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A latest episode of RV Miles on YouTube shared the outcomes of an attention-grabbing RV trade survey performed to assist RV producers and sellers higher perceive the present state of the trade. Whereas the entire findings shared within the video had been attention-grabbing, I wish to cowl just a few vital ones that the EV and total clear know-how trade must be excited about. However first, let’s take a look at the video:
Essentially the most attention-grabbing takeaway for the RV trade itself is that RVs are getting used much more than they used to. Older surveys appear to point out that RVs had been used round 20 days per 12 months, whereas the typical quantity has gone up by 50%. However, maybe extra importantly, the sheer variety of individuals residing in automobiles has gone method up, even when nailing down the precise variety of individuals residing in RVs isn’t simple.
The RV trade itself typically doesn’t need this type of info to grow to be frequent data. If RVs grew to become a type of housing in regulators’ minds as a substitute of being seen as toys, authorities requirements might go up and RVs might grow to be costlier and tough to provide, which might make it powerful for each firm earnings and patrons. However, the trade does appear to be pondering extra about sturdiness, so this knowledge will nonetheless have a constructive impression.
A technique constructive impacts occur is by not wanting on the market as a monolith. By splitting RV patrons into segments, it turns into simpler for the trade to discover a goal area of interest and to do issues that serve that area of interest properly. Full-time individuals in search of one thing bigger and extra sturdy to stay in aren’t going to have the identical wants as individuals who want to go fishing someplace 100 miles from house on summer season weekends. In different phrases, eliminating the “one size fits all” mentality is helpful for all concerned.
What Clear Know-how Corporations Want To Suppose Arduous About
The rising variety of individuals spending extra time and even all of their time in an RV has apparent implications for the businesses constructing RVs, however these aren’t the one firms who’re already being affected by this pattern and others that go together with it.
Car producers are the plain first place to search for results. The tip of the market that wishes to tow (occasional customers and “family campers”) is about 61% of the market. Because of this towing is extra vital than ever because the variety of trailers on the highway rises. Failure to make compelling EV and PHEV vehicles to serve this market is a nasty transfer.
The businesses promoting batteries, photo voltaic panels, transportable energy stations, and different such issues do appear to get this. I’ve seen Chinese language firms like EcoFlow and Jackery give attention to the outside, together with 30-amp RV plugs constructed into their bigger energy stations. However, the modular method these firms are actually taking lend themselves properly to the occasional guests to the outside. Having the ability to take away the batteries from the RV or mattress of a truck, take them inside, and use them for energy outages vastly improves the worth proposition for these sorts of massive ticket gadgets.
It’s additionally vital to contemplate the area of interest markets, particularly full-time RVers. EV producers are at a drawback right here, as a result of individuals residing in a automobile received’t all the time have entry to charging at evening. However, once more, firms providing versatile “dual use” gadgets like energy stations are at an enormous benefit due to the omnivorous nature of those gadgets. Having the ability to cost from a generator, photo voltaic panels, automobile alternators, and even from an EV’s battery makes for simple, pure (dare I noticed Taoist?) development in that market section because it continues to develop.
My massive takeaway: clear know-how merchandise must be as modular and versatile as doable to roll with the punches!
What wider traits do you see within the video and report that is perhaps helpful for the clear know-how trade? You’ll want to inform us within the feedback or on social media.
Featured picture: my present RV undertaking (that clearly wants some work). Picture by Jennifer Sensiba.
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