recycled, light core materials and was selected for primary use in the bathroom, where Genesis engineered five, large curved panels with unique hidden fasteners. This reduced the overall number of pieces needed, thus removing dead weight.
Genesis carried this concept through the rest of the cabinetry, using long, continuous pieces and lightweight aluminum supports to reduce the amount of physical structure needed.
For the interior colors, inspired by Japanese design principles, Winnebago selected a light bamboo woodgrain paired with a soft blue and silver color palette. Genesis used its laminate expertise and relationships with local and European suppliers to color-match across vinyl, HPL and paper laminates. Genesis used a five-axis CNC to create smooth, rounded edges and distinct curved edges throughout the cabinetry in the unit.
For the interior trim, Winnebago desired a high-end automotive look that blended seamlessly with the rest of the unit. To achieve this, Genesis manufactured one cohesive piece for the headliner versus multiple parts, creating better flow. The headliner is made of molded polyethylene terephthalate, or PET, which is made of up to 50% recycled water bottles and lighter than traditional wallboard. PET was also used for the entirety of the interior trim.