Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Living a minimalistic, minimalistic lifestyle always appeals to me, so I was excited to dive into more examples of sustainable tiny homes this week. at CES 2025. There were EV RVs, trailers designed for camping and delivery, turnkey, self-catering pods. I want everyone to create a small eco village somewhere, preferably within walking distance to bakeries, coffee shops and Thai food.
While none of these are cheap, some fall below what I would expect, compared to the rest of the market. And the list of products used represents some of the most sustainable options available today – solar energy, gray water recycling, atmospheric water production and boss insulation. And they are all very beautiful.
These types of camping/recreational activities are great – but the fact that many won’t require a permit could help ease the housing crisis, especially as more cities loosen restrictions on additional dwelling units (ADUs). One of these can easily be set up in a backyard or driveway as a studio apartment for a college student, an aging parent and happy singles. I have some preparations to make. After CES. It’s a long sleep.
I will remove the following: a Haus.me Microhaus Pro I was a fan of the group. It’s a delivered, ready-to-use, 120 square-foot pod that can stand on any flat surface – grass, concrete, sand, dirt, over gravel, you name it. If it is flat, it will fit. It can absorb water from the air (and I was assured that it includes non-humid areas). It connects to a permanent extension cable, so that the power comes from the grid, solar installation or something else and the integrated battery will run everything for four days without being connected to power.
Inside, it’s sleek and stylish with every room to expand. A small Murphy bed flips up to reveal a table and two bench seats. It has a small refrigerator, microwave and sink in the kitchen, a full-sized shower in the bathroom, and a TV in the living area. The Pro version is fully optioned, complete with Siri Homepod voice control, advanced storage, underwear and includes the aforementioned battery. This model is designed for Airbnbs and rentals and costs only $90,000. The Lite undercuts the price tag by 30% because it foresees the battery, plate and several other features and is designed for personal use. All microhaus models are available to order here.
The tony piece I saw was from AC Future. The AC Future Ai-THd is the full size EV RV on display at the convention center in Las Vegas. This is one of three models that the company will produce. There is also the Ai-THt, a trailer type and the Ai-THu which, like the microhaus, is a delivery unit. The latter is the cheapest of the three models and the one that caught my attention the most. All three adopted the same convertible design (TH stands for convertible house) that expands three ways from 120 square feet to a 400 square-foot one-bedroom.
Each model will be made to order and the technology available is impressive. The solar panels generate 25 kWh of energy per day and it also comes with an atmospheric water production of up to 15 gallons per day. There’s a full-sized refrigerator, washer/dryer, dishwasher, stand-up shower and, due in 2025, a whole-house AI assistant called Futura to manage things for you. Pre-orders opened at CES and AC Future plans to start production soon madness the CES is behind them.
I just peeked inside RollAwaybut my friend Jessica Conditt had a great tour of EV RV rentals. It includes luxury hotel amenities, from luxury linens to Malin + Goetz toiletries. There is a convertible queen size bed, a double burner stovetop, a shower, a panoramic roof and an integrated projector. The RV itself has over 270 miles of mileage and a fast charging system. Sustainability technology includes rooftop solar panels, a waterless toilet, and a zero-waste water system. This should allow for some off-grid trips but the RollAway is also compatible with standard RV hookups.
To complete the hotel experience, a 24/7 concierge is on hand to help you plan your trip, give you directions, make recommendations for side-quests and keep your place ready for the road. RollAway has just started taking reservations and is almost booked through 2025. Reservations go for about $400 per night and are currently only available in San Francisco Bay, but more cities are coming soon.
My friend Sam Rutherford saw the pattern Walking Stone EV cart on CES last year (and his pictures are always better than mine). I looked at the production model that the company brought to the show this year. The difference is small but significant. Instead, Pebble asked potential customers to look at the image and tell them what they should change. One suggestion was “more windows” so light was added, along with a large window in the back. Cabinets are now easy to find. And the whole structure is now aerodynamic, which should make pulling the trailer even easier.
Ease of towing was already one of Flow’s selling points. A 24-foot trailer can be equipped (more expensive) with two drive-motors that help make itself less towed by the towing vehicle. This upgrade also includes a remote control system that allows you to park and hit the trailer through the app. Again, there is a queen Murphy bed that doubles as a workspace and the dinette table folds out to accommodate two more sleepers. There is a full kitchen, bathroom/shower area with glass doors that change from opaque to clear with a button. There is a 45 kWh battery and a 1.1 kW solar array. It starts at $109,500 and goes up to $135,500 with the motor upgrade. The first deliveries should be available later this year.
Fun fact: Lightship is the only California company on this list. The California and The Colorado-based company makes the AE.1 Cosmos, another solar-powered electric trailer that also has an engine-assist unit. In addition to the engine, the Cosmos also lowers by four feet when in “road mode” to reduce drag. Inside is a full kitchen with dishwasher, refrigerator, microwave, convection oven and induction cooktop. Two berths accommodate up to four and all are converted into living areas (dinette and bed/sofa). Everything is powered by a 1.8 kWh solar array and battery banks.
The Lightship launched the Cosmos into the lobby outside the convention center. The space was decorated with rock formations filled with desert plants and a starry sky at night that covered the conference space. If I squint, I can feel like I’m in a desert somewhere, and everything I need is there. It was a bit of a let down and back to the frenzy that is CES. But now the sad news: only 50 will be made. Each will be manufactured in the company’s Broomfield, Colorado facility and will be sold for $250,000 each, with units shipping this summer.