We’ve posted many times in the past on topics related to RV solar panels. We’ve produced a number of related YouTube videos and have discussed our amazing solar & lithium battery install that MYT Solar installed on our new travel trailer. But in this post, we’re talking about a literal solar-powered RV. And by that, we mean an RV that runs completely on solar power… drivetrain, and all!
Have we come that far with solar? Is there an RV with enough solar power to run everything that requires electricity IN our rigs and the rig itself?? Or even partially power the rig with solar energy like a hybrid vehicle?
Let’s take a look at the possibilities!
What Do We Mean By a “Solar Powered RV”?
Typically when we discuss solar-powered RVs on this blog, we’re referring to an RV solar system that allows us to power the appliances and devices in an RV when we’re not plugged into shore power.
This could be a single 100 watt solar panel, a small charge controller, and one or two batteries to store (a relatively insignificant amount of) power that’s sufficient to get an RVer through a weekend: powering the rig’s lights, water pump, and recharging devices such as laptops, phones, and tablets.
It could also be a larger system that runs anywhere from 200 Watts to a 1,500-Watt system like ours with a couple of charge controllers, hardware, and a large lithium battery bank (like a Xantrex lithium battery, or maybe a bank of Battle Born batteries like we have now) that’ll run all of an RV’s 120V AC appliances, air conditioners included.
When we bought our new 19′ travel trailer, we never expected to be able to fit 1,500 Watts of solar on the roof!
But that’s not what we’re talking about in this post! What we mean when we use the term “solar-powered RV” is a motorized RV that is completely powered by the sun, meaning that the RV itself is an electric vehicle, so its drivetrain runs on battery power, and its battery is recharged using solar power.
In addition, everything inside the rig runs off the same battery(ies) and solar system as well. So, the sun (via the solar panels and charge controller) recharges the battery(ies) that run the rig’s appliances AND the RV itself!
This would be a great option because we could travel as far as we wanted without worrying about getting to a charging station before our “EV RV” needs recharging!
Is There an RV With an Engine that’s Powered By the Sun?
As it turns out, there is! And there are more are rolling out. Here we want to give a hat tip to some bright young students with the vision, energy, and drive to make a fully self-sustainable RV a reality. Here’s the deal:
A team of students from the Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands created a phenomenal little RV known as “Stella Vita” that runs entirely on power generated through solar panels mounted to its roof. The students designed an extremely lightweight and aerodynamic, self-sustaining motorhome to generate sufficient solar energy to sustain their daily living needs… AND to drive the rig!
When Stella Vita reaches its camping destination, the roof can be raised (having it lowered when driving helps reduce drag). This offers standing height for the motorhome’s residents and allows additional solar panels to be deployed, doubling the solar surface to a maximum of 17.5 sq. ft.
Stella Vita’s extra solar panels can be deployed upon arrival at a campsite for maximum solar efficiency. (Image credit: Solar Team Eindhoven)
Given sufficient exposure to the sun, Stella Vita can drive right around 450 miles, which should be sufficient for a day’s RV travel.
In September of 2021, the students hit the road to put Stella Vita to the test on a road trip through Europe. The results were fantastic! They traveled from Eindhoven University in the Netherlands all the way to the southern tip of Spain, a total of 1,242 miles, without stopping to charge the camper!
These 22 bright, determined, innovative young students accomplished a significant goal that may herald a time when we, too, can also drive an RV powered only by the sun.
Are There Any Other Solar Powered Electric RVs?
As a matter of fact, a fully electric RV is no longer a pie-in-the-sky idea. There are varying degrees of solar campers on the market, including self-sustaining solar rigs. Their biggest drawback at this point, of course, is price.
Here’s a fully solar-powered Class C RV that runs on 3,000 watts of solar power, engine included!
And right here in North America, creators and manufacturers are hard at work to ensure that all-electric RVs are coming.
