Living Vehicle (LV) is a self-sustainable vehicle designed to support human habitation with very little to no resource needs from external sources. [1] [2]
LVs are purpose-built to live in year-round, thus they are capable of supporting human habitation in all seasons, including sub-freezing temperatures. [3] [4] They are also able to create and manage resources for continued and indefinite off-grid use. [5] [6] [7]
Designers Matthew and Joanna Hofmann set out to design a stylish off-grid vehicle in 2017. [8] [9] Inspired by years of traveling full-time in mobile spaces while running a custom mobile design firm in Santa Barbara, CA, the Hofmanns felt the need to create a new mobile space designed for a modern mobile lifestyle. [10] [11] LV is offered with very limited production per year. [12]
In 2022, Living Vehicle was the first to release Atmospheric Water Generation in a production vehicle. [13] Since its foundation in 2017, LV comes in different generations and models with diverse specifications. [14] [15] [16] [17]
The original LV was released in 2019, typically having large windows and skylights to create the outdoor living experience, as well as a large deck area. It was fitted with high-end home appliances. [8]
LV 2020 introduced solar powered air conditioning, using 12 solar panels. Its interior length increased slightly, to 28 feet. Twenty-five LV2020s were to be produced. [8] [ needs update ]
A recreational vehicle, often abbreviated as RV, is a motor vehicle or trailer that includes living quarters designed for accommodation. Types of RVs include motorhomes, campervans, coaches, caravans, fifth-wheel trailers, popup campers, and truck campers.
A caravan, travel trailer, camper, tourer or camper trailer is a trailer towed behind a road vehicle to provide a place to sleep which is more comfortable and protected than a tent. It provides the means for people to have their own home on a journey or a vacation, without relying on a motel or hotel, and enables them to stay in places where none is available. However, in some countries campers are restricted to designated sites for which fees are payable.
Louis Vuitton Malletier, commonly known as Louis Vuitton, is a French luxury fashion house and company founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label's LV monogram appears on most of its products, ranging from luxury bags and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes, perfumes, watches, jewellery, accessories, sunglasses and books. Louis Vuitton is one of the world's leading international fashion houses. It sells its products through standalone boutiques, lease departments in high-end departmental stores, and through the e-commerce section of its website.
A trailer is an unpowered vehicle towed by a powered vehicle. It is commonly used for the transport of goods and materials.
A motorhome is a type of self-propelled recreational vehicle (RV) which is as the name suggests, like a home on wheels.
Slab City, also called The Slabs, is an unincorporated, off-the-grid alternative lifestyle community consisting largely of snowbirds in the Salton Trough area of the Sonoran Desert, in Imperial County, California. It took its name from concrete slabs that remained after the World War II Marine Corps Camp Dunlap training camp was torn down. Slab City is known for attracting people who want to live outside mainstream society.
A solar vehicle or solar electric vehicle is an electric vehicle powered completely or significantly by direct solar energy. Usually, photovoltaic (PV) cells contained in solar panels convert the sun's energy directly into electric energy.
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Airstream is an American brand of travel trailer easily recognized by the distinctive shape of its rounded and polished aluminum coachwork. This body shape dates back to the 1930s and is based on the Bowlus Road Chief, an earlier model of the all-aluminum travel trailer.
Off-the-grid or off-grid is a characteristic of buildings and a lifestyle designed in an independent manner without reliance on one or more public utilities. The term "off-the-grid" traditionally refers to not being connected to the electrical grid, but can also include other utilities like water, gas, and sewer systems, and can scale from residential homes to small communities. Off-the-grid living allows for buildings and people to be self-sufficient, which is advantageous in isolated locations where normal utilities cannot reach and is attractive to those who want to reduce environmental impact and cost of living. Generally, an off-grid building must be able to supply energy and potable water for itself, as well as manage food, waste and wastewater.
A Zero-Energy Building (ZEB), also known as a Net Zero-Energy (NZE) building, is a building with net zero energy consumption, meaning the total amount of energy used by the building on an annual basis is equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site or in other definitions by renewable energy sources offsite, using technology such as heat pumps, high efficiency windows and insulation, and solar panels.
Masdar City is an urban community in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. It was built by Masdar, a subsidiary of the state-owned Mubadala Investment Company, with the majority of seed capital provided by the Government of Abu Dhabi.
A solar car is a solar vehicle for use on public roads or race tracks. Solar vehicles are electric vehicles that use self-contained solar cells to provide full or partial power to the vehicle via sunlight. Solar vehicles typically contain a rechargeable battery to help regulate and store the energy from the solar cells and from regenerative braking. Some solar cars can be plugged into external power sources to supplement the power of sunlight used to charge their battery.
Fulltiming is a term used among motorhome individuals and families who live "full-time" in their motorhome or RV. Such mobile individuals are often called fulltimers. Fulltiming is a worldwide activity, and there are many bloggers who record their day-to-day life on the road. The term has been discussed in publications since around 1993.
Christoph Behling is a product designer and the founder of Christoph Behling Design, a London-based product design studio established in 2004. Behling is also the founding director of SolarLab Research & Design, a solar-powered transport and architecture company.
Millennium Luxury Coaches is a luxury motor coach manufacturer based in Sanford, Florida, founded in 2000 by Nelson Figueroa.
The term recreational vehicle (RV) is often used as a broad category of motor vehicles and trailers which include living quarters for designed temporary accommodation. Types of RVs include motorhomes, campervans, caravans, fifth-wheel trailers, popup campers, truck campers and Park Model RVs.
Bowlus is an American luxury travel trailer with a front door, aerodynamic shape and polished aluminum body.
Bob Wells is an American YouTuber and author, known for his advocacy of nomadic vandwelling as a form of affordable minimalist living.