Manufacturers typically provide us with review units for a few days when we make the request. Finding the time to film and edit a good review is the challenge. It usually takes more than a full week for us to produce and publish EV reviews. Perhaps one day! -Producer Tim
@@MissGoElectricTim, are you the Bob and move cameraman? 🤓 (Teasing, good job! I was wondering how you sat on the entry dash while filing them in the cab. 👍🏽🤠)
The harder trick is floating up in the sky for arial shots while also somehow being on the ground. Movie magic. Normally we shoot this kind of thing with a DJI Ronin gimbal setup. This time we mostly used a wide angle GoPro10 which is better for tight quarters and quick setup but not as smooth or crisp. Every solution is a tradeoff. I'm a one man band behind the scenes. Sound, direction, cameras. -Producer Tim
I hope to be able to buy a fully electric RV for my retirement in 10 years. However a model 3 and hotels or "beg & breakfasts" are quite a good solution to travel all over Europe.
Thanks for watching our detailed tour. For those looking for even more detail related to Grounded RVs, we'll publish the full interview with founder Sam Shapiro on the Miss GoElectric Industry Channel www.youtube.com/@missgoelectricindustry -Producer Tim
The four wheel drive system is mighty attractive to those of us living in cold climates! Thank you for watching and commenting :) Please consider sharing this link online so others can learn what you've learned. -Producer Tim
There are dozens of modules available. Configurations are far too numerous to practically cover in this 28 minute video. The selection of options is frequently updated at Grounded RVs. The sky is the limit at the $195,000 price. They seem to be able to incorporate whatever each customer needs. -Producer Tim
@@thenetworkarchitectchannel Yes, the range is really good considering how big it is. The solar panels on the roof would likely mean that if it was sunny days, the off grid time could be a lot more. Given that it is all controlled by an app and you have the StarLink, you are never really off grid with the thing. You are only without mains power.
need more of these... some idea of pricing would have been nice... one based on a esprinter, another on an etransit... the brightdrop is great because it's so big, and 4wd is chef's kiss.
At 26:02 in this video Sam stated that the all-in price was $195,000 at the time of publishing (November 2024). Thank you for watching this video and we hope you'll consider sharing it online for others to discover. -Producer Tim PS: When you said "need more of these" perhaps you are looking for additional electric RV videos from Miss GoElectric? You'll find several in this playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PL5nuLBN5_QSc-3irl1blsvvjrFeuQ5bPP.html
@glike2 The price of the vans with no upfit directly from GM appear on screen at 27:14 They start around $65k with incentives. They are sold to companies for fleet use and generally qualify for the Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit. -Producer Tim www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/commercial-clean-vehicle-credit
Thank you for checking out our latest video! Will you consider sharing it online for others to find? From *almost* Canada...Detroit(ish), -Producer Tim
We see them on haulers regularly around here. We first reported on the Brightdrop almost four years ago with this channel began as a news desk style outlet. ua-cam.com/video/rD295LKFMkI/v-deo.html It's great to see them on the roads. -Producer Tim
Looks great, quite a similar size to my current diesel-powered RV but without the noise and fumes :) Get SolaRolla to add a massive solar 'awning' to it and you'd get close to my dream machine! I'll have to start saving my pennies.
The space required by a diesel engine, exhaust system, fuel tank, and transmission is significant. EV RVs can use space efficiently and deliver the lowest center of gravity, too. They can be charged up just about anywhere. In this video Sam confirms that his team is developing a solar awning. Thank you for commenting and sharing your enthusiasm. -Producer Tim
I like it but it has an unfinished feel to it. I’d hire an interior designer and put in better seats. But. All and all, very exciting and I’ll watch how the company grows and changes.
Thanks for sharing your observations. If you follow them on social media you can see videos of their newer builds. You might find that the level of refinement is improved over the earlier example in this video. -Producer Tim
We are happy to hear that you are into the G2! Tell a friend ;) The 1000w rooftop solar system is addressed twice in this video. The first mention is at 03:37. The solar array is pictured in several overhead drone shots. Thank you for watching and commenting! -Producer Tim
When GM get's around to putting out something closer to 1000w (vs 300w), will it be necessary to have a house system, solar and shore power ? I really want see these commercial EV vans coming standard with 110v 2000w output.
Perhaps there is a misunderstanding. The 300w limitation only applies to the link between the EV's massive 200kWh battery and the smaller 10kWh cabin battery. Users can charge the cabin battery with solar and shore power as well. There are 20 amp outlets all over the place and they work. For example: The heat pump system can draw 1200 watts when it kicks in. The the water heater probably pulls 1000 during an on-cycle. The High-Performance Starlink draws 45-150 watts. RVers should be able to leave all of those systems on while a laptop is charging, the microwave is cooking, and every light is on. No problem. Of course some owners might opt for a larger cabin battery system or bring along separate power stations. -Producer Tim
Thanks. Is that an OEM DC port? you charge your house at what voltage? 300w is not terrible considering its a lot more than most dc-dc charging we get with ICE vans. Just imagine a lot of EV van lifers are going to be happy to just charge up at an EV station and not have to build out or worry about all the house and solar stuff. Also nice to just park in the shade and forget about solar since driving a giant battery around already.
