Power-packed petrol-electric caravan reduces range anxiety

Californian start-up Evotrex has unveiled a pre-production model of its game-changing PG5 range-extender caravan at the 2026 CES show in Las Vegas.

Described as the "world's first power-generating RV trailer", the Evotrex PG5 virtually eliminates the need for an external power source while also reducing the number of charging or fuel stops when towing. It does this by having multiple on-board power sources available including a big 43kWh LFP battery fed by 1.5kW rooftop solar, and an integrated petrol-powered generator which essentially acts as a range-extender.

"The beauty of that is, first of all, our trailer is self-propelled, so it's got an electric motor in the high voltage battery pack,” Evotrex chief marketing officer, Ivan Wang told Forbes.com.

“So when you are towing it, it provides torque assist. So it doesn't matter whether you tow it with an EV pickup truck or you tow it with a traditional gas-powered truck, it gives you that extended range or improves your drive efficiency.”

Related: World-first petrol-hybrid caravan coming

Evotrex says its Active Power Assist motorised axle features a high-precision force sensor at the coupling and a powerful electric motor that supports the tow vehicle with the right amount of torque in real time.

"This reduces drag, stabilizes towing, improves range for EVs, and minimizes strain on gas vehicles. Once unhitched, the same system enables full remote maneuvering for effortless parking and campsite positioning," the company said.

The built-in petrol generator automatically recharges the battery while towing or parked, generating up to 225kWh of power on a full tank. All up, the combined system can generate up to 270kWh of total usable power on a single cycle.

The Evotrex PG5 is also capable of charging up another EV or being used as a back-up power source for home use. Its V2L capability also allows travelers to run tools, cooking gear, and campsite equipment directly from the 'van's onboard power system.

Owners can also take advantage of the unique off-grid calculator on the Evotrex website, to work out how much power they have and for how long, according to their style of camping and other factors like the time of year and weather.

“You can still use HVAC like you would at home, but outside for up to three, four days,” Wang said. “Then you can extend to up to seven days, 14 days, or even more, and as long as you have access to gas and water, then it's essentially unlimited.”

Evotrex says it's adopted automotive processes and used auto grade components for the design and construction of the new PG5 caravan, including the use of a high-strength dual-axle steel chassis with a multi-layer fibreglass body shell and insulated side walls.

Other features include 227L fresh water and 113L grey water storage, fully adjustable airbag suspension and off-road tyres, push-button auto-levelling stabilizers, 360 degree camera views, and a toy hauler style, four square metre motorized patio deck that can also be used as a ramp for loading bikes and other bulky gear at the back.

Inside, the "premium residential interior" fit-out includes a domestic size queen bed, a convertible dinette that sleeps two additional adults, a home-like ensuite with shower and toilet, plus high-efficiency appliances and premium durable materials throughout.

The Evotrex PG5 also delivers a "smart home experience", with an integrated tablet and app included for remote monitoring and control of the electrical systems, lighting, climate control and appliances.

Three standard exterior colours are available (Grey sage, Glacier shadow and Silver dune), and with an interior length of 22ft 11in, the Evotrex PG5 has a starting Tare weight of 3787kg and 4309kg ATM.

Two variants are now available for pre-order: the Evotrex PG5 Pioneer priced from US$119,990 and the Evotrex PG5 Atlas from US$159,990.

The extra money for the top-spec model gets you the patio deck, Rangeboost V2V charging, 1.5kW integrated solar, Daynamic skylight, powered awning, and forged wheels, along with the premium interior and a limited edition exterior colour.

American buyers can secure a spot in the queue with a $500 refundable deposit. Production is expected to start in late-2026.

Although the Evotrex PG5 is unlikely to be sold in Australia, there are signs that a similar locally-built, self-propelled full off-grid caravan is closer to becoming a reality. Melbourne outfit OzXCorp debuted a prototype of its hybrid drive technology in 2019 and has been conducting real-world testing of its re-gen drive platform in recent times.

Related: Ultimate off-grid caravan coming