Evotrex, a new start-up RV manufacturer headquartered in Southern California, is making a splash with their travel trailer that company officials dubbed a “power generating” unit (See: “Evotrex Unveils ‘Power-Generating’ PG5 Travel Trailer at CES”).
RVBusiness recently was able to catch up with Stella Qin, Evotrex’s co-founder and head of the company’s North American operations, and Chief Marketing Officer Ivan Wang. Along with Qin, Evotrex was founded by Alex Xiao, a former employee of Anker which claims to being the “world’s No. 1 charging brand.”
Evotrex recently showed off its PG5 trailer at CES in Las Vegas, and has since been making a lot of noise on social media about the unit. This first offering from them company is a no-slide trailer with an independent air suspension system that gives it off-road prowess. The trailer’s appliances are all-electric, including an on-demand water heater, but has an on-board gasoline generator which can top off the on-board 43kWh lithium battery. The Atlas variant of the trailer — the Pioneer is the more basic of the two models — also incorporates 1,500 watts of solar on the roof.
“You have sufficient capacity to boondock for days with the AC on. You no longer have to plan your charging stops,” Wang told RVBusiness. Both Wang and Qin are avid campers with Qin enjoying off-grid adventures with his Rivian truck that he’s modified and Wang having a Sprinter van that she bought during Covid. In fact, when RVB spoke with Wang, she was in Montana enjoying winter activities.
While the founders are avid outdoor and RV enthusiasts, they also understand the technologies and systems available from China where EV sales are on the rise in the face of internal combustion engine-only sales are on the decline.
“If you go to China, there are 30 options in each category for EVs and RVs,” said Wang.
“Range extension in China is already popular and they asked if an automotive generator could be hooked to a trailer and provide range extension,” said Qin. In fact, they are using what they call a proven range extender, or gasoline generator, in the Evotrex.
“We really didn’t design the trailer for EVs — we just wanted to make a better trailer,” said Qin. “We want to talk to all RV owners — diesel, gas or EV. We appear to be focused on electric but it’s really for anyone who wants to have a better trailer experience.”
They are quick to point out that you don’t need an EV to take advantage of Evotrex’s functionality. “This is for everybody,” said Qin.
However, the Evotrex Atlas version has the ability to charge an EV. In addition to the large battery, which is an automotive-sourced battery system, there is also an on-board electric drive motor that can compensate for the typical losses incurred in towing a travel trailer. That means if your tow vehicle gets 15 miles per gallon without towing it will likely still get 15 miles per gallon when towing.
That drive motor can also be used with the company’s included tablet computer to reposition the trailer meaning you can use that system to bring the trailer in line to hitch it to the tow vehicle but also turn it around if you wish to optimize a view or other campsite features. That same tablet can be used to control many of the Evotrex’ features but there are also redundant physical switches as well. The company has really thought this trough.
The floorplan of the PG5 can be described as a toy hauler, of sorts, with two facing bench seats in the back and a patio deck. There’s also a large hatchback overhead and a gate around the deck, much like what many toy haulers have.
“We did a lot of interviews with RVers,” said Qin. “We also see a lot of gear compatibility — bringing things people want to help with their adventure.”
The front of the trailer features a bedroom with a provision for a queen-sized mattress but, it doesn’t come with a mattress allowing consumers to be free to select that item themselves.
“The studies we read from companies like RVIA and KOA show that RVers are trending younger, but also are more interested in things like boondocking and off-grid camping,” said Qin.
At the present time, the Evotrex can be ordered directly from the company in a process which some early adopters of other vehicles, including the Pebble and Lightship trailers, might already be familiar. You plunk down a deposit of $100 which grants you a place in line.
Two trailer models are currently on offer, the Pioneer at $119,990 or the Atlas at $159,990. The difference between the two are that the Atlas comes with the drive motor, 1,500 watts of solar, the patio deck the company dubs Terrece and the unique ability to charge an EV using the trailer’s power resources.
The long-term goal of Evotrex is to partner with dealerships for both sales and service throughout the U.S.
The team has found that many of the resources they need to build these are readily available from Chinese auto manufacturers — like the battery, power generator, air conditioner and more. The walls and chassis, too, are built in China but the whole package is assembled and tested here in the United States.
“We do and will work with dealerships for fulfillment and service. We don’t want people having to drive long distances for service. It will be more of a partnership in the beginning, but we will rely on them and work together with them to do a good delivery experience,” stated Qin.
“Final assembly is done here in the US — about 30% and all compliance is done here,” she continued. “China has been a logical supplier as the R&D, resources and engineering are readily available.”
You can read a full review of the Evotrex PG5 Atlas here.
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