We are not privy to the technical details related to the subsystem connection between the van's high voltage battery and the upfitted low voltage cabin battery. -Producer Tim
For clarity, Miss GoElectric did speculate about a roll-up solar awning in the moment. The details of the implementation of the solar awning are not yet known. There are many ways to go about engineering a solution. We've reviewed some flexible solar on this channel as well: Allpowers SF200 Flexible Solar Panel 200w for $200 bit.ly/4dif9FA Save $20 at checkout with coupon code: MISSGOELECTRIC -Producer Tim
270 miles of range is 4.5 hours of nonstop driving at highways speeds. With only one 50 minute charging session during lunch, RVers can easily cover 1,100+ miles per day. What percentage of RVers want to drive that far more than a few days per year? Overnight charging at a campground, hotel, home, or business is cheap (or free) and it accounts for most of the charging done by EV owners. Operational costs are *MUCH* lower with an EV. If time is money...and money is time...this electric Class 2 motorhome will make sense for many folks who do the math. 270 miles is the best range of any EV van available today. Battery technology has been advancing rapidly for a decade and longer range solutions at lower prices are inevitable. If today's EVs are resistible to you, just wait longer. :) -Producer Tim
It looks like you are suggesting a rear door replacement which extends outward like an awning when lifted. That could probably be done with the existing track and a bifold surface. The lower half (skyward portion) would be an interesting surface for additional solar panels, too. -Producer Tim
Is the fresh tank fill immediately above the charge port a good idea? My NoBo has the black tank flush and outdoor shower immediately above the shore power, and while it may never be an issue it still bugs me. Water and electricity and all that stuff.
An EV like this has high voltage equipment from corner to corner. The shower and sink, windows and living side are directly above the high voltage battery system. EV platform manufacturers engineer solutions to ensure safety even if the vehicle is fully submerged in a flood. This General Motors BrightDrop platform is no exception. No worries. -Producer Tim
I'm excited to see this, but I have been told that campgound electric hookups are not designed for the continuous draw electric vehicles use while charging. We live in Michigan and drive a Bolt EUV. We wanted to take our granddaughter to the Porcupine Mountins. A Better Route Planner was sending us to Luddington to catch the Badger, lol. Not many chargers in the UP, but lots of campgrounds, so I checked into charging there.
We have charged our EVs at countless RV parks all over the USA. No problem. A NEMA 14-50 port installed by a professional electrician and approved by inspectors must be capable of delivering the rated current. Even if you found an illegal outlet, the G2 allows users to dial back the draw to lower amperage if need be. Like most EVs, the G2 can even charge on a common 100v 15A circuit (Level1) if that is what is handy. Charging is a worry of the past. -Producer Tim
Bolt charges on AC at 7.7kW which is 32 amps with the included cable. That will be no problem for any NEMA 14-50 port. Those circuits are rated for 40 amps sustained. -Producer Tim
The 10kWh onboard cabin battery can be charged by the solar panels, the massive high voltage EV battery, and even the common 120v power outlets. There is no need to visit one of the 70,000 EV charging stations or 100,000 240v RV hookups for cabin energy. A noisy and dangerous gasoline powered generator and fuel tank is not needed or recommended. Of course, Grounded can easily fabricate a mounting solution easily if a buyer wants that. -Producer Tim
The automatically vacuum-sealed cartridges do not splash like containers and hoses. There is no cleanup. Remember, Sam did give THREE toilet options. That was one of the choices. -Producer Tim
Have they actually tested their heat pump in really cold temperatures? Unless it's a specific cold climate heat pump generally heat pumps don't work well below freezing. My home CCHP works down to -25C but gets way less efficient and since it's very cold more heat is being lost over the house. Once the situation gets challenging the amount of energybneeded really spikes and solar in winter is far less potent so how long can you realistically run this not connected to grid in cold weather?
Your statements about heat pumps limitations used to be true. Today's best heat pumps on the market which produce hot air even when ambient temperatures are below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Grounded installs the right hardware for each buyers needs. They've tested these in the winter which is why the founder was able to confirm four season usability in this video Thanks for watching and commenting! -Producer Tim carbonswitch.com/best-cold-climate-heat-pump/
@MissGoElectric Yes, the best on the market.. Which is almost none in vehicles and almost always rely on PTC or some other resistive/kinetic heat in freezing weather like the Mitsu outlander. That's why I asked the question if they actually tested it or of they are just claiming it can put out 15k BTU even though that's a peak rating.
