Ultimate off-grid caravan coming

The 'smart' caravan of the future is getting closer to reality, with Melbourne-based technology start-up OzXCorp beginning Outback testing of a new off-grid caravan set-up that promises endless power, instant water, maintenance-free appliances and tow-vehicle 'assistance' among other innovations.

Speaking on The Off-Grid Podcast, OzXCorp Co-Founder, Andrew Huett said his new 22ft 6in, 2794kg Tare weight tandem axle 'test mule' is fitted with the latest version of OzXCorp's increasingly popular 51V lithium system, among other new ground-breaking tech.

Delayed due to COVID-19, the second OzXCorp test van "has been two years in the making" and will tackle a gruelling 25,000km route around Australia, including plenty of corrugated Outback roads and remote off-grid locations.

"There is some leading tech on this platform that's being released in the US as well as Australia," Huett said. "We've got our own self-developed water re-gen that produces about 63 litres of water per day; that's theoretical but we'll put it to the test.

"We've got a whole new type of hot water system that has no maintenance at all; it weighs about 4kg, so zero maintenance for its life."

Related: Supersized caravan generates water from thin air

"It's a smart house on wheels, but (it will also have) standard re-gen or re-gen drive," he said. "We've been working with a leading chassis manufacturer ARV around the suspension systems so that parts can be swapped out. So if you choose to go just the standard suspension trailing arm system and then six months in you want to go re-gen, you can swap out those trailing arms into a re-gen system, and even swap it out to a drive system.

"We're making a flexible type system so people can choose their electrification platform of which the re-gen and drive are a big part of that."

First revealed in prototype form at the 2019 Melbourne Supershow, he said OzXCorp's patented hybrid drive technology that will not only allow the caravan to push the car up a hill, but capture energy from regenerative braking on the way down, will "negate fuel costs so if you're running a diesel or petrol car it will reduce the amount of fuel used."

"If you're running an electric (tow vehicle), which will certainly become popular over the next two years, it will (also) extend its range. There is a lot of embedded tech in this new van...(including) a tap-less shower, so no taps or anything anymore in the shower, you just digitally set all your temperatures.

"The electrification system in this van is all well and truly stitched in for the test, and all going well it's a complete off-grid solution including the water."

With the top-spec 'plug and play' OzXCorp 14.3kWh DCX power platform now distributed by NCE adding around $25,000 to the price of the caravan, Huett hinted there's unlikely to be further pricier upgrades available despite some upmarket US models offering around four times' more battery capacity.

"There will always be customers out there that ultimately want more, but with the technology and price point that we've got... For the people that know how to use solar and use their power they can certainly be off-grid, principally indefinitely," he said.

Huett said the OzXCorp off-grid power system that was first fitted commercially to Retreat Caravan's ERV model in 2019, has now been adopted by 18 Australian caravan manufacturers, with more set to come on board in 2024 including a roll-out across the USA.

As far as full electrification of the towing rig goes, he also hinted at the prospect of hitching up an Australian-built, 3500kg ATM all-electric van with one of the new US-built EV trucks from the likes of Ford, GM, Rivian and Tesla that should be available for sale in Australia soon.

"Stay tuned, that may well be happening in 2024. The goal will be we circumnavigate the whole of Australia quite easily fully electric with a pick-up truck."