Northern Lite unveils a huge lithium power system including 600Ah of lithium, 660-watts of bifacial solar panels, 40A MPPT, 3000W inverter/charger, DC-to-DC charger, and a Truma Combi Eco Plus. And there’s big news on the 2026 line-up.
Last August we polled our readers on their interest in fuel generators (built-in and portable) versus advanced lithium systems (individual batteries and components and all-in-one systems).
The results were clear. First, the majority of truck camper enthusiasts want a lithium battery system. Second, the majority of truck camper enthusiasts are looking for the cost of lithium battery systems to come down. Third, the majority of truck camper enthusiasts would like to see such a system on factory option menus. And lastly, fuel generators aren’t dead (yet) and should also remain on the option list.
With the introduction of their new-for-2026 600Ah Lithium Power System Package, Northern Lite appears to have not only read the poll results, but taken the feedback to the next level. Not only does the new option package include two 300Ah lithium batteries, but they added a 3000-watt inverter/charger, 660-watts of solar, a DC-to-DC charger, a 40-amp MPPT controller, and a Truma Combi Eco Plus furnace and hot water system.
And before you ask, “Yeah, but what does it cost?” we can confirm that the option is priced very competitively. We’ll let Keith Donkin, President of Northern Lite, have the honors, but we were positively surprised when he stated the price. An advanced lithium system like the one Northern Lite has designed will not be cheap any time soon, but the Kelowna team has managed to keep it out of the stratosphere. Thank you, bulk purchasing and factory production.
Keith also announced a major change to the Northern Lite line-up with a discontinuation of the Special Edition line and an extensive a la carte option approach for the 2026 Sportsman Plus series. This is a big news day for Northern Lite fans!
For more information about Northern Lite’s new 600Ah Lithium Power System Package and other 2026 changes, we talked to Keith Donkin, President of Northern Lite.
Before we talk about the new lithium package, tell us how the Northern Lite 610 has performed since its debut last June.
Really well. It has definitely exceeded our expectations for sales. And we’ve received positive feedback from the consumers who have purchased it. The 610 probably won’t ever eclipse our larger models in sales, but it’s already done better than we anticipated.
Above: For a deep dive on the Northern Lite 610, check out our Northern Lite 610 announcement
The 610 was in short supply when it first hit the market. Are units now available at Northern Lite dealers coast-to-coast?
Yes. Most of our dealers have at least one 610 model stock now. In the beginning, retail customers were picking up as many 610 campers as we could build, so there weren’t many on dealer lots for people to see. Since then, we have increased 610 production and every dealer has them stocked in inventory. The initial 610 demand was strong and has continued to be strong.
Have you made any tweaks or changes to the 610 since its debut?
Nothing of note. We did a lot of prototyping during the design and development of the 610. Brad Trites, our marketing manager, had the very first one and it’s been on his truck ever since. He has really put the 610 through its paces. With his feedback, and other internal testing, the 610 was dialed in before we shipped the first production units.
Might there be a long bed version of the 610 on the horizon—maybe an 810?
I doubt it, but I never say never. The 610 works on any size bed; long and short box. For anyone who wants to be able to shut the tailgate on a long bed truck, it works. The 610 fits on every size truck.
Above: The 600Ah Lithium Power System package installed under a Northern Lite dinette
One size fits all—makes sense. The big news is the new 2026 optional 600Ah Lithium Power System package. Why did you decide to create and offer this new package?
We’ve had customers looking for an advanced factory-installed lithium package for a few years. A lot of the effort went into selecting where to install it. Northern Lite team members Matt and Sam built a box the size we needed and worked tirelessly on where it could fit.
We wanted it to fit into essentially the same location in all of our units, and be easy to access. I also wanted it to be forward in the camper for the center of gravity. We had extra space in the rear closet area, but we didn’t want the weight that far back. We eventually came up with an installation location and a package we’re very happy with.
The location is where we install the water heater in our existing models. Part of the package includes the upgrade to the Truma Combi Plus furnace hot water heater. We had to move the water heater and combine it in the space where the furnace was located. The Truma Combi Plus is standard with the 600Ah lithium package.
That’s a fantastic installation location. The 600Ah Lithium Power System package includes two 300Ah lithium batteries, a 3000-watt inverter/charger, 660 watts of solar, a DC-to-DC charger, a 40-amp MPPT controller, and a Truma Combi Eco Plus furnace and hot water system. Why did you decide to offer everything in the package together instead of breaking them out into individual options?
We decided to offer the 600Ah Lithium Power System as a package because everything works together perfectly as a system. The two Go Power 300-watt batteries, 3000-watt inverter charger, DC-to-DC charger, bifacial solar panels, and 40 amp MPPT controller are individual components that are designed to work in concert.
That stated, we are announcing two new options for 2026. Starting on June 1st, the Truma Combi Eco Plus was a standalone option. We will also be offering a two 100Ah Go Power smart battery option as a new standalone option.
Above: The front and back of a Lumera Solar 220W BiFacial 12-volt solar panel
Wait—did you say bifacial solar panels?
Yes. The package includes three Lumera Solar 220-watt bifacial solar panels that absorb energy on both sides of the panel. Our white reflective fiberglass shells are particularly well suited to bifacial solar panels. In our testing, we got 20 percent more power even on cloudy days.
The