Surely buyers spending $200,000 for a custom Grounded RV G2 can request the hardware which is suitable for their use case The problem is solvable of heat in below zero temperatures is solvable today with off-the-shelf hardware from many manufacturers. I'd guess the total volume of the cabin is less than 1000cu ft. 1BTU is required to change the temperature of 30cu ft of air by 1F. So, 33BTU would raise the whole space by 1F. 330 by 10F. 990 by 30F. 15,000 BTU is plenty even if nominal was closer to 9,000. When I design systems like that, I like to overspec the system so that it runs less than 25% of the time within typical engagement scenarios. -Producer Tim
The GM rearview mirror may require electronic control units which are not practical for this upfit. There are dozens of excellent aftermarket solutions which can fit the bill if OEM solutions are not optimal. Thanks for sharing your perspective. -Producer Tim
The charging curve matters with a huge battery pack like this one. Other EVs might peak high and early then drop off well below 100kW when the state of charge reaches 30%. This one can hold the peak rate deep into a session. A typical charging stop is about 30 minutes. Trucks and vans have larger battery packs (120kWh-210kWh) which might mean an average stop is closer to an hour. In this video Sam confirmed that he has gotten more than 300 miles out of a single charge in the 24ft G2, fully up-fitted. Let's look at the math with conservative figures: 250 miles at 55mph is 4.5 hours of nonstop driving. A driver does that in the morning and stops for one hour to have lunch while charging. They do it again in the afternoon and arrive at the camp site after a 10hr, 500mi travel day. They plug into the common camp site 240v outlet and receive a full charge by the time they have to move on. No sweat. Remember, there was a single one-hour stop per which coincided with a meal. That is the typical use case. I'd argue that it is a desirable one for most RVers. Practically speaking, no 24ft EV motorhome or travel trailer solution available right now will save vacationers significant time. -Producer Tim
@@MissGoElectric Good review👍 I dont think it is about comparison to an ICE. Its about the price you pay for what you get after the cost of the Van. Over a 100K to get the interior down up -- a very nice done up but 100K. I guess its more about about quality over quantity and this is not a big market. Hey, if you have the money and you like - go for it. Cheers
All drivable RVs are based on a platform from a vehicle manufacturer. The work of the RV manufacturer is engineering and executing the upfit. That work is what they brand. This brand is called Grounded RV. The Grounded RV G2 is an upfit of the GM BrightDrop van platform ...with some noteworthy characteristics: They developed the Grounded+ app for a uniquely unified experience despite many disparate systems. They have methodological differentiators in the factory (detailed in this video) They offer uncommonly high customizability before and after delivery They have a first mover advantage with the 24ft ALL ELECTRIC Class B motorhome shipping now -Producer Tim
Why are American products so crude. Look at those mirrors. Massive chunky things just waiting to get ripped off. In Europe that van would be equipped with cameras all round. As for having a reversing camera as an option. They’ve been standard for 10 years in Europe.
On average, there are 2.5x more deaths per mile of traffic driving in the USA compared to Europe. Safety regulations here aim to improve that. We have more roadways, larger roadways, and higher top speeds (on average) compared with Europe. Our vehicles are larger, with more inertia. Safety is more important than aesthetics to policymakers here in the USA. At the time of publishing, it is illegal for an automaker to replace side mirrors with a camera. -Producer Tim www.motorbiscuit.com/virtual-mirrors-thing-uk-why-not-us/ www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-11-03/why-us-traffic-safety-fell-so-far-behind-other-countries
Perhaps you didn't watch this video? In this video Sam reports that he has personally experienced more than 300 miles of range on a single charge in the 24ft G2. The company officially advertises 270mi at highway speeds. A typical charging stop is 30 minutes. This is class leading turn around time for a Class B electric motorhome. 120kW is sustained very deep into the session. On screen route planning is built in with Google Maps as a part of Android Auto. Every new General Motors EVs uses that operating system. Additionally, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported. That means phone apps like PlugShare and A Better Route Planner can work on the center screen, too! Charging is no problem now that most of the Tesla Superchargers are compatible with the G2. Every power outlet is an energy source. -Producer Tim
Cool, but 150-200-ish miles range while impressive, still a short range vehicle. What scares me is if you are in the boonies and need a tow, you are looking at $2,000 to $4,000 for the recovery.
In this video we show that the advertised range is 270 miles. Sam confirms that he has experienced more than 300 miles on a single charge in a fully up-fitted 24ft G2. There is no real concern for being towed. The high voltage battery will not draw down to zero from cabin draw. Lower limits are set in the software. Use of purpose built EV chargers is*an" option, certainly but *the* option. There are hundreds of millions of power outlets all over North America. Each one of them can miles to an EV like the G2. Most RVers will tell you that getting towed is far more likely in a combustion powered motorhome. Mechanical failures are inevitable. EVs have far fewer parts, longer lifespans, and greater reliability. They do that with better performance, lower operating costs, and no maintenance. -Producer Tim
@ - I like to camp on BLM land and fire-roads away from people. Thar are zero chargers up there. I’ve needed a tow a few times, and they are NOT cheap, and absolutely something to consider when purchasing. Love this, but I’ll wait a bit. Good video, thanks!
Eventually, all terrestrial transport will be electrified but the least typical recreational use-cases will likely be the last addressed. During the interim, some electric RVers might decide to haul a deployable solar array or an internal combustion generator. Electricity is much more readily available than gasoline or diesel fuel. Thanks for sharing your perspective. -Producer Tim
@Erin-Thor if you're out in the boonies and run out of battery, a cybertruck/silverado/ford lightning could come and charge you up fairly quickly with the power outlets already in the bed of those trucks. Won't take long and off you go. Or a portable DC charger would be even faster.
