It's true hybrids get their best mileage in stop & go environments but the tremendous advantage of them when it comes to an RV is the huge electrical reserve provided by a bank of batteries. Battery technology is evolving very rapidly.

A lot of interesting technology is evolving, in fact. Go to one of the fancy motorhome shows like the one (FMCA) just starting in Pomona as I write this (3/19/06) and you won't see any of it, however.

I haven't been up there yet of course, but judging by what I read on the web and see at the local motorhome dealers, there won't be anything new except the stripes.

Reading RV blogs recently, I'm reminded over and over again just what a disgusting chore it is (whether in a small truck camper or a million dollar luxury coach) to deal with the tank of sewage that conventional motorhome designs call for. People complain about this aspect of RVing, including the fumes which erupt from the toilet as the RV bumps along and the sewage swishes around in the tank (yuk!), yet I never see any comments in these blogs or on other RV sites about alternative ways of dealing with this problem.

I haven't seen it discussed, but I imagine a lot of RV people only use their toilets very reluctantly - holding out instead for the next truck stop or RV park.

The incinolet has been around for a while . . . why do people accept so unquestioningly such a bad choice as a black water tank? Does this propensity of Americans to blindly accept dumb choices have anything to do with Bush still being in the White House? (I realize that is a whole nuther issue, but the word sewage . . . or maybe it was the word dumb . . . prompted me to ask that - sorry.)

The incinolet toilet I saw advertised in Mother Earth News (the RV model costs $1600 last I looked) completely eliminates the need to haul around a tank of sewage, or to unclog things when they get clogged, or to deal with sewage-encrusted drain hoses, etc.

I know I must sound like a dealer for the electric toilet company, but really . . . it's just plain a better idea! Gives you more room and weight capacity too, once you eliminate the tank & plumbing.

It takes 15 amps and 120 volts. The same as a typical RV microwave. If used a lot I'm sure it needs a robust electrical system (in one is not plugged in to "shore" power), but with a hybrid RV you'd have lots of extra electrical. Even a non-hybrid RV could easily fit one of these.

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That's a good reference from Jeff about recycling the gray water. I've seen such systems by Kohler which could be easily adapted for motorhome use.

And that showerhead sounds great . . .

Mike