However, in addition to being expensive, those currently on the market offer a limited driving range before they need to be recharged, so that’s still a far cry from what the students from Eindhoven University pulled off. For example, Thor’s Vision Vehicle will take you about 300 miles before needing a recharge, so it’s certainly not a fully solar-powered RV, but it delivers some North American possibilities for the future.
Thor’s Vision Vehicle will take you 300 miles before it needs a recharge. Maybe Thor should call the kids from Eindhoven University for some tips on making the Vision Vehicle fully self-sustainable! (Image credit: Thor Industries)
Would You Have an Interest in a Fully Self-Sustainable Solar Powered RV?
What are your thoughts about fully solar-powered RVs? Would you be interested in owning one? Would you have concerns about it, such as a worry about multiple days without sun, for example? Other concerns?
Drop us a comment!
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Ron Dillon
Thursday 25th of December 2025
Thor took an off-the-shelf US Compliant vehicle, and mafe it go 300 mi on a charge. The NL team did a rematkable project, but its not a feasible commercial design.
Keith Jacobson
Thursday 25th of December 2025
I bet the Stella Vita has 17.5 square meters of panels. Not square feet.
Tacoma Washington Travel Enthusiast (Jason)
Thursday 25th of December 2025
I like the idea of having solar panels wherever they can be installed. As long as the sun is out, even if there are clouds in the sky, you should still have power.
Mark
Thursday 25th of December 2025
NO it is NOT possible. this solar power is insanely crazzzzzy, it's NOT reliable and you can't get enough power from the sun to run much of anything. I have Solar on my off grid cabin it keeps the 4- 12V batteries charged most of the time when and ONLY when the sun is shinning and the panels aren't covered with snow the Generator still runs quite a bit of the time, Solar will keep your phone charged, your computer, a small clock and that's about it. Solar sounds wonderful but unless you have the power grid to fall back on you will be in the dark a LOT
Keith
Thursday 25th of December 2025
@Mark, get a good solar designer involved and you may have another opinion. For old car batteries certainly are not going to do much.
Rob Burditt
Sunday 3rd of September 2023
Just wondering, I need to replace the battery in my RV. I have 3 solar panels on the roof and would like to know what would be the most cost efficient type of battery to purchase? My current battery was replaced 2 years ago and they told me it was only warranteed for 1 year. It's now dead. I've read good things about lithium batteries but understand they don't stand up to the cold weather very well. Considering I live in Canada and my wife likes to winter camp, this could be problematic for me. Any suggestions?
Mark
Thursday 25th of December 2025
@Rob Burditt, one of the better batteries I've found are the ones at Walmart they have a 4 year warranty, will they last 4 years NO but that warranty makes it nice to take them back and replace them for FREE or at a discount price for the next set. DON'T tell them what you are using them for. don't get the Marine batteries as they are only warranty'd for 2 years Max if I remember right, buy the Vehicle batteries for like a Ford Diesel pickup with the 4 year warranty
TheRVgeeks
Monday 4th of September 2023
Hi Rob. If you're only getting about 2 years out of your battery on your RV, then it sounds like it's not really enough energy storage for your needs. Having a battery die that quickly usually means that it's being drained below 50% of it's capacity... which seriously shortens its life.
But, you're right, Lithium doesn't like being charged when it's freezing outside, so that may not be a good choice for you, either (unless you can move the battery(ies) to an inside, insulated compartment).
Without knowing more details about your RV, we'd suggest that you might be better suited by expanding your battery bank (can we assume that you have just a single, 12V battery on your RV?)... possibly going to pairs of 6V batteries wired in series (positive terminal of one connected to the negative terminal of the other) so you get more capacity AND deep cycle batteries (which are more resistant to draining them, though you're still supposed to avoid draining them below 50%).
You may even want to consider upgrading from typical flooded lead-acid batteries to AGMs, which are also better at resisting damage from deep cycling.
BUT... before doing ANY of that, you may want to consider installing a battery monitoring system so that you can get a better grasp of how much power you're using when you're RVing. Once you know that, you can make more-educated decisions about what to do about your battery bank so that you don't spend more than you need, but stop killing your battery(ies) so quickly.