5 interesting things seen at SEMA
Day two of the Specialty Equipment Market Association show started out with chilly weather, helping to drive most of the crowd inside to see the latest automotive aftermarket products.
This year’s show at the Las Vegas Convention Center, which ends Friday, features over 1,800 exhibitors and about 2,000 vehicles. Attendees were able to browse thousands of products and the latest technology across all four halls of the Convention Center.
Here are the five interesting products the Review-Journal saw on the trade show floor.
Solar camping trailer
Electricity is often a luxury forgone on extended camping trips, but a solar-equipped trailer aims to change that.
Colorado company Campworks showcased a small camping trailer that can be attached to a car and comes with solar panels, generating over 1,800 watts of electricity for the trailer and around 11,000 watts of storage capacity. There is an option for buyers to add more solar panels.
The panels can help power lights, appliances and even an electric vehicle, according to Thomas Hoffmann, founder and CEO of Campworks.
The trailer, made primarily from recycled plastic, is equipped with an awning and a bar for cooking so people don’t feel like they have to “up-fit” the trailer, Hoffmann said.
“We wanted to build something that will last a long time and not hurt the planet,” he said.
The trailer is being marketed to everyone from weekend campers to nomads. And Hoffmann said seasonal wildfire fighters could get a lot of use out of it because the trailer has an air filtration system.
The trailer can be pre-ordered for $65,000 with the first orders expected to ship in spring 2023, according to Hoffmann.
Subtractive manufacturing
SEMA attendees could see car parts being shaped in real-time at the booth shared by Haas Automation Inc. and Autodesk Inc. Haas’ machine, the TM-oP, can take a small to medium piece of metal and whittle it down to almost any kind of small part.
The machine uses a metal tip to shape the part while a constant stream of an oil-based coolant is sprayed on the tip to prevent overheating, according to Alfredo Fierros, manufacturing engineer at Haas.
The machines are often sold directly to auto body shops or other businesses that deal with small parts. It retails for just under $37,000, according to Haas’ website.
Electric vehicle education program
One company at SEMA’s 21,000-square-foot space dedicated to EVs isn’t trying to sell a vehicle but rather education about EVs.
Switch Vehicles Inc. sells educational programs to high schools, trade schools and correctional facilities that teach students the mechanics behind an EV and how to build one, according to Tony Russell, production manager at Switch. It sells a “build-it-yourself” kit that comes with instructions and materials to build a road-worthy three-wheel motorcycle.
The base package for the kit is $35,000, but some packages can cost up to $65,000.
Russell said the company’s focus on education is a pivot from its initial aim on converting gas-powered cars to electricity. But the demand was so high for EV conversion they decided to shift focus and help build the next generation of mechanics to handle the widespread rollout of EVs.
“There will be a whole lot of (EVs) in the future without anyone knowing how to work on them,” Russell said. “We hope to change that.”
Education on EVs will be vital in Switch’s home state of California, Russell said, because of the recent passage of the state’s new Clean Cars regulation, which will ban the sale of new gas-powered cars by 2035.
Mobile car painting
If you’ve ever wanted to touch up some chipped paint or give your car a total makeover in the driveway, Mobile Environmental Solutions has you covered with its inflatable paint booth, which comes in different sizes.
Companies also have the option to add their own signage on a booth.
The company said its booths are OSHA- and EPA-compliant, and they have exhaust features that are 98 percent efficient.
“These inflatable booths have a wide customer base and are used by any industry that uses paint from construction sites to cabinet makers,” Tom Williams, president of Mobile Environmental Solutions, said.
The Houston-based company has expanded its products from only making booths for those painting truck bed liners at car dealerships to now, allowing other industries to use its products.
Standard inflatable booths for vehicles can cost $11,000 to $11,500, according to Williams.
Self-predicting vehicle repair
Innova Electronic Corp. showcased its CarScan Pro 5610 device, which can check a vehicle’s system and help in repairs or routine maintenance. The tool can resolve a check engine light without going to a service center.
The vehicle needs to be turned on for the device to operate. It needs different converters to work with different car brands.
The tool pairs with a mobile app that can provide feedback on any engine troubles. The company said it’s like having a technician in your phone, as the app also allows you to buy auto parts from stores.
It retails for about $330.
Contact Sean Hemmersmeier at shemmersmeier@reviewjournal.com. Follow @seanhemmers34 on Twitter.
