Chevy BrightDrop Van Becomes 270-Mile RV That’s Cheaper Than The Competition

• A new RV based on Chevrolet’s BrightDrop electric van is here, and its main selling point is the price.
• The Coachmen REVX has an estimated range of 270 miles on a full charge.
• It undercuts its main rival, the Grounded G3, which is based on the same chassis, by at least $15,000.

This is the new Coachmen RVEX, an all-electric motorhome based on the long-wheelbase Chevrolet BrightDrop van. Thanks to its General Motors-made underpinnings, the RVEX promises a driving range of up to 270 miles on a full charge, which is far from record-setting, but should be just enough for those who are always on the road.

That range figure comes courtesy of a 172-kilowatt-hour battery pack, the largest available in the BrightDrop, which also comes paired with a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup that’s good for 300 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. It’s also worth noting that the base BrightDrop 600 commercial van on which the RVEX is built has a combined range of 296 miles.

Photo by: Coachmen RV

The drop in the range figure likely comes from the fact that Coachmen’s RVEX is fully kitted out in the back, while the base BrightDrop is an empty van. Speaking of the kit, the new electric RV has a lounge area with dual sofas that recline to become either one king-size bed or two individual single-person beds. There’s also a kitchen with a sink, a stovetop, a convection microwave and a refrigerator.

There’s also an on-board 18-gallon fresh water tank, a grey water tank, a bathroom, a 1,000-amp-hour 48-volt house battery, 1,000 watts of solar panels and a 50-amp shore power connection.

Charging the vehicle can be done from a DC fast charger, and it will take roughly one hour to add 160 miles of range. GM doesn’t say what the maximum power input of its electric van is, but several owners have observed that it tops out at 120 kilowatts.

The cabinetry was made with materials supplied by Genesis Products, which provides lightweight alternatives that, in the end, helped save 290 pounds compared to a traditional layout. That’s a 45% weight reduction compared to the usual materials–a big deal, especially in an electric vehicle, where more weight means less range.

More Electric Campers

The vehicle retains the sliding front doors of the BrightDrop van, but at the rear, Coachmen fitted a split-opening tailgate. The upper part is a big electrochromic window that can become transparent or opaque at the press of a button, while the lower part is a simple hinged door. The front passenger door is also powered and can be opened or closed by pressing a button on the door panel or on a remote.

Up front, the cockpit is identical to any other Chevy BrightDrop van, with the exception of the passenger seat, which has been added for convenience. There’s an 11.3-inch central infotainment touchscreen that offers Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.

All in all, it’s pretty standard stuff for an RV. However, where the Coachmen RVEX stands out is the price. It has an estimated MSRP of $150,000, which is pretty much in line with the competition. It’s also quite a bit cheaper than another BrightDrop-based RV, the Grounded G3, which starts from $165,000 and goes all the way up to $200,000, depending on the options.