In recent years, a wave of innovative startups such as Lightship, Pebble, and Grounded have entered the RV market with novel concepts. Now, a new company named Evotrex is stepping into the spotlight, introducing a hybrid RV travel trailer that features a built-in gasoline engine.
This upcoming RV will include an internal battery system to supply power to the living area, electronics, and an electric motor. However, the gasoline engine will serve to recharge the battery, significantly extending the trailer’s range beyond what a single charge could provide—making Evotrex’s model potentially appealing for extended outdoor adventures.
Evotrex plans to unveil its RV at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show, but ahead of the official launch, the company shared some details in an exclusive conversation with TechCrunch.
The concept of pairing a gasoline engine with a large battery pack has gained traction in the auto industry, as both manufacturers and buyers remain cautious about fully electric vehicles. For example, the CEO of Scout Motors recently disclosed that 80% of customers reserving its new vehicles have opted for the hybrid “extended range” system rather than going all-electric.
Alex Xiao, co-founder of Evotrex and former product manager at Anker, believes this approach will resonate with both RV enthusiasts and dealers.
In an interview with TechCrunch, Xiao explained that he and co-founder Stella Qin (also previously at Anker) dedicated seven months to studying the RV industry before beginning development. They discovered that the customer demographic is getting younger, with a strong interest in taking RVs to more remote destinations, far beyond conventional campgrounds and RV parks.
According to Xiao, these users “want to bring their gadgets and other equipment on skiing, hunting, fishing, and other activities, and stay in the wild for like four or five days, which is different,” Xiao said. “They’re off-grid — off-grid living was not supported before within the RV life.”
To make this possible, reliable power is essential.
While RV owners are familiar with gas generators, Xiao and Qin believe their integrated engine design in the Evotrex trailer brings several advantages. They assert it operates more quietly and efficiently, and they’re even utilizing the surplus heat to help warm the interior.
Xiao mentioned that Evotrex aims to deliver its first RV trailers by the end of 2026, and has already secured $16 million in seed investment from Anker and early-stage Chinese venture firms Unity Ventures, Kylinhall Partners, and Vision Plus Capital.
Currently, Evotrex employs around 40 people, split between China and the United States, according to Xiao. The company’s CTO previously led automotive R&D at Geely Group, and the COO—also a co-founder—has held supply chain leadership roles at IBM, Lenovo, and Anker.
Xiao explained that most manufacturing will take place in China, with final assembly happening in California. Given that much of the RV supply chain is still based in China, he acknowledged that U.S. trade policies under the Trump administration could present obstacles.
Addressing these issues will be challenging, Xiao admitted. But he also noted that building a successful RV company from the ground up is no simple feat either.
“Our mission is to deliver these new experiences to our customers,” Xiao stated.
