A Phoenix Cruiser owner of an E-450 2400 model took delivery of the first Volta Power System in a PC. The system basically replaces the generator with a complicated battery power system. Air Stream motor home and Winnebago also use the system. Only proprietary Volta products can be used in the system and only Volta can work on them.
Coach House has a new Heritage model. Built on the E-450 chassis with optional twins or short queen bed in rear of coach. NO SLIDE! Also dinette or sofa in front that converts to full bed. They will also be building a 600 amp Hybrid Lithium Ion battery system. Optional total 400W solar. Not many details yet. But I see the Heritage has a RVMP 4000i generator (inverter based, not sure if it is flex power, but it is not an Onan!). They claim they camped in FLorida for a week or so and ran A/C and such with the hybrid system. It will be interesting to see what the system has in it. Could be an option for LD lookers.
Ron S.
They will also be building a 600 amp Hybrid Lithium Ion battery system. Optional total 400W solar. Not many details yet. But I see the Heritage has an RVMP 4000i generator (inverter based, not sure if it is flex power, but it is not an Onan!). They claim they camped in Florida for a week or so and ran A/C and such with the hybrid system. It will be interesting to see what the system has in it.
Well, a 600-amp/hour battery will run the A/C for a few hours, and then it will take several days to recharge the battery using the 400 watts of solar, assuming they were dry camping. If they were also using the generator, then the claim isn't worth much.
I would assume the use of a 12-volt compressor refrigerator, running the generator is going to be a daily activity, 400 watts of solar isn't much when the charging needs are so high.
Larry
Some RV makers have discovered the benefits of a 48 volt system.
The advantages are ones that they should have used years ago, but hey, at least they have caught on now.
As for Volta or any proprietary system, I'd be leery of them. It doesn't have to be complicated, but many makers are looking
for all in one solutions and that creates complexity.
Coach House put this video out further explaining there Hybrid system. I find it interesting the a luxury manufacturer is now focusing on off grid camping. These cost somewhere around $230,000!! They must be seeing a decline in new orders.
https://www.facebook.com/CoachHouseRV/videos/1825274851554496/
Ron S
"Well, a 600-amp/hour battery will run the A/C for a few hours, and then it will take several days to recharge the battery using the 400 watts of solar, assuming they were dry camping. If they were also using the generator, then the claim isn't worth much."
Exactly. This rig is basically a joke, especially since the (inadequate) solar panels are not even standard. But naive buyers will be suckered in, because nobody who hasn't boondocked has any idea of how much power is needed. (Except maybe an electrical engineer who does his or her homework!)