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Tiny, super-efficient living has always appealed to me, so I’m happy to run into several examples of sustainable tiny houses this week at CES 2025. There are EV RVs, trailers meant for camping and portable, turn-key, self-sustaining living pods. I would like one of each to create a small eco village somewhere, preferably within walking distance of a bakery, coffee shop and Thai food.
While none of these are cheap, some certainly fall below what I expect, compared to the market as a whole. And the set of features used represent some of the best sustainability capabilities available today – solar power, gray water recycling, atmospheric water generation and boss-level insulation. Plus they are all very beautiful.
The camping/recreational bent of these models is great — but the fact that most won’t require a permit helps solve a small corner of the housing crisis, especially with many cities loosening restrictions on additional units. residential units (ADUs). One of these could easily fit in a backyard or driveway as a studio apartment for a college student, elderly parent and happy single person. I have a plan to do. After CES. And a long sleep.
Haus.me microhaus Pro
I’ll get this out of the way: the Haus.me Microhaus Pro is my favorite of the bunch. It’s a portable, ready-to-use, 120 square-foot pod capable of setting up any flat surface – grass, concrete, sand, dirt, roof cinderblocks, you name it. If it’s flat, it fits. It can absorb water from the air (and I’m assured that includes areas with low humidity). It plugs into a standard extension cord, so the power can be from the grid, a solar setup or something else entirely and the integrated battery will run everything for four days without hooking up to power.
Inside, it is posh and beautiful with every space maximized. A queen-sized Murphy bed flips up to reveal a desk and two-seater chairs. It has a small refrigerator, microwave and sink in the kitchen, a full-sized shower in the bathroom, and a TV in the living room. The Pro model is fully appointed, complete with Siri Homepod voice control, fancy dishware, linens and includes the aforementioned battery. That model is aimed at Airbnbs and rentals and is just under $90,000. The Lite drops thirty grand in price because it has no battery, dish and other parts and is intended for personal use. All microhaus models are available to order now.
AC Future Ai-THd
The toniest unit I’ve ever seen is from AC Future. the AC Future Ai-THd a full-size EV RV on display at the Las Vegas convention center. This is one of three models that the company will produce. There is also the Ai-THt, a trailer version and the Ai-THu which, like the microhaus, is a portable unit. That last one is the cheapest of the three models and the one that interests me the most. All three are based on the same convertible design (TH stands for transformable house) that expands three ways from 120 square feet to a 400 square-foot one-bedroom apartment.
Each model is customized to order and the available technology is impressive. The solar panels generate 25 kWh of electricity per day and it also has atmospheric water generation to the tune of up to 15 gallons per day. There’s a full-size refrigerator, a washer/dryer, dishwasher, stand-up shower and, due in 2025, a whole-home AI assistant called Futura to handle things for you. . Pre-orders opened at CES and AC Future plans to start production as soon as the folly at CES is behind them.
RollAway
I had a peek inside RollAwaybut my partner Jessica Conditt should totally get around in the rental EV RV. It combines high-end hotel luxuries, from plush linens to Malin+Goetz toiletries. There is a convertible queen-sized bed, dual-burner stovetop, shower, panoramic roof and an accompanying projector. The RV itself has a range of more than 270 miles and a fast charging option. Sustainability tech includes rooftop solar panels, waterless toilets, and low-waste water systems. That should allow for some off-grid trips but the RollAway is also compatible with standard RV site hookups.
To complete the hotel-like vibes, a 24/7 concierge is available to help plan your trip, give you directions, make side-quest suggestions and keep your space on the road. RollAway just started booking flights and is almost fully booked for 2025. Reservations are going for around $400 a night and are currently only available around the San Francisco Bay Area, but many cities will come soon.
Rock Flow
My colleague Sam Rutherford saw the prototype Rock Flow EV trailer on CES last year (and his pictures are always better than mine). I reviewed the production model that the company brought to the show this year. The differences are small but significant. Basically, Pebble asks prospective customers to tour the prototype and tell them what they need to change. One directive was “more windows” so a skylight was added, along with a larger rear window. Closets are more accessible. And the overall shape is now more aerodynamic, which should make pulling the trailer easier
The ease of pulling is already one of Flow’s selling points. The 24-foot trailer can be outfitted (for an upgrade price) with a dual-motor drivetrain that helps propel itself to reduce drag on the towing vehicle. That upgrade also includes a remote control option that lets you park and hitch the trailer through the app. Again, there is a Murphy queen bed that turns into a workspace and the dining table folds down to accommodate two more sleepers. There is a full kitchen, a shower/bath stall with glass doors that change from opaque to clear with the push of 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 in the spring of this year.
Lightship AE.1 Cosmos
Fun fact: Lightship is the only non-exclusive California company on this list. California and The Colorado-based company makes the AE.1 Cosmos, another solar-powered all-electric trailer that also has a motor-assist feature. In addition to the motor, the Cosmos also collapses four feet when in “road mode” to reduce drag. Inside there is a full kitchen with dishwasher, refrigerator, microwave, convection oven and induction cooktop. Two sleeping areas that can accommodate up to four and both are converted into living areas (a dinette and a daybed / couch). All powered by a 1.8 kWh solar array and battery banks.
Lightship places the Cosmos in the lot outside the convention center. The space is decorated with a pebble gravel floor complete with scrubby desert plants and a starry night backdrop that blocks out the convention center itself. If I keep looking around, I can pretend I’m in the desert somewhere, with everything I need right there. It was a bit of a downer to leave it and go back to the chaos that is CES. But now the sad bit: only 50 will be made. Each will be manufactured at the company’s Broomfield, Colorado facility and retail for $250,000 each, with units shipping this summer.