Not bad for a new "EV Camper Van" (especially when compared to a "Winni'"), but a little "rough around the edges" when it comes to features. Range is < 250 mi. for the 600 shown*, so even towing a small fishing boat or kayaks would drop that well below 200. As for speeding, or driving in the mountains, especially when cold, you may find yourself stranded & out of power at
There is some misinformation in your comment. RANGE TRUTH: Both General Motors and Grounded RVs advertise a combined range of 270+ miles. www.gmenvolve.com/fleet/electric-vehicles/brightdrop-zevo In this video Sam personally relays his real world highway range experience in this G2. He said that they have gotten more than 300 real world miles out of a single charge. TOWING: As with any moving object, the addition of mass and aerodynamic disruption always requires more energy to move. So, of course, your claim that a trailer or kayaks would hurt efficiency and range with any given amount of available energy is *absolutely true*. It is true of a vehicle powered by gasoline, diesel fuel, or batteries. ENERGY FEAR MONGERING: How does one find themselves stranded and out of power? There are hundreds of millions of 110v outlets all over North America. All of them can add miles of range. There are over 300,000 NEMA 14-50 ports at campgrounds and Level 2 EV chargers. There are over 60,000 DC Fast charging ports. If civilization falls, we still have the sun. 1000w of solar on the roof should deliver 2-5kWh per day on average. That is completely sufficient for lighting, Starlink, laptops, and phone all by itself. A person who boondocks can bring along some deployable solar to 5x that figure if they want. As mentioned in this video, a solar awning is in the works. As for use in the mountains, this is great for that. As any vehicle of any kind one will expend more energy to get up the hill. The BrightDrop van easily conquers ascents, but most Class B motorhomes huff and puff on a long incline. Overheating is a common concern in this category. Combustion vehicles race down the hill at high speeds unless drivers burn through brake pads and/or put the stress on the transmission to regulate speed. In the medium term, each of those activities result in either maintenance or repair of those crucial components. The same is not true in an EV. The downhill is where a G2 takes the cake! About 80% of that extra energy spent overcoming the incline will be recovered by the regenerative braking feature (motor engagement) on the decline. The motors provide the resistance which means the friction brakes will last much longer because the pads rarely make contact. I've personally driven RVs over 100,000 miles. I've been stranded in a million dollar Prevost diesel pusher bus, a $30,000 38ft Ford V8 Econoline powered Class 2, and an $8,000 Toyota Truck (22RE) based Class 2 RV as well. Experienced RV drivers know that getting stranded in a combustion powered motorhome is an *IF* not a when. Brakes and powertrains fail frequently. Improved reliability is one of the top reasons many RVers are interested in a fully electric platform. They are mechanically superior and access to electricity is FAR more abundant than access to gasoline or diesel. The operational cost of an EV is much lower as well from energy through maintenance. ONBOARD ENERGY: There are 10kW of onboard cabin batteries, which can be increased if a buyer wants more. There is another ~200kWh of power in the high voltage pack which can transfer another 8kWh daily to the 10kWh cabin battery as needed. SCALE: Companies like this tend to top out at 25-50 units produced monthly per facility. We think that is a reasonable assumption for the goal of "scaling up". Remember, that would represent 60-120 million dollars of annual revenue. Not small potatoes for a recreational manufacturing startup in the first decade. BRIGHTDROP INVENTORY: As for your remarks about BrightDrop inventory, you may have noticed that there are only about half a dozen distribution locations in the United States for all of the BrightDrops. When a location services an entire region of the country, inventory is large. Your figure of 800 gathering dust in Fontana, California is incorrect. There are 192 vans at Rotolo Chevrolet as of 11/23/2024. 110 of those are 2023 models. The figure of 800 nationwide would be closer to accurate. Inventory of combustion vans or pickup trucks from GM or Ford in the same area far outstrips EV vans at any given time. -Producer Tim
On this channel we have produced hundreds of videos related to electrification. If you are interested in the subject, you've come to the right place. UA-cam certainly has something for everyone. -Producer Tim
Cool RV. Looks really well thought out. Spent a good part of the video wondering how easy this would be to navigate into a charging station paring spot - the wide angle lens choice makes this thing look loooong.
The opening sequence and the thumbnail image with Miss GoElectric for scale were captured with a 50mm lens. The drone footage is 24mm. A typical parking space is 20ft long. The featured G2 is 24ft long. Pull-through charging locations would be most well suited, but most configurations will be functional. Thanks for watching and commenting. -Producer Tim
Miss Go should rent one for a weekend and produce a review.
Manufacturers typically provide us with review units for a few days when we make the request.
Finding the time to film and edit a good review is the challenge. It usually takes more than a full week for us to produce and publish EV reviews.
Perhaps one day!
-Producer Tim
@@MissGoElectricTim, are you the Bob and move cameraman? 🤓 (Teasing, good job! I was wondering how you sat on the entry dash while filing them in the cab. 👍🏽🤠)
The harder trick is floating up in the sky for arial shots while also somehow being on the ground. Movie magic.
Normally we shoot this kind of thing with a DJI Ronin gimbal setup. This time we mostly used a wide angle GoPro10 which is better for tight quarters and quick setup but not as smooth or crisp. Every solution is a tradeoff.
I'm a one man band behind the scenes. Sound, direction, cameras.
-Producer Tim
Fantastic, exactly what I've been looking for!
Excellent. If you decide to buy one, we hope you'll tell them where you discovered them. :)
Thanks for watching and commenting! -Producer Tim
I hope to be able to buy a fully electric RV for my retirement in 10 years. However a model 3 and hotels or "beg & breakfasts" are quite a good solution to travel all over Europe.
It is wonderful to see EVs filling every use case and form factor. Thanks for commenting!
-Producer Tim
Love this company. Their products are so compelling and well thought out
Thanks for watching our detailed tour.
For those looking for even more detail related to Grounded RVs, we'll publish the full interview with founder Sam Shapiro on the Miss GoElectric Industry Channel
www.youtube.com/@missgoelectricindustry
-Producer Tim
Very impressive and great innovation around Electric RVs. Game changing and I really hope they succeed.
Thank you for watching and for sharing your enthusiasm! -Producer Tim
Love it, absolutely the future of RV.
The four wheel drive system is mighty attractive to those of us living in cold climates!
