How Much Power Do You Actually Need to Boondock? Why Most All-Electric RVs Still Come Up Short

[evotrex]

Evotrex-PG5: the World’s First Power-Generating RV Trailer​

Boondocking has always sounded simple: find a beautiful place, unplug from everything, and stay as long as you want.

In reality, staying off-grid comfortably is, at its core, an energy problem — and most RVs, even the shiny new all-electric ones, still approach it like a guessing game.

At Evotrex, we decided to stop guessing.

Evotrex Off-Grid Calculator​

Thank you for being here. By educating yourself on Evotrex, the PG5, and its capabilities, we can help you truly understand how much energy real off-grid living actually requires, why today’s solutions — including many “all-electric” RVs — fall short, how the Evotrex-PG5’s Horizon™ System works differently, and how our Off-Grid Calculator lets you see the math for yourself.

Did we mention the PG5 doubles as a whole-home backup generator, and can even DC fast-charge other EVs for less than public fast charging?

First, let’s start with RV Boondocking and the true issue we solved when approaching it.

The real energy cost of boondocking
Most RV energy estimates start with a battery number and stop there.

That’s the problem, friends.

Off-grid living isn’t about peak capacity — it’s about daily energy balance.

Here’s what actually consumes the most power when you’re boondocking comfortably:

• HVAC (especially electric heat and AC)
• 24/7 refrigeration
• Electric cooktops
• Hot water
• Electronics, lighting, and entertainment technology
• Water pumps, fans, RV control systems
• Charging devices such as ebikes, phones, laptops — or even another EV! (More on that below)

Even a relatively efficient setup can easily consume 15–25 kWh of battery power per day. Add climate control, colder weather, or multiple occupants, and that number can climb fast. That means a “large” 40–70 kWh battery — common in many electric RVs — doesn’t truly promise off-grid freedom… at least at the comfort levels you’re used to.

In reality, it represents one to three days, if conditions are ideal. That’s… not ideal.

Today’s solutions vary
Most off-grid RVs today fall into one of three camps: Battery Electric RVs, Solar Electric RVs, or Diesel generator-powered RVs. Before diving in, we want to point out that regardless of the RV, many campsites — especially those within National Parks — do not provide on-site electricity. As a result, viable camping options are immediately limited.

Battery Electric RVs:
These options rely on a fixed battery pack and rooftop solar panels. They are quiet and deliver clean energy, but are oftentimes limited by weather, seasons, and battery capacity. Once that battery is depleted, the party’s over. There is no recovery path aside from hightailing back to the nearest charger.

Alternatively, campers must stay at campgrounds that offer power hookups. Easier said than done.

Solar-Centric Builds:
Sure, more panels certainly help, but solar power is variable by nature. Taking into account other variables such as shorter days in the winter, cloud cover, tree shade, and even the angle of the sun, you may spend more time finding the perfect unobstructed parking spot than you do actually camping out.

Solar helps extend range, yes — but it doesn’t guarantee it.

Don’t get us wrong, we LOVE solar. It’s clean, easy, and best of all, free! But it’s also slow. Realistically, you’re adding 3–4 kWh of solar power on a perfect day. That helps, but its current iteration requires additional means of power.

Traditional Diesel Generator-Based RVs:
These are the old guard. Reliable? Absolutely, but at a cost. They are loud and disconnected from modern energy systems.

While each of the solutions above solves part of the problem, none of them solves the issues as a holistic system. That is, until now.

Why the others don’t quite work, and the Evotrex-PG5 does
The core issue is simple — Most RVs treat energy as a feature. We at Evotrex treat it as infrastructure.

Battery-only systems assume ideal conditions, solar-dependent systems assume patience (and ideal conditions), and traditional generators assume you’ll tolerate noise, inefficiency, and nasty fumes.

None of them adapts dynamically to usage, integrates generation, storage, and propulsion into one system, or lets you realistically plan your off-grid stay before you even leave your home.

That’s exactly what we set out to fix. You’re welcome.

Evotrex’s solution: The Horizon™ System
Unlike its competitors, the Evotrex PG5 does not rely on a single energy source. Instead, it utilizes the Horizon™ System — a fully integrated energy architecture that combines the following:

• 43 kWh of onboard battery storage
• 1.5 kW of rooftop solar panels
• An integrated 75 kW generator
• Electric propulsion with torque assist
• Bidirectional high-power outputs (V2L, V2V, V2H)

Travelers used to ask, “How long will my battery last?” Instead, the PG5 itself asks, “How do we keep the entire system balanced?”

Horizon’s result is over 270 kWh of total usable energy, delivered intelligently and efficiently — whether you’re parked for a week or changing scenery every day.

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The Off-Grid Calculator: No marketing math, just data
We built the Off-Grid Calculator because most RV energy claims don’t survive contact with reality. That makes it tough to prepare, and worse, tough to determine how long you can actually stay off the grid.

