Oregon-based overland vehicle and accessory maker EarthCruiser says it has begun to focus on overlanding gear for electric vehicles. “The future is charged,” the company said in a press release.
One focus for EarthCruiser will be slide-in campers specifically designed for the new crop of electric pickup trucks. Currently, Hummer, Rivian, and Ford have EV pickups in production, with Chevy and RAM both spooling up to produce competing models in the next two years, if not sooner. Tesla says its long-awaited Cybertruck will go into production in 2024.
EarthCruiser itself produces specialty turn-key “4×4 expedition vehicles,” such as the EXP and FX, built on an Isuzu truck chassis with a GM gas-fueled V8 drivetrain connected to a proprietary gearbox with a 2-speed transfer case and manually locking hubs. The rigs can be turn-key, or EarthCruiser can supply a chassis with either a regular or crew cab for custom builds.
But the advent of electric drivetrains is something EarthCruiser says it has been watching for a while. “We have been keenly following the evolution of EV vehicles and have been waiting until the time is right, and the time is now,” Lance Gillies, founder of EarthCruiser, said in the company’s press release. “Our deep expertise in building world-renowned expedition vehicles makes it easier for us to roll into electric platforms compared to competitors,” Gillies added.
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EarthCruiser says it is “currently in collaboration with key domestic automotive manufacturers’ to work out the details of its initial EV overlanding products, including the slide-in campers. However, EarthCruiser said the upcoming EV products will still work with gas-powered trucks and that they will work with EVs “after a few simple software updates” if buyers plan on getting an electric truck eventually.
No prices, timeline details, or other specifics about the new EV-friendly campers or other products have been announced, and EarthCruiser says its in-house innovation team is working on the product designs at this time. More information will be released later this year.
Interested customers can make a $100 deposit at this time to reserve their spot in line when the new camper products begin production.
