One of the byproducts of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the explosion in the popularity of campers and recreational vehicles. Whether the pandemic was a catalyst that pushed fence-sitters into buying an RV or people just wanted to escape from the cities to the great outdoors, the camping space is seeing a level of innovation and traffic like never before. With this wave of innovation comes the arrival of startups looking to disrupt this booming market. Xponent Power is one of those startups, and their revolutionary Xpanse solar awning may have what it takes to turn the market on its head.
The California-based recreational company created what they’re calling the world’s first solar-powered awning. Aside from providing much-needed shade from the sun, the Xpanse is a retractable awning that can power practically all of your RV’s electrics via sunlight. It’s able to accomplish this feat with solar panels that can generate over 1000W; they can even be paired with another Xpanse to generate double the power, if needed. What’s more, the Xpanse can withstand most inclement weather. Xponent Power designed the Xpanse to handle high wind speeds, going as far as programming it to retract slightly under windy conditions in order to let air pass between the solar panels and prevent the awning from getting harmed. It’s even programmed to retract fully once the wind speed crosses a certain speed. While the Xpanse awning won’t provide complete coverage from rain, its panels are waterproof and won’t tear or mildew when exposed to the rain compared to traditional fabric awnings.
Xponent Power made their Xpanse awning compatible with most RVs and models, however, they will double-check preorder submissions to ensure that their awning can fit on your RV. The Xpanse solar awning is set to release in the second half of 2022, however, you can reserve yours now for $100. Those who are interested in this groundbreaking awning should act fast – Xponent Power is offering the Xpanse for $7,500 until November 15. After that, the Xpanse will retail for $10,000.
