Roadtrek introduces the RS E-TREK

1775 wrote:
According to the Roadtrek president, he personally tested the batteries and A/C and ran the A/C on the batteries for 15 hours and they were at 50%. The solar panels only require daylight, not direct sunlight. ...

"at 50%" that's a silly test.

The A/C would need to be set at a low setting to run 15 hours from a battery bank even with help from the solar panels.
It's a "silly test" because, during hot weather when an A/C is required for cooling, it's usually set at full power. At best the A/C could run for a few hours at full power from battery bank/solar panels.

We run a high tech split-unit semi-truck sleeper cab 13,000 BTU A/C in our rig, the manufacturer also makes fantastic claims about running it on batteries and solar.
Real world experience from myself and Truckers; can't carry enough batteries and solar panels to run it on high settings for very long in hot weather.
When the full spec's are listed for A/C btu, amps, battery bank size solar panels, I'll run the math to calculate hours A/C can run on high setting.

I like the Rig a lot!.. but marketing the E-TREK as a 'green' environmentally responsible RV, is more silly nonsense from Roadtrek.

Running the Diesel engine to recharge the batteries rather than using traditional generator/LP is only shifting to different fuels.
The solar panels add very little to reduce overall fossil fuel usage.
And bio diesel is pretty much a boondoogle joke.

We use the same concepts in our small Rig linked below.
An all diesel/electric one fuel vehicle, without the need for shore power.
All works fine, EXCEPT for the A/C on hot days, then need a generator along to run it.