Thank you for watching and commenting :) Please consider sharing this link online so others can learn what you've learned.
-Producer Tim
It is a generous size for two people. I think many will opt for the smaller sized unit.
You didn't mention the fridge and cooktop options.
There are dozens of modules available. Configurations are far too numerous to practically cover in this 28 minute video.
The selection of options is frequently updated at Grounded RVs. The sky is the limit at the $195,000 price. They seem to be able to incorporate whatever each customer needs.
-Producer Tim
I like the class leading range too. With a big battery like that, you can be off grid for like a week.
@@thenetworkarchitectchannel Yes, the range is really good considering how big it is. The solar panels on the roof would likely mean that if it was sunny days, the off grid time could be a lot more. Given that it is all controlled by an app and you have the StarLink, you are never really off grid with the thing. You are only without mains power.
need more of these... some idea of pricing would have been nice... one based on a esprinter, another on an etransit... the brightdrop is great because it's so big, and 4wd is chef's kiss.
At 26:02 in this video Sam stated that the all-in price was $195,000 at the time of publishing
(November 2024).
Thank you for watching this video and we hope you'll consider sharing it online for others to discover.
-Producer Tim
PS: When you said "need more of these" perhaps you are looking for additional electric RV videos from Miss GoElectric? You'll find several in this playlist:
ua-cam.com/play/PL5nuLBN5_QSc-3irl1blsvvjrFeuQ5bPP.html
This is a really interesting podcast. Thanks for keeping us updated the Highlander.😊
Go to the website and see that the prices are great around $70k for basic cargo van
@glike2 The price of the vans with no upfit directly from GM appear on screen at 27:14
They start around $65k with incentives. They are sold to companies for fleet use and generally qualify for the Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit.
-Producer Tim
www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/commercial-clean-vehicle-credit
Great content….keep rolling (from Canada)
Thank you for checking out our latest video!
Will you consider sharing it online for others to find?
From *almost* Canada...Detroit(ish),
-Producer Tim
@@MissGoElectric The Brightdrop vans are "from" Canada too... built in Ingersoll Ontario.
We see them on haulers regularly around here.
We first reported on the Brightdrop almost four years ago with this channel began as a news desk style outlet.
ua-cam.com/video/rD295LKFMkI/v-deo.html
It's great to see them on the roads.
-Producer Tim
Wow … that’s cool… what an awesome company. I have found you and have been impressed with your content…. Fresh and clear… do you ever come to Toronto?
If I win a lottery I would buy one … amazing product… I am buying a Mustang Mach E
Looks great, quite a similar size to my current diesel-powered RV but without the noise and fumes :) Get SolaRolla to add a massive solar 'awning' to it and you'd get close to my dream machine! I'll have to start saving my pennies.
The space required by a diesel engine, exhaust system, fuel tank, and transmission is significant.
EV RVs can use space efficiently and deliver the lowest center of gravity, too. They can be charged up just about anywhere. In this video Sam confirms that his team is developing a solar awning.
Thank you for commenting and sharing your enthusiasm. -Producer Tim
I would buy one if I had the money. Seems like the perfect setup. No toilet?
There are several toilet choices. Sam addresses those in this video during the outdoor walk-around at 04:38 .
-Producer Tim
The base factory brightdrop Zevo really seems like by far the best deal of all the cargo van options
Agreed. -Producer Tim
Thanks for this ERV coverage.
Electric RV videos have been our most popular content this year. Thank you for watching!
-Producer Tim
I like it but it has an unfinished feel to it. I’d hire an interior designer and put in better seats. But. All and all, very exciting and I’ll watch how the company grows and changes.
Thanks for sharing your observations. If you follow them on social media you can see videos of their newer builds. You might find that the level of refinement is improved over the earlier example in this video. -Producer Tim
Love it! I think covering the the solar system was missed?
We are happy to hear that you are into the G2! Tell a friend ;)
The 1000w rooftop solar system is addressed twice in this video. The first mention is at 03:37.
The solar array is pictured in several overhead drone shots.
Thank you for watching and commenting!
-Producer Tim
@MissGoElectric thanks I must have missed it 👍⚡⚡
Super cool!
We agree! Thank you for watching and commenting. We hope you'll subscribe for more.
-Producer Tim
When GM get's around to putting out something closer to 1000w (vs 300w), will it be necessary to have a house system, solar and shore power ? I really want see these commercial EV vans coming standard with 110v 2000w output.
Or at least a high-power DC connection we can plug our own inverter into.
Perhaps there is a misunderstanding.
The 300w limitation only applies to the link between the EV's massive 200kWh battery and the smaller 10kWh cabin battery. Users can charge the cabin battery with solar and shore power as well.
There are 20 amp outlets all over the place and they work. For example: The heat pump system can draw 1200 watts when it kicks in. The the water heater probably pulls 1000 during an on-cycle. The High-Performance Starlink draws 45-150 watts. RVers should be able to leave all of those systems on while a laptop is charging, the microwave is cooking, and every light is on. No problem.
Of course some owners might opt for a larger cabin battery system or bring along separate power stations.
-Producer Tim
Thanks. Is that an OEM DC port? you charge your house at what voltage? 300w is not terrible considering its a lot more than most dc-dc charging we get with ICE vans. Just imagine a lot of EV van lifers are going to be happy to just charge up at an EV station and not have to build out or worry about all the house and solar stuff. Also nice to just park in the shade and forget about solar since driving a giant battery around already.
