Harvok Powerbank 2021 Review

The new Australian designed and engineered, but Chinese-built Harvok 48-volt all-electric caravan is the future of caravanning that you can experience today.

Like online deliveries did to snail mail, its battery smarts make most conventional caravans technically obsolete overnight and before long used caravan buyers will be asking ‘Why not?’ if they can run your air-conditioning 24/7 or enjoy a pod coffee on demand.

Am I exaggerating? Not really. While otherwise conventional lithium-powered caravans with plenty of solar on their roof and big inverters can power most domestic 240-volt appliances if required, such things are not the Harvok’s party tricks. They are the everyday 240-volt things we take for granted in our homes, but not in the bush.

True home away from home

The new Harvok Powerbank 1960 RD has the distinction of being not only the latest, but the cheapest all-electric 48-volt caravan you can buy in Australia.

While around $95,000 drive-away is not cheap if you're shopping at the entry level of the caravan market, it’s on the money if you're shopping for a well-appointed, full off-road 19ft 6in couples caravan with things like independent tandem axle, 3.6 tonne rated coil spring and Nitro gas shock absorber suspension, a DO-35 off-road coupling, a large A-fame mounted tool box with twin jerrycan holders, and a big truck mesh front stone shield.

The new Harvok van also benefits from automotive-style anti-corrosion coating on its 125mm x 50mm chassis with a 100mm raiser and 12-inch off-road brakes; and a 2mm thick, marine grade TIG-welded and bolted body frame with smooth aluminium exterior cladding and plenty of insulation.

Then add twin 120-litre water tanks, a separate 75-litre grey water tank, 16-inch alloy wheels shod with Toyota Land Cruiser size LT265/75 mud terrain tyres, a standard HD rear view camera, 8-inch flip-up jockey wheel and a sturdy four-arm rear bumper to its standard spec.

Inside, you also get a top-loading 3.2kg washing machine, a two-burner induction cooktop, reverse-cycle rooftop air conditioner, a 188-litre Dometic two-door compressor fridge freezer, 24-inch TV, a Fusion sound system with twin external speakers, and power operation for the entry step and large awning.

Oh, and did I mention that it’s got a full gas-free 48-volt power system, supported by more than 1000 watts of glass solar panels on the roof and a 3000-watt inverter that should allow you to run all your 240volt domestic appliances simultaneously – all night if you like.

Suddenly, $95,000 seems quite reasonable!

Rise of the 48V caravan

Make no mistake about it, 48V technology is about to become the new gold standard in RV power, with Harvok (formed by the acronym of ‘H’ denominating the Hubei province of Central China whose capital is Wuhan; RV (obvious) and ‘OK’ (again obvious) threatening to lead the charge. 

Harvok was founded in Australia by caravan engineer Ben Liu, who worked previously with a number of Victorian RV businesses, including Elite Caravans, Aussie RV and Purple Line where he was part of the team that invented the world’s first inflatable camper.

The vans are made in Hubei in a new 30,000 square metre production facility that Liu helped build in China in 2018, with hopes that it will soon become China’s largest RV manufacturer, turning out 2000 campers, caravans and other towable RVs a year.

On the basis of the Harvok Powerbank 1960 RD caravan reviewed, this seems like an attainable target.

Some of the Harvok local products will be large motorhomes built on Iveco chassis, primarily destined for the Chinese market, while the towable caravans built in Hubei initially will stock the large caravan park set up nearby.

Around 40 per cent of all RVs sold in Australia now come from China, but with its Australian design and engineering input, you’d never guess that the Harvok was imported.

The caravans arrive complete at Harvok’s greenfield South Dandenong, Melbourne assembly plant from Hubei, ready to be fitted with ancillary appliances and components, like their couplings, steps and rangehoods, before being certified to comply with local RV regulations. The facility currently has space to house stock of up to 30 caravans.

Later, Harvok hopes to licence its entire 48-volt powerbank system to other local caravan manufacturers as demand for this new technology ramps up. These systems will be connected to the internet, allowing Harvok IT specialists to install software and firmware upgrades and to problem-solve remotely, if required.

Aussie exterior styling

Visually, excepting all the ‘bling’ reminding you that you're in the proximity of a 48-volt caravan, the Harvok Powerbank 1960 models are visually unremarkable with an angled front panel and vertical rear.

There's also familiar waist-high checkerplate stone protection and smooth grey aluminium composite body cladding over a 2mm thick Tig-welded and then bolted body frame made from marine grade Aluminium, while the 40mm thick polyester thermal insulation under the van’s one-piece aluminium roof and 20mm on the side walls, front and back, are all hallmarks of many high-grade caravans.

A 3600kg rated but relatively lightweight steel chassis comprising 150mm x 100mm main rails with a 100mm raiser and a gusseted 150mm x 50mm A -frame, features car-like electrophoresis anti-corrosion coating -- another indication that Harvok wants to distance itself from the heavy, poorer-quality steel used in earlier imported Chinese caravans and campers and position itself directly against rugged mainstream Australian off-road RVs.

Given their 19ft 6in length, 3.6-tonne tandem independent suspension is fitted to both the couple and family models of this size, using conventional trailing arms, coil springs and twin vertically-mounted and gas-filled telescopic shock absorbers per wheel.

It's basic, simple, yet works well in practice, with the Harvok van tracking well behind our Land Rover Discovery tow car over corrugations.

Off-road credentials

The linear layout leaves plenty of room underneath for the Harvok's twin 120-litre freshwater tanks and separate 75-litre grey water tank, all of which are well-protected from stones, while the normally-vulnerable plastic waste piping is mounted high under the chassis. Zinc wheel boxes give further confidence against rusting.

