For a number of EV-curious buyers out there, a major hesitation is the effect of towing on range. But Colorado Teardrops wants to help EV owners (and non EV owners) with its upcoming range of electrified camping trailers.
The company, which is famed for its vintage style teardrop shaped trailers, announced that it will introduce two new models of its patent-pending teardrop camping trailer. Along with beds and other camping necessities, they will come with either 19 or 38 kWh of battery capacity.
That battery power can help EV owners go farther afield on their next camping trip, but it will be able to do more than just that. Colorado Teardrops insists that the trailers are intended for the owners of traditional vehicles, too.
First and foremost, while you’re camping, the batteries can power more stuff. From lights to electric coolers, to other small appliances, the batteries can help campers go farther off the beaten trail for longer.
Read: Tesla Veterans Create $125K Electric Trailer That Can Be Towed Without Hurting EV Range
What’s good in the woods can also be useful at home, though. Colorado Teardrops says that its larger camper, with its 38 kWh of battery power, can power the average U.S. home for more than a day during an outage.
Under more normal circumstances, it could act a lot like a Powerwall, which Tesla estimates can yield up to 92 percent in energy savings by storing solar power for later use. The tech can also charge at offpeak hours and supplement a home’s power at peak hours.
Colorado Teardrops adds that, when connected as a home battery, its campers will be able to qualify for the Residential Clean Energy Tax Credit of up to 30 percent of the cost of the battery system.
Prices for the two models of camping trailer have not yet been released, but the manufacturer says that it has opted for lithium iron phosphate batteries, rather than the lithium-ion ones that are found in most cars. On top of being less expensive to manufacture, the cell chemistry is also safer, Colorado Teardrops claims.
“The safety of our customers is our first and foremost concern, followed by our product’s sustainability in contributing to the reduction in greenhouse gases through intelligent energy solutions,” said Dean Wiltshire, Colorado Teardrops owner. “Environmental stewardship and sustainability have always been a the heart of our core values, and this is a natural next step for Colorado Teardrops.”
