I've always been drawn to small-scale, hyper-efficient living, so I was happy to see numerous examples of sustainable tiny homes this week at CES 2025. There were electric RVs, camper-ready trailers, and turnkey, self-service deliverables. -sustaining live pods. I want one of each to create a little eco-village somewhere, preferably within walking distance of a bakery, cafe and Thai food.
While none of these are cheap, some actually fall short of what you'd expect, compared to the market as a whole. And the feature set employed represents some of the best sustainability capabilities available right now: solar power, gray water recycling, atmospheric water generation, and boss-level insulation. Plus they are all very pretty.
The camping/recreational bias of these models is great, but the fact that most don't require a permit could help address a small part of the housing crisis, especially as more cities loosen restrictions on additional housing units (ADU). One of these could easily be set up in a backyard or driveway as a studio for a college student, elderly parent, and happily single person. I have some plans to make. After CES. And a long nap.
Haus.me microhaus Pro
I'll get this out of the way: the Haus.me Microhaus Pro was my favorite of the bunch. It's a 120-square-foot, ready-to-use, deliverable pod that's capable of being installed on any flat surface: grass, concrete, sand, dirt, on top of cinder blocks, you name it. If it's flat, it fits. It can suck water out of the air (and I was assured that includes places with low humidity). It plugs into a standard extension cord, so power can come from the grid, a solar installation, or something else entirely, and the built-in battery will run the whole thing for four days without being connected to electricity.
Inside, it is elegant and charming, with every space used to the fullest. A queen-size Murphy bed lifts up to reveal a table and two benches. It has a small refrigerator, microwave and sink in the kitchen, a large shower in the bathroom and a TV in the living room. The Pro model is fully equipped, with Siri Homepod voice control, stylish dishes, bedding, and includes the aforementioned battery. That model is aimed at Airbnbs and rentals and costs just under $90,000. The Lite cuts the price by thirty thousand dollars as it dispenses with the battery, dishes, and a few other features and is designed for personal use. All microhaus models are available to order now.
<h2 class="caas-jump-link-heading" id="ac-future-ai-thd”>AC Future ai-THd
The most stylish unit I saw was from AC Future. The AC Future ai-THd is a full-size electric recreational vehicle on display at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This is one of the three models that the company will manufacture. There is also the ai-THt, a trailer version, and the ai-THu which, like the microhaus, is a deliverable unit. This last one is the cheapest of the three models and the one that intrigued me the most. All three are based on the same transformable design (TH stands for transformable house) that expands three ways, from 120 square feet to a 400-square-foot one-bedroom apartment.
Each model will be customized to order and the technology available is impressive. The solar panels will generate 25 kWh of energy per day and also comes with atmospheric water generation of up to 15 gallons per day. There's a full-size refrigerator, a washer/dryer, a dishwasher, a stand-up shower, and, starting in 2025, a whole-home ai assistant called Futura to manage things on your behalf. Pre-orders opened at CES and AC Future plans to begin production as soon as the CES madness is behind us.
RollAway
I only got a glimpse inside the RollAway, but my colleague Jessica Conditt was able to take a full tour of the cost-effective EV recreational vehicle. It combines high-end hotel luxuries, from luxurious bedding to Malin+Goetz toiletries. There is a convertible queen-size bed, two-burner stove, shower, panoramic roof, and a projector included. The RV itself has a range of over 270 miles and a fast charging option. Sustainability technology includes rooftop solar panels, a waterless toilet and low-waste water systems. That should allow for some off-grid travel, but RollAway also supports standard hookups for RV sites.
To complete the hotel atmosphere, a concierge is available 24/7 to help you plan your trip, provide directions, suggest side quests, and keep your space stocked along the way. RollAway has just started booking trips and is almost fully booked for 2025. Reservations cost around $400 per night and are only available in the San Francisco Bay Area for now, but more cities are coming soon.
pebble flow
My colleague Sam Rutherford saw the prototype of the Pebble Flow EV at last year's CES (and his photos are always much better than mine). I reviewed the production model the company brought to the show this year. The differences are slight but significant. Basically, Pebble asked potential customers to visit the prototype and tell them what they needed to change. One directive was “more windows”, so a skylight was added, along with a larger window at the rear. Now it's easier to access cabinets. And the overall shape is now more aerodynamic, which should make pulling the trailer even easier.
Being easy to handle was already one of the Flow's selling points. The 24-foot trailer can be equipped (for a price upgrade) with a dual-motor transmission that helps propel the trailer to reduce drag on the tow vehicle. That update also includes a remote control option that lets you park and hitch the trailer through the app. Again, there is a Murphy bed that converts to a work space and the dining table folds down to seat two more people. There is a full kitchen, shower/tub 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 panel. It starts at $109,500 and goes up to $135,500 with the engine upgrade. The first deliveries should be available in the spring of this year.
AE.1 Cosmos lightship
Fun fact: Lightship is the only non-California-only company on this list. California and The Colorado-based company makes the AE.1 Cosmos, another solar-powered all-electric trailer that also features a motor assist feature. In addition to the engine, the Cosmos also collapses four feet when in “road mode” to reduce drag. Inside there is a full kitchen with a dishwasher, refrigerator, microwave, convection oven and induction cooktop. Two sleeping areas sleep four people and both convert to living rooms (a small dining room and a daybed/sofa). Everything is powered by a 1.8 kWh solar panel and battery banks.
Lightship set up the Cosmos in the parking lot just outside the convention center. The space was adorned with a pebbled gravel floor, desert plants, and a starry night backdrop that blocked out the convention center. If I squinted, I could pretend I was somewhere in the desert, with everything I needed there. It was a little depressing to leave it and return to the chaos that is CES. But now comes the sad part: Only 50 will be produced. Each will be manufactured at the company's facility in Broomfield, Colorado and will sell for $250,000 each, with units shipping this summer.