The A-frame is short and stubby, with reassuring cross-bracing and extra support and gusseting at the front where the Cruisemaster DO-35 coupling is bolted, while the external brass water tap is shielded, just behind. It all gives you confidence to take the Harvok off the beaten track to places where you can enjoy its 48V power.

Just one 16-inch alloy spare wheel shod with a LandCruiser size 265/75 M/T tyre is mounted on the rear bumper, supported by four arms. For a van with its remote area ‘smarts’, I’d prefer a second spare wheel if my tow car didn't share the same tyres.

External storage is good, with a full and unencumbered through-body storage area up front and a large lockable tool box on the A-frame, with flanking ventilated jerrycan holders. I liked the fact that locking this box also secures the jerrycans from pilfering, while a stone guard follows its tapered front contours closely.

Power to the people

That’s all good, considering that the Harvok’s battery of six inter-connected 50Ah lithium batteries (representing 14.4kW, or equivalent to 1200AH in conventional 12v batteries) and its 40AH multi-stage 48v battery charger take up all the space under its queen bed, that otherwise would offer a heap more space in a conventional van.

If you're worried about an electrical fire, Harvok have this sorted with a Powkler Superfine Powder & Aerosol fire suppression device located on the underside of the panel that covers the batteries.

The rooftop is chock-a-block with 1000W of marine grade flexible solar panels to supplement what’s under the bed.

Otherwise, the Harvok is no better than average on internal storage space, with room for clothes in the hanging robes, drawers and overhead cupboards that surround the bed head, while angled cupboards that stiffen the bulkhead between the bedroom and kitchen/lounge are able to hold a few more things than can be scrunched. 

The cupboards that line the walls above the café dinette and the kitchen opposite will probably be used for food storage, given the Harvok’s ability to stay away from civilisation for weeks on end.

There’s also good storage under the kitchen bench and the café dinette, except that one of the cavities under the lounge seats houses the Harvok’s 3000 watt inverter, which is large enough to allow the van’s standard reverse cycle air conditioner, 3.2kg top-loader washing machine, two-burner induction cooktop and any number of other domestic 240v appliances from hair dryers to coffee pod machines and microwave oven, not to mention the standard 24-inch TV, to all operate at the same time.

All this can be monitored through Harvok’s patented Smart Power Management System, whose clearly-labelled display allows you to monitor power usage and replenishment at a glance, while a separate function panel allows you to selectively turn lights and major appliances on and off.

A drop-down panel gives access to the area beneath the right-hand dinette seat, but this is probably best reserved for little-used items or emergency rations.

Gas-free cooking

Three notable kitchen shortcomings here, considering the Harvok’s price: the lack of a filtered drinking water tap and a pull-out under bench pantry, and something more than a two-burner induction cooktop would also be good.

If space is limited, then an external slide-out electric Weber or similar, like that fitted to some other 48V caravans, is something I’d want.

The overall fit and finish on the review van was impressive, particularly for a Chinese-built caravan, except that the magnetic catches on the lower cupboards required some effort to overcome.

The caramel-coloured leather and matt black sink/tapwear won't be to everyone’s taste, but grey leather is a no-cost upholstery option. Either will tone well with the van’s white walls and mid-grey upper and lower cupboards.

Otherwise everything else is up to $80,000-$100,000 off-road van expectations, such as large windows, an overhead roof hatch, flyscreen/blackout blinds and plenty of power points. USB points are a bit academic when you can run everything though household power points.

The well equipped rear ensuite with its separate shower, toilet and washing machine is also on par with similar sized Aussie vans.

Now, would I leave civilisation far behind for weeks at time with one? I say ‘yes’; our photographer says he’d probably pack a small gas cylinder as a cooking ‘spare’.

The opportunity to banish dust from caravans because gas-free operation negates the need for mandatory gas ventilation, is another important factor, while free-spirited travellers who seek apartment-style living off the grid are also attracted to the technology.

The remaining issue of course with 48v caravans is weight, with the Harvok tipping the scales at 2940kg tare, limiting its range of tow vehicles.

Verdict

The new Harvok Powerbank is a timely warning from the Chinese that they are serious about becoming a major player in the Australian caravan industry -- leading in technology as well as price.

How much does the Harvok Powerbank 1960 RD couples off-road caravan cost?

Price: $95,990 (driveway, Qld)
Travel length: 8100mm
External body length: 6000mm
External body width: 2300mm
Travel height: 3100mm
Internal height: 2000mm
Tare: 2940kg
ATM: 3500kg
Ball weight (Tare): 240kg
Body: Tig-welded and bolted wall and roof frame with 2mm smooth aluminium cladding and checkerplate lower body stone protection
Chassis: Lightweight anti-corrosion coated 125mm x 50mm steel chassis with 100mm raiser and 150mm x 100mm gusseted drawbar plus Cruisemaster DO-35 coupling
Suspension: 3600kg rated independent tandem suspension with coil springs and twin gas-filled shock absorbers per wheel
Brakes: 12-in electric drum
Wheels: Alloy with 265/75-16 M/T tyres                                         
Water: 2 x 120L fresh, 1 x 75L grey
Battery: 6 x 50AH 48V lithium-ion
Solar: Roof-mounted 1000W flexible panels
Gas: None
Hot water: Electric HWS
Cooking: Twin burner induction cooktop, plus microwave
Fridge: Dometic 188L compressor fridge-freezer.
Shower: Internal and external hot/cold
Lighting: LED inside
Supplied by: Brisbane RVs, Burpengary, QLD
More info: Harvok RV