We are not privy to the technical details related to the subsystem connection between the van's high voltage battery and the upfitted low voltage cabin battery. -Producer Tim
7:00 bouge RV has the cigs solar which is a top notch product. Just very expensive can't wait for the price to drop on them.
For clarity, Miss GoElectric did speculate about a roll-up solar awning in the moment. The details of the implementation of the solar awning are not yet known. There are many ways to go about engineering a solution.
We've reviewed some flexible solar on this channel as well:
Allpowers SF200 Flexible Solar Panel 200w for $200
bit.ly/4dif9FA
Save $20 at checkout with coupon code: MISSGOELECTRIC
-Producer Tim
I love it !!!🇲🇽✌🏼
Excellent enthusiasm!
-Producer Tim
What practical for a RV, such low travel range
270 miles of range is 4.5 hours of nonstop driving at highways speeds. With only one 50 minute charging session during lunch, RVers can easily cover 1,100+ miles per day. What percentage of RVers want to drive that far more than a few days per year?
Overnight charging at a campground, hotel, home, or business is cheap (or free) and it accounts for most of the charging done by EV owners. Operational costs are *MUCH* lower with an EV. If time is money...and money is time...this electric Class 2 motorhome will make sense for many folks who do the math.
270 miles is the best range of any EV van available today. Battery technology has been advancing rapidly for a decade and longer range solutions at lower prices are inevitable. If today's EVs are resistible to you, just wait longer. :)
-Producer Tim
Rear door, lift up for roof over entry exit.
It looks like you are suggesting a rear door replacement which extends outward like an awning when lifted. That could probably be done with the existing track and a bifold surface. The lower half (skyward portion) would be an interesting surface for additional solar panels, too.
-Producer Tim
Is the fresh tank fill immediately above the charge port a good idea? My NoBo has the black tank flush and outdoor shower immediately above the shore power, and while it may never be an issue it still bugs me. Water and electricity and all that stuff.
An EV like this has high voltage equipment from corner to corner. The shower and sink, windows and living side are directly above the high voltage battery system.
EV platform manufacturers engineer solutions to ensure safety even if the vehicle is fully submerged in a flood. This General Motors BrightDrop platform is no exception.
No worries.
-Producer Tim
I'm excited to see this, but I have been told that campgound electric hookups are not designed for the continuous draw electric vehicles use while charging. We live in Michigan and drive a Bolt EUV. We wanted to take our granddaughter to the Porcupine Mountins. A Better Route Planner was sending us to Luddington to catch the Badger, lol. Not many chargers in the UP, but lots of campgrounds, so I checked into charging there.
We have charged our EVs at countless RV parks all over the USA. No problem.
A NEMA 14-50 port installed by a professional electrician and approved by inspectors must be capable of delivering the rated current. Even if you found an illegal outlet, the G2 allows users to dial back the draw to lower amperage if need be.
Like most EVs, the G2 can even charge on a common 100v 15A circuit (Level1) if that is what is handy.
Charging is a worry of the past.
-Producer Tim
@MissGoElectric I have no idea if our Bolt EUV has that function. But thanks for the info.
Bolt charges on AC at 7.7kW which is 32 amps with the included cable. That will be no problem for any NEMA 14-50 port. Those circuits are rated for 40 amps sustained.
-Producer Tim
@@MissGoElectric thanks! Now we can take our granddaughter to the Porcupine Mountins!
Needs a trailer hitch for towing a generator. There are areas in the western US where charging stations are spread too far apart.
The 10kWh onboard cabin battery can be charged by the solar panels, the massive high voltage EV battery, and even the common 120v power outlets. There is no need to visit one of the 70,000 EV charging stations or 100,000 240v RV hookups for cabin energy.
A noisy and dangerous gasoline powered generator and fuel tank is not needed or recommended. Of course, Grounded can easily fabricate a mounting solution easily if a buyer wants that.
-Producer Tim
Cartridge dumping would be more messy that hooking up a hose and dumping the black tanks
The automatically vacuum-sealed cartridges do not splash like containers and hoses. There is no cleanup.
Remember, Sam did give THREE toilet options. That was one of the choices. -Producer Tim
Have they actually tested their heat pump in really cold temperatures? Unless it's a specific cold climate heat pump generally heat pumps don't work well below freezing. My home CCHP works down to -25C but gets way less efficient and since it's very cold more heat is being lost over the house. Once the situation gets challenging the amount of energybneeded really spikes and solar in winter is far less potent so how long can you realistically run this not connected to grid in cold weather?
Your statements about heat pumps limitations used to be true. Today's best heat pumps on the market which produce hot air even when ambient temperatures are below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Grounded installs the right hardware for each buyers needs.
They've tested these in the winter which is why the founder was able to confirm four season usability in this video
Thanks for watching and commenting!
-Producer Tim
carbonswitch.com/best-cold-climate-heat-pump/
@MissGoElectric Yes, the best on the market..
Which is almost none in vehicles and almost always rely on PTC or some other resistive/kinetic heat in freezing weather like the Mitsu outlander. That's why I asked the question if they actually tested it or of they are just claiming it can put out 15k BTU even though that's a peak rating.
Surely buyers spending $200,000 for a custom Grounded RV G2 can request the hardware which is suitable for their use case The problem is solvable of heat in below zero temperatures is solvable today with off-the-shelf hardware from many manufacturers. I'd guess the total volume of the cabin is less than 1000cu ft.