Don’t fret. Evotrex’s Off-Grid Calculator tool allows you to estimate and model daily energy consumption, solar contribution (depending on time of year and predicted weather), daily water usage, and net energy balance in order to determine your off-grid duration.

The Formula (simplified)
Net Energy = (Battery + Solar + Generator) — Daily Load Estimates

But the real value is transparency. We offer the tool for you to see:

• How quickly batteries deplete
• How much solar actually contributes
• How little generator runtime is needed when it’s integrated correctly

No vague “days off-grid” claims. Just physics (and some math).

The bottom line
Boondocking freedom isn’t about having the biggest battery. It’s about having a system that adapts, replenishes, and holds steady when conditions change. That’s what the Evotrex PG5 was built to do.

And now, with the Off-Grid Calculator, you don’t have to take our word for it. You can run the numbers yourself.

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Where to see the PG5
The Evotrex team will be attending major EV, RV, and adventure-focused events throughout the year. These events are where we spend most of our time engaging directly with owners, answering technical questions, and gathering feedback.
Check out our event calendar and come see the PG5 in person!

Join the Evotrex Community
Towing with electric trucks raises interesting engineering questions around energy, efficiency, and vehicle-trailer interaction. The PG5 is our attempt at exploring a different design approach.We strongly believe platforms like the PG5 benefit from open dialogue with technically curious owners.
We welcome technical questions, thoughtful suggestions, and discussions. If you’d like to interact directly with our team and early supporters:

• Discord Community
• Facebook Community

About Evotrex
Evotrex is a California-based company transforming outdoor travel with intelligent, power-generating RVs built for adventure without limits. Founded by enthusiasts and innovators, Evotrex sets a new standard in the RV industry by blending proven technology, an automotive supply chain, and efficient manufacturing to deliver off-grid freedom with contemporary comfort. Engineered and validated for quality, durability, and seamless indoor-outdoor living, each model is designed to withstand the elements while unlocking new possibilities outdoors. For more information, please visit www.evotrex.com

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[Trinculo73]

Out of curiosity, why develop and market an RV for EV owners and yet design and build it with a huge flat surface on the back? The drag that produces is basically hanging a giant parachute behind the vehicle, and will do far more to kill range than anything else.

The Bowlus and the Pebble both put aerodynamics first and have really gotten it right, but no amount of smooth angles in the front is gonna make up for that rear end.

 

[VandalSibs]

Out of curiosity, why develop and market an RV for EV owners and yet design and build it with a huge flat surface on the back? The drag that produces is basically hanging a giant parachute behind the vehicle, and will do far more to kill range than anything else.

The Bowlus and the Pebble both put aerodynamics first and have really gotten it right, but no amount of smooth angles in the front is gonna make up for that rear end.

I'm guessing it's due to the patio feature - it has to be squared off for that, since it folds up. It's becoming something that you see on more and more travel trailers, and I'm not sold on it...

 

[Trinculo73]

Yeah, I'm not against that on the right trailer, but that's more of a Destination Trailer feature, not a boondocking/EV focused model IMO. Makes no sense here at all.

 

[Tucker74]

Really depends on what you are doing, I’ve camped for a week with 2 deep cycle LiFePO4 (100Ah) batteries and a small (160-watt system) solar. MyAirstream uses gas for stove and fridge, two 30lb tanks is plenty for that and heat as needed (and oven/water heater too) for that period. It’s AC that gets you, need lots of power to run that for even short periods. I carry a small Honda generator and have a soft start on my unit for that issue. Just sharing real world experience -

 

[Time2Roll]

I like the effort and yet I get by just fine with a big 12v lithium battery. Propane for heat and fridge.
If I must have A/C I am looking for hookups. Usually prefer higher elevation, deep shade or coastal breeze.
Please no generator.... save for the roof solar panels.

 

[Thedude]

I lived “off grid” for two years in my 20’ travel trailer with 200AH of lithium batteries, 550w of solar and propane for heat, hot water and my fridge/freezer. I charged normal personal electronics, watched TV, powered my Starlink, etc and lived a perfectly normal daily life on less than 1kwh/day. You absolutely do not need 15-25kwh a day, that’s ridiculous. In my 2000sq/ft house I typically use 12-16kwh/day.

 

[Trinculo73]

I lived “off grid” for two years in my 20’ travel trailer with 200AH of lithium batteries, 550w of solar and propane for heat, hot water and my fridge/freezer. I charged normal personal electronics, watched TV, powered my Starlink, etc and lived a perfectly normal daily life on less than 1kwh/day. You absolutely do not need 15-25kwh a day, that’s ridiculous. In my 2000sq/ft house I typically use 12-16kwh/day.

You do if you're burning all your EV range towing a non-aerodynamic trailer

 

[mkhuffman]

In my 2000sq/ft house I typically use 12-16kwh/day.

I doubt your energy use is normal, especially if you have a 141 kWh battery to charge in your massive truck.

This is a typical week for me:

Edit: in the winter using NG heat:

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