Electric trailer basics, benefits, and what to look for
An electric trailer is a travel trailer that runs its living systems on electricity. The heat, the cooktop, the water heater, and the fridge all draw from an onboard battery instead of propane tanks. It is a young category, and the trailers in it vary widely in how much energy they carry and how they put it back.
That second part matters more than any floor plan. This page walks through what separates one electric camper trailer from another, and how the Evotrex-PG5 approaches the problem with 270+ kWh of usable energy per cycle.
What makes a trailer electric
A conventional travel trailer leans on propane for its furnace, water heater, and range, then pulls electricity from a campground pedestal for everything else. An electric travel trailer replaces those propane appliances with electric ones and carries a battery large enough to run them.
The upside is real. Induction cooking gives you precise heat with no open flame. Electric heating means no propane fills and no regulator issues. The tradeoff is that every appliance now depends on stored energy, so the battery and the recharge plan become the heart of the trailer.
Battery capacity is the first number to check
Many trailers marketed as off-grid capable carry a 200 W solar panel and a 1.2 kWh lithium battery. That is enough to run lights and charge phones for a night or two. It is nowhere near enough to run air conditioning, an induction cooktop, and a full-size fridge for a week.
The PG5 carries a massive LFP battery pack with up to 20 times more usable storage than a typical trailer. The chemistry matters as much as the size. Ultra-safe lithium iron phosphate cells are engineered to the standards used in the electric vehicle industry, show no fire in puncture or crash tests, and perform from -22°F to 140°F.
The PG5 generates power instead of only storing it
An all-electric trailer depends entirely on its battery and campground hookups. When the battery runs out, the trip changes. The PG5 was designed around a different idea. Its battery pack, 1.5 kW of integrated rooftop solar, and a quiet automotive-grade gasoline generator run as one smart integrated system that delivers 270+ kWh of usable energy per cycle.
The generator is powered by gasoline, widely available anywhere. A full 20 gal tank delivers up to 225 kWh, about 11.25 kWh per gallon, which is up to 50% more usable energy per gallon than typical RV generators. Because the energy it makes is stored in the battery, you get quiet power on demand without the generator running at the same time. That combination supports 7+ days off-grid with daily HVAC and appliance use.
An electric pull trailer that shares its power
Most trailers only consume energy. The PG5 can send it back out. Up to 12 kW of power export through a NEMA 14-50 outlet and multiple 110 V outlets is sufficient for most home appliances, and an average American household uses about 30 kWh per day. You can run power tools at a job site, back up your home during an outage, or charge an EV at camp.
For EV owners, an ev trailer that carries this much energy changes the trip math. The PG5 charges an electric vehicle through its RangeBoost™ system, which delivers Vehicle-to-Vehicle DC fast charging at up to 60 kW through a NACS port. TowSync™ adaptive tow assist is designed for electric, gas, and diesel trucks alike, and it improves stability and efficiency on the way to camp.
Specs at a glance
- Total usable energy: 270+ kWh per cycle
- LFP battery: 43 kWh
- Integrated solar: 1.5 kW
- 75 kW power generator: up to 225 kWh on a full 20 gal tank
- Power output (V2L): up to 12 kW (NEMA 14-50)
- RangeBoost™: Vehicle-to-Vehicle DC fast charging at up to 60 kW (NACS)
- Off-grid living: 7+ days
- Battery operating range: -22°F to 140°F
- Sleep capacity: 4 adults on two residential queen beds
- Starting price: from $119,990
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an electric trailer and an all-electric trailer?
An all-electric trailer relies entirely on its battery and campground hookups. The PG5 generates its own power with integrated solar and a gasoline generator, so the battery replenishes wherever you camp.
How long can an electric travel trailer run without hookups?
It depends on the battery and the recharge sources. The PG5 supports 7+ days off-grid with daily HVAC and appliance use, drawing on 270+ kWh of usable energy per cycle.
Can an electric trailer charge an electric vehicle?
The PG5 can. Its RangeBoost™ system provides Vehicle-to-Vehicle DC fast charging at up to 60 kW through a NACS port.
Do electric trailers need charging stations?
The PG5 does not depend on them. It charges through NACS, rooftop solar, regenerative braking while towing, and its onboard gasoline generator. The system manages power automatically.
Electric trailers are moving fast, and the ones worth owning are the ones that solve the energy problem for you. Preorder the Evotrex-PG5. From $119,990.