1BTU is required to change the temperature of 30cu ft of air by 1F. So, 33BTU would raise the whole space by 1F. 330 by 10F. 990 by 30F. 15,000 BTU is plenty even if nominal was closer to 9,000.
When I design systems like that, I like to overspec the system so that it runs less than 25% of the time within typical engagement scenarios.
-Producer Tim
GM already has a digital rear view mirror in many Models seems like an easy fix.
The GM rearview mirror may require electronic control units which are not practical for this upfit. There are dozens of excellent aftermarket solutions which can fit the bill if OEM solutions are not optimal. Thanks for sharing your perspective. -Producer Tim
120KW DC charging is quite slow. Not very practical for long trips where you have to charge on the road
The charging curve matters with a huge battery pack like this one. Other EVs might peak high and early then drop off well below 100kW when the state of charge reaches 30%. This one can hold the peak rate deep into a session.
A typical charging stop is about 30 minutes. Trucks and vans have larger battery packs (120kWh-210kWh) which might mean an average stop is closer to an hour.
In this video Sam confirmed that he has gotten more than 300 miles out of a single charge in the 24ft G2, fully up-fitted.
Let's look at the math with conservative figures:
250 miles at 55mph is 4.5 hours of nonstop driving.
A driver does that in the morning and stops for one hour to have lunch while charging. They do it again in the afternoon and arrive at the camp site after a 10hr, 500mi travel day.
They plug into the common camp site 240v outlet and receive a full charge by the time they have to move on. No sweat.
Remember, there was a single one-hour stop per which coincided with a meal. That is the typical use case. I'd argue that it is a desirable one for most RVers.
Practically speaking, no 24ft EV motorhome or travel trailer solution available right now will save vacationers significant time.
-Producer Tim
Only $195,000 wow!!!
How do you think this price compares to 24ft internal combustion campervans?
-Producer Tim
@@MissGoElectric
Good review👍
I dont think it is about comparison to an ICE. Its about the price you pay for what you get after the cost of the Van. Over a 100K to get the interior down up -- a very nice done up but 100K. I guess its more about about quality over quantity and this is not a big market. Hey, if you have the money and you like - go for it.
Cheers
not a practical price
Ace the star link and I am in. I have no desire to let Elon know where I am.
Deleting a feature is easy. -Producer Tim
They can be done without it. Grounded's whole schtick is that the whole thing is customizable
So this company is basically just an upfitter. So like Winnebago for Electric.
All drivable RVs are based on a platform from a vehicle manufacturer. The work of the RV manufacturer is engineering and executing the upfit. That work is what they brand. This brand is called Grounded RV.
The Grounded RV G2 is an upfit of the GM BrightDrop van platform ...with some noteworthy characteristics:
They developed the Grounded+ app for a uniquely unified experience despite many disparate systems.
They have methodological differentiators in the factory (detailed in this video)
They offer uncommonly high customizability before and after delivery
They have a first mover advantage with the 24ft ALL ELECTRIC Class B motorhome shipping now
-Producer Tim
Why are American products so crude. Look at those mirrors. Massive chunky things just waiting to get ripped off.
In Europe that van would be equipped with cameras all round. As for having a reversing camera as an option. They’ve been standard for 10 years in Europe.
On average, there are 2.5x more deaths per mile of traffic driving in the USA compared to Europe. Safety regulations here aim to improve that. We have more roadways, larger roadways, and higher top speeds (on average) compared with Europe. Our vehicles are larger, with more inertia. Safety is more important than aesthetics to policymakers here in the USA. At the time of publishing, it is illegal for an automaker to replace side mirrors with a camera. -Producer Tim
www.motorbiscuit.com/virtual-mirrors-thing-uk-why-not-us/
www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-11-03/why-us-traffic-safety-fell-so-far-behind-other-countries
Is that rear roll up door insulated? It would kinda stink if not.
They insulate all of the new ones. - Producer Tim
How tall is Sam?
For scale: Miss GoElectric is about 6'1" in this video.
-Producer Tim
no route planning, 120kw peak rate,
Perhaps you didn't watch this video?
In this video Sam reports that he has personally experienced more than 300 miles of range on a single charge in the 24ft G2. The company officially advertises 270mi at highway speeds.
A typical charging stop is 30 minutes. This is class leading turn around time for a Class B electric motorhome. 120kW is sustained very deep into the session.
On screen route planning is built in with Google Maps as a part of Android Auto. Every new General Motors EVs uses that operating system.
Additionally, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported. That means phone apps like PlugShare and A Better Route Planner can work on the center screen, too!
Charging is no problem now that most of the Tesla Superchargers are compatible with the G2. Every power outlet is an energy source.
-Producer Tim
Cool, but 150-200-ish miles range while impressive, still a short range vehicle. What scares me is if you are in the boonies and need a tow, you are looking at $2,000 to $4,000 for the recovery.
In this video we show that the advertised range is 270 miles. Sam confirms that he has experienced more than 300 miles on a single charge in a fully up-fitted 24ft G2.
There is no real concern for being towed. The high voltage battery will not draw down to zero from cabin draw. Lower limits are set in the software.
Use of purpose built EV chargers is*an" option, certainly but *the* option. There are hundreds of millions of power outlets all over North America. Each one of them can miles to an EV like the G2.
Most RVers will tell you that getting towed is far more likely in a combustion powered motorhome. Mechanical failures are inevitable. EVs have far fewer parts, longer lifespans, and greater reliability. They do that with better performance, lower operating costs, and no maintenance.
