Chinook RV has chosen Expion360 Inc. to supply lithium-ion batteries and power system components for its Type B and Type B-plus RVs.
Expion360 began making battery and accessory shipments under the new strategic supplier relationship in the current quarter.
“We believe this milestone win demonstrates that our lithium-ion battery power solutions are ideally suited for the renowned premium quality of Chinook RV motorhomes,” said Brian Schaffner, Expion360 CEO. “Their superior craftsmanship, aesthetics, and practical functionality are all qualities in common with our e360 batteries, and we believe these qualities are of great importance to current and prospective Chinook RV owners.”
Chinook RV has begun shipping orders for vehicles equipped with the new power system to its U.S. dealer network. Chinook RV dealers will offer an aftermarket Expion360 package to existing customers who want to upgrade from lead acid to a lithium-based power system.
Phil Rizzio, Chinook RV president said, “We choose Expion360 lithium-ion batteries for their compact, energy-dense form factor, rugged design and construction with the best components available on the market today. We anticipate these new power systems will become a must-have option for our Chinook RV owners and a great add-on for our dealers, with significant orders already coming in.”
For Chinook Bayside Type B RVs, five 120-amp-hour lihtium batteries will provide 600 amp-hours of storage. Solar panels totaling 300 watts of capacity complete the power system.
On Chinook Maverick and Summit Type B-plus motorhomes, two 360-amp-hour lithium batteries will provide 720 amp-hours of energy storage, paired with 400 watts of solar.
The power systems include a Balmar XT-250 alternator with MC-618 regulator, which will replace the existing on-board generator. The secondary alternator kit enables the battery
bank to charge from the vehicle’s engine while driving or idling. The power system will provide enough energy to run all on-board electronics and appliances.
The custom Chinook RV power system also features Victron components, including a 3,000-watt Cerbo GX inverter-charger, a GX Touch 70 7-inch touch screen, and a Smart Shunt that enables battery monitoring using the VictronConnect app.
Expion360’s integration partner, Wellspring Components, helped preassemble and preprogrammed the component board. Wellspring makes tie-down trays that secure the five Expion360 batteries in the Chinook Bayside
“Our Expion360 lithium batteries are increasingly becoming the preferred battery for RV manufacturers since they deliver greater capacity and space savings compared to lead-acid batteries,” Schaffner said. “We also believe they feature better construction and reliability compared to other Li-ion batteries on the market.”
