The Pebble Flow is an RV for the smartphone age, an app-driven, all-electric modern caravan
Pebble’s new Flow is a new kind of travel trailer, one that splices 100% electric power with app control and seamless design
The Pebble Flow is the latest travel trailer to take inspiration from the new wave of electric transportation, dovetailing minimalist design trends with all the benefits of having its own integrated, active power supply. Billed as the ultimate place to live and work remotely, the Flow contains enough power in its battery pack to keep going for up to seven days, as long as your idea of off-grid independence involves smooth surfaces inside and out for a loft-like living experience.
The 25-foot-long trailer is designed to be hauled by a large SUV or pick-up truck, both ICE and EV, with the onboard dual motors providing ‘Active Propulsion Assist’ that counteract the range-sapping problems of electric towing. Having onboard propulsions gives other benefits, like the ‘Magic Hitch’ system that uses sensors and motors to automatically connect the trailer to your tow vehicle.
The push-button conveniences keep on coming. Upon arriving at a camp spot, the Flow is fully remote controllable, allowing you to reverse the unit into a pitch. Once ready, the ‘InstaCamp’ function will unwrap the awning, switch on the lights, open up the inbuilt access stairs and level the Flow regardless of the terrain. The company promises that the Flow app will be the key to this seamless approach.
All that power has to come from somewhere, and the Flow has a 45 kWh battery pack set in the base of the vehicle. There are integrated solar panels to provide a constant trickle charge, and the entire unit can be used as an emergency power supply for your home.
Pebble’s founder and CEO, Bingrui Yang, a senior engineer at Apple and autonomous carmaker Zoox, has assembled a team that boasts experience garnered at Apple, Tesla, Cruise, and Volvo. The Californian company’s stated aim is to bring the ease of use of an iPhone to the RVing experience,’ pitching the RV at those who are daunted by the perceived complexity of camping and all its nuances.
Inside, there are berths for four, with a folding Murphy bed that turns into a desk to create a remote office at one end and a convertible banquette at the other end. A bathroom, shower and storage space is set in the middle, opposite the galley space, with its full range of appliances.
Wraparound windows are sunk into the sleek bodywork, and the combination of white panels and dark glazed areas ensures the Pebble Flow is far removed from traditional trailer aesthetics; those smooth sides also enhance aerodynamic efficiency. Pebble is taking orders now and expects to deliver the first Flow units at the end of next year.
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Pebble Flow, from $109,000, PebbleLife.com
Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
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