-Producer Tim
@ - I like to camp on BLM land and fire-roads away from people. Thar are zero chargers up there. I’ve needed a tow a few times, and they are NOT cheap, and absolutely something to consider when purchasing. Love this, but I’ll wait a bit. Good video, thanks!
Eventually, all terrestrial transport will be electrified but the least typical recreational use-cases will likely be the last addressed.
During the interim, some electric RVers might decide to haul a deployable solar array or an internal combustion generator.
Electricity is much more readily available than gasoline or diesel fuel.
Thanks for sharing your perspective. -Producer Tim
@Erin-Thor if you're out in the boonies and run out of battery, a cybertruck/silverado/ford lightning could come and charge you up fairly quickly with the power outlets already in the bed of those trucks. Won't take long and off you go. Or a portable DC charger would be even faster.
Not bad for a new "EV Camper Van" (especially when compared to a "Winni'"), but a little "rough around the edges" when it comes to features. Range is < 250 mi. for the 600 shown*, so even towing a small fishing boat or kayaks would drop that well below 200. As for speeding, or driving in the mountains, especially when cold, you may find yourself stranded & out of power at
There is some misinformation in your comment.
RANGE TRUTH:
Both General Motors and Grounded RVs advertise a combined range of 270+ miles.
www.gmenvolve.com/fleet/electric-vehicles/brightdrop-zevo
In this video Sam personally relays his real world highway range experience in this G2. He said that they have gotten more than 300 real world miles out of a single charge.
TOWING:
As with any moving object, the addition of mass and aerodynamic disruption always requires more energy to move. So, of course, your claim that a trailer or kayaks would hurt efficiency and range with any given amount of available energy is *absolutely true*. It is true of a vehicle powered by gasoline, diesel fuel, or batteries.
ENERGY FEAR MONGERING:
How does one find themselves stranded and out of power? There are hundreds of millions of 110v outlets all over North America. All of them can add miles of range. There are over 300,000 NEMA 14-50 ports at campgrounds and Level 2 EV chargers. There are over 60,000 DC Fast charging ports. If civilization falls, we still have the sun.
1000w of solar on the roof should deliver 2-5kWh per day on average. That is completely sufficient for lighting, Starlink, laptops, and phone all by itself.
A person who boondocks can bring along some deployable solar to 5x that figure if they want. As mentioned in this video, a solar awning is in the works.
As for use in the mountains, this is great for that. As any vehicle of any kind one will expend more energy to get up the hill. The BrightDrop van easily conquers ascents, but most Class B motorhomes huff and puff on a long incline. Overheating is a common concern in this category. Combustion vehicles race down the hill at high speeds unless drivers burn through brake pads and/or put the stress on the transmission to regulate speed. In the medium term, each of those activities result in either maintenance or repair of those crucial components. The same is not true in an EV.
The downhill is where a G2 takes the cake! About 80% of that extra energy spent overcoming the incline will be recovered by the regenerative braking feature (motor engagement) on the decline. The motors provide the resistance which means the friction brakes will last much longer because the pads rarely make contact.
I've personally driven RVs over 100,000 miles. I've been stranded in a million dollar Prevost diesel pusher bus, a $30,000 38ft Ford V8 Econoline powered Class 2, and an $8,000 Toyota Truck (22RE) based Class 2 RV as well. Experienced RV drivers know that getting stranded in a combustion powered motorhome is an *IF* not a when. Brakes and powertrains fail frequently. Improved reliability is one of the top reasons many RVers are interested in a fully electric platform. They are mechanically superior and access to electricity is FAR more abundant than access to gasoline or diesel. The operational cost of an EV is much lower as well from energy through maintenance.
ONBOARD ENERGY:
There are 10kW of onboard cabin batteries, which can be increased if a buyer wants more. There is another ~200kWh of power in the high voltage pack which can transfer another 8kWh daily to the 10kWh cabin battery as needed.
SCALE:
Companies like this tend to top out at 25-50 units produced monthly per facility. We think that is a reasonable assumption for the goal of "scaling up". Remember, that would represent 60-120 million dollars of annual revenue. Not small potatoes for a recreational manufacturing startup in the first decade.
BRIGHTDROP INVENTORY:
As for your remarks about BrightDrop inventory, you may have noticed that there are only about half a dozen distribution locations in the United States for all of the BrightDrops. When a location services an entire region of the country, inventory is large. Your figure of 800 gathering dust in Fontana, California is incorrect. There are 192 vans at Rotolo Chevrolet as of 11/23/2024. 110 of those are 2023 models. The figure of 800 nationwide would be closer to accurate.
Inventory of combustion vans or pickup trucks from GM or Ford in the same area far outstrips EV vans at any given time.
-Producer Tim
Get someone else that is not asleep. This guy just made me go to another channel.. good grief
On this channel we have produced hundreds of videos related to electrification. If you are interested in the subject, you've come to the right place. UA-cam certainly has something for everyone. -Producer Tim
Cool RV. Looks really well thought out. Spent a good part of the video wondering how easy this would be to navigate into a charging station paring spot - the wide angle lens choice makes this thing look loooong.
The opening sequence and the thumbnail image with Miss GoElectric for scale were captured with a 50mm lens. The drone footage is 24mm.
A typical parking space is 20ft long. The featured G2 is 24ft long.
Pull-through charging locations would be most well suited, but most configurations will be functional.
Thanks for watching and commenting.
-Producer Tim