Green RVs - Big changes with RVs in the years to come

THE RV INDUSTRY NEEDS TO "IMPROVE ITS READINESS FOR UPCOMING CHANGE"

BIG changes with RVs in the years to come

The Bosch group has sales of over $63 billion per year with automotive and industrial technology. It spends more than $3 billion per year on research and development ...

Peter Marks, chairman, president and CEO of Bosch said (August 14th, 2008):

ENERGY SCARCITY - The global growth in demand for oil is outpacing its availability, which will ultimately result in energy scarcity, likely before we develop advanced energy technologies that will be enough to close the gap to the world's energy demand
MOVE QUICKLY - The magnitude of energy scarcity will depend in part on the speed with which the automotive industry moves toward utilizing alternative energy sources, such as electricity, while at the same time also improving existing powertrain technologies, including diesel systems, gasoline direction injection and hybrids to reduce energy use
FALLING SALES - Current fuel prices, for instance, have already created changes in consumer attitude and behavior that is causing significant industry challenges including dropping vehicle sales and production, and changing vehicle mix. These realities will create future change that the industry must be prepared to address
BE READY FOR CHANGE - "We need to improve our industry's readiness for upcoming change," Marks said. "If we do this right, my deep belief is that this industry can go beyond that and be the leaders in developing the right solutions to address these complex energy and mobility challenges

We need BIG changes with RVs , greener and more fuel efficient motorhomes - RoTi readers constantly tell us this, - particularly with luxury coaches, class A, class B, and class C - and this industry also needs "to improve its readiness for upcoming change" ...

The big changes that are and will be planned for engine, chassis and trucks will inevitably have a big effect on the RV industry. RoTi will keep you advised of developments. Add your comments below ..

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READERS' COMMENTS

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What do you think? - add your comments here

author	comments
JC	EarthRoamer--that's what I am lusting after! Solar powered (no generator!), biodiesel, low VOC and high quality interior. Just have to swallow the $225 price tag!
Pro Green - Go Clean	See article "They're All Talking About "Going Green". The way to help the changes move along more quickly, is to be conscious of our choices and to speak their language - MONEY! When we choose to spend our hard earned dollars on health promoting products, regardless of what they are, the manufacturers will rush to get our dollars. This means making the items you want to purchase - NOW! Organic/green items aren't as costly as they were 10-20 years ago or even 5 years ago, because of supply and demand (in certain areas - clothing, food, etc). We wanted it, we got it! This occurs with any product. Aren't computers and phones cheaper? Why not hybrid RVs? The more the demand, the greater the supply, the less costly because there are so many to choose from the price must be competitive to get your dollars (which includes quality, hopefully). So how will we chose to drive the healthy changes, in every quarter? What will our choices be? Where will we place our hard earned dollars?
Andrew	The real change will only happen when it is way too late!
Bob Difley	Hybrid and electric school buses already exist. Manufacturers have the knowledge and ability to manufacture greener vehicles. So why is it taking so long to make motorhomes greener? Look at it from the manufacturers standpoint. They have to manufacture what they can sell. When we as consumers start requesting greener vehicle manufacturing and electric and hybrid power, the manufacturers will start producing more of them.
clint jones	Why has no one investigated the application of diesel-electric?
Dan K	What about formaldehyde in the glue in the walls and carpets? To make them lighter, manufacturers are gluing everything. The "greening" which is bound to happen will only make prices higher. When you consider the amount of use of power, water, and fossil fuels, the RV is ALREADY much greener than a home. People just see big rigs and think fuel.
Lennich	Green, scheem forget it. Lets first get a machine that is manufactured correctly. Water heater in bottom compartment. Engines getting the right amount of air, windows double paned. Lighter walls, cozy lamps for reading. Good solid one piece roofs. A/C in bottom compartment. Proper amount of HP for the size of rig. Well built class A @ 25 feet.
Concerned	When is it all going to happen? Why don't new RVs have more environmentally friendly features?
Bob A	RVs are improving, but I think most manufacturers really haven't even begun to address the subject. They rely on the engine manufacturer to deal with emmisions of course but they also should be looking more at the materials they use and solar power and energy conservation.