The following is an excerpt from The Future of EV RVs from the April 2026 issue of RV PRO magazine. For the full Q&A printed in that issue, click here.
How are consumers responding to EV RVs? Who do you anticipate being the buyer for your company’s EV RV?
Cory Weatherton, senior director of product development, Jayco Family of Companies:
We have a large West Coast rental company that will be buying our first few production runs of the Entegra Coach Embark. We will be receiving constant feedback from them on the user experience of the chassis and the whole motorhome. We feel as though this is a great opportunity for us prior to releasing it for retail sale. It allows us to test the market and also make midcourse corrections if needed.
Royer Allman, vice president – chassis administration, Forest River Inc.:
Consumer response to the Coachmen RVEX was overwhelmingly positive. The concept generated excitement around innovation, modern design and the future of EV RV travel. It was a floor showstopper at Forest River’s 2025 Expo. We anticipate early adopters will likely be tech-forward consumers, sustainability-minded travelers and those interested in extended off-grid capability. However, broad market adoption will depend on improvements in range, infrastructure and affordability.
Ivan Wang, chief marketing officer, Evotrex:
Evotrex is resonating with modern, tech-forward adventurers who want to go off-grid without sacrificing comfort, design or reliable power. The core buyer is typically tech-forward families and couples who value independence, performance and access to remote destinations over traditional campground RVing, space for serious adventure gear and the ability to stay self-sufficient while remaining connected and comfortable. At its core, Evotrex is for people who want unlimited range, unlimited destinations and true energy independence.
Sam Shapiro, founder and CEO, Grounded:
Response has been strong. We’re expanding from 13,000 to 75,000 square feet of production space to keep up with demand. Our G3 configurator tool has driven significant engagement; people are designing their builds online and coming to us with a clear vision of what they want, which shortens the sales cycle considerably. Our core buyer is someone who already lives a values-driven lifestyle. They care about sustainability, they’re comfortable with EV technology, and they want a vehicle that reflects how they see themselves. They tend to be more technology-forward and more design-conscious than the traditional RV buyer, and many are coming to van life for the first time rather than trading up from a conventional motorhome. Remote workers, couples and outdoor enthusiasts who want to live and travel without compromise make up a big portion of our consumer base. But increasingly, the buyer isn’t a consumer at all. We’re seeing serious traction in commercial verticals: mobile health, food and beverage, pet services, trades, municipal fleets. These are organizations that need a configurable, zero-emission vehicle platform and can’t find one anywhere else. That commercial demand has become a major growth driver, and it validates the modularity of our system in ways that go well beyond recreation.
Toby Kraus, co-founder and CEO, Lightship:
Consumer response has been strong and notably balanced. Early demand has split almost evenly between EV owners and traditional truck drivers, which reinforces the AE.1’s position as a bridge product. EV drivers are drawn to the efficiency gains, integrated energy storage and extended towing range, while gas truck owners are responding to the aerodynamic design, premium interior and the ability to dramatically reduce fuel consumption and generator dependence. Early interest from media, influencers and prospective buyers has centered on the fact that the product is real, in production and meaningfully different from legacy RV offerings. Lightship anticipates its core buyer to be a premium road-trip customer who values technology, design and energy independence. These are families and outdoor enthusiasts who want the comfort of a high-end travel trailer, the flexibility of weeklong off-grid capability and the added resilience of bi-directional power for campsite vehicle charging or home backup. The AE.1 is designed for mainstream usability on roads and established campsites rather than extreme off-road terrain, positioning it as a high-performance, energy-dense electric trailer for modern American road travel.
