Exclusive – Q&A with Alex Xiao, CEO and Founder of Evotrex
The biggest knock against electric vehicles has never been acceleration or technology—it’s been range, and nowhere does that limitation hit harder than when towing. Evotrex, a California-based startup backed by Anker founder Steven Yang, believes it has an answer: an RV trailer that doesn’t just consume energy, but actively generates, stores, and manages it. The company’s debut product, the Evotrex-PG5, emerged from stealth in late 2025 with $16 million in Pre-A funding and made its public debut at CES 2026, drawing coverage from Forbes, The Verge, and PCMag.
Founded by Alex Xiao, a former product manager who spent over a decade helping build Anker into the world’s leading mobile charging brand, Evotrex brings a consumer electronics mindset to an industry overdue for disruption. The Evotrex-PG5 combines a 43 kWh battery pack, rooftop solar, regenerative energy recovery during towing, and a proprietary Horizon generator into a single integrated energy platform capable of delivering more than 270 kWh of usable power. Features like Active Power Assist—which allows the trailer to contribute propulsion rather than act as dead weight—and RangeBoost V2V charging directly address the towing range penalty that has kept many EV owners from venturing off the pavement.
The EV Report recently connected with Xiao to discuss the technology behind the Evotrex-PG5, how its energy ecosystem works in practice, and why Evotrex is betting that the future of the RV industry isn’t fully electric—it’s intelligently powered.
The Evotrex-PG5 is described as the world’s first power-generating RV trailer. What does “power-generating” mean, and how does the integrated energy ecosystem achieve that?
“Power-generating” means the PG5 is designed to actively produce, store, and manage its own electricity instead of relying solely on shore power or a traditional generator. It operates as a self-contained energy ecosystem rather than a passive energy consumer. The trailer draws power from multiple sources: a roof-mounted solar array, regenerative energy recovery while being towed, and the Horizon system, an integrated high-efficiency generator designed specifically for long-duration off-grid operation. All of that energy is stored in a high-capacity integrated battery pack and coordinated through a centralized energy management platform. The result is a trailer that is continuously balancing generation, storage, and consumption in real time. Whether it’s in transit, parked off-grid, or supplying power externally, the PG5 is always optimizing how energy is produced and used. That’s what makes it fundamentally different from a conventional RV: energy is not just consumed, it’s actively managed as a renewable system.
Can you explain how the Evotrex-PG5’s range-extending and energy-generation systems — including solar, regenerative charging while towing, and the Horizon generator — work together to deliver over 270 kWh of usable energy?
The Evotrex-PG5’s energy architecture combines multiple generation methods into a single coordinated system centered around a high-capacity battery pack. The solar system array produces electricity whenever the trailer is exposed to sunlight, helping replenish energy during travel and long stationary stays. While towing, the trailer’s electric drivetrain recovers energy during deceleration and downhill driving, converting motion that would normally be lost into stored power. The Horizon generator adds another layer of endurance, providing efficient on-demand generation for extended off-grid use. Because all of these inputs are managed through one energy platform, the trailer is continuously balancing production and storage rather than relying on a single source. That integrated approach enables the PG5 to deliver more than 270 kWh of usable energy, supporting not only its own systems for long-duration travel, but also external loads such as vehicles or home backup when needed.
The Evotrex-PG5 includes capabilities like V2V charging (RangeBoost) and V2H home backup. What use cases do you see them unlocking?
These features turn the Evotrex-PG5 into a portable energy resource rather than a recreational trailer. With V2V charging, owners can meaningfully extend the range of an electric tow vehicle or even charge another EV in remote locations, which fundamentally changes how feasible long-distance EV travel and overlanding become. V2H functionality allows the trailer to act as a home backup system, providing days of power during outages. Together, these features expand the Evotrex-PG5’s role beyond recreation. It becomes a flexible energy asset that supports travel, emergency preparedness, and reduced reliance on the grid. The same energy system that powers off-grid living can also provide meaningful utility in everyday life. RVs are often viewed as depreciating assets because they’re not used frequently and spend most of their time in storage. Our solution (with V2V capability) changes that dynamic by making the product valuable and functional even when it’s not on the road. Use it as your powerwall, a guest room, an office, a bonus room, etc.
Active Power Assist for towing is a standout technical feature. How does this system improve EV towing efficiency and comfort, and what feedback have you received from early testers or demos?
Active Power Assist allows the trailer to contribute propulsion while being towed, rather than acting purely as dead weight. Its electric drivetrain via the high-precision hitch force sensor continuously measures load, and deceleration, then applies torque to reduce the strain on the tow vehicle and brake when needed. From an efficiency standpoint, this significantly improves range when towing with an EV, which is traditionally one of the biggest challenges. From a comfort standpoint, it results in smoother acceleration, less hitch stress, and more stable handling. The trailer behaves as an active partner in motion rather than a passive burden.
How does the Off-Grid Calculator help owners plan extended off-grid travel realistically, and why was it important to include?
The Off-Grid Calculator translates energy into something tangible for users. Instead of abstract battery numbers, owners can input real-world variables like the number of people, meals cooked, access to water, etc., and see exactly how long they can remain off-grid and how energy will be consumed and replenished. This tool is critical because energy anxiety is one of the biggest barriers to off-grid travel, especially for first-time EV and electric RV users. The calculator sets expectations and empowers owners to plan confidently, rather than guess.
Luxury design and rugged engineering are core parts of the Evotrex-PG5’s identity. How did you balance off-grid capability with comfort and durability in the product’s development?
The Evotrex-PG5 was designed from the beginning as both an expedition vehicle and a premium living space. That meant designing everything from the chassis to the interior materials to meet automotive-grade durability standards while still delivering a luxury experience. Structurally, the platform is engineered for harsh environments: extreme temperatures, rough terrain, and long duty cycles. At the same time, the interior is built around comfort, acoustics, lighting, and spatial efficiency, so it feels more like a modern high-end apartment than a traditional RV. The balance came from integrating systems instead of layering them. Energy, climate, water, and structure were all designed as a single product architecture, not separate add-ons. That’s what allowed us to achieve both rugged performance and refined comfort without compromise.
With the Evotrex-PG5, Evotrex is making a calculated bet that the path forward for electrified recreation isn’t about eliminating fossil fuels overnight—it’s about building intelligent energy systems that make off-grid travel practical today. In a market where EV towing range remains a dealbreaker for many buyers, and where legacy RV manufacturers have been slow to innovate beyond cosmetic updates, the Evotrex-PG5’s integrated approach to power generation, storage, and distribution represents a genuine rethinking of what a travel trailer can be. Starting at $119,990 with preorders now open, Evotrex is targeting deliveries to select customers by the end of 2026. Whether the startup can scale production and navigate an increasingly complex trade environment remains to be seen, but the underlying technology and the team’s consumer electronics DNA suggest this is a company worth watching closely.
For more information, visit evotrex.com.
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