World's most advanced caravan makes towing with an electric car a breeze
Hate having to hitch up your caravan? Well this one can do it for you
Electric cars are great at a lot of things, but towing isn’t one of them. Not because they can’t, but because the extra weight and drag from a caravan causes an EV’s range to plummet faster than a Tesla in ludicrous mode. Silicon Valley thinks it's got the answer: behold, the all-electric Pebble Flow, the world’s most high-tech caravan.
It doesn't look like any caravan you’ll have seen before, but the big news is under the metal, where you can find two electric motors. The dual-motor Active Propulsion Assist System available in the Flow drives the caravan’s own wheels, making towing effortless and maximising the range of your car, whether it’s an EV or not.
The Flow can also detect its surroundings and use the motors to hitch itself up to your vehicle, all controlled by the company’s mobile phone app. Once you’re at the campsite and have unhooked the caravan, it can even manoeuvre into spaces, pivoting and positioning itself into tight spots.
Powering the motors, as well as the appliances on-board, is a 45kWh Lithium Iron Phosphate battery – the same kind used in some EVs. The Flow features solar panels on the roof and regenerative braking technology that can help add a little charge to the battery, but you have to plug it in at some point for a bigger charge. Thankfully the Flow has both AC and DC charging capabilities, so you could use a public charger, home wallbox or campsite socket for a top-up.
Inside, the Flow’s panoramic windows provide a 270-degree view of the scenery, while a Queen-sized Murphy bed and convertible dinette bed provide enough space to sleep four. There’s also a removable induction cooktop, convection microwave and full-size fridge, plus full-size shower and toilet.
The catch? Well there’s more than one. Firstly, you’d have to have a car capable of towing more than 2,800kg in order to haul the Pebble Flow anywhere. Second, this futuristic caravan starts at the equivalent of roughly £90,000, or over £100,000 if you want the ‘Magic Pack’ that adds the dual-motor propulsion system and the smart features that come with it.
Finally, the Pebble Flow currently only available in the US. But for those Stateside with a serious love of the outdoors, the first examples are due to arrive before the end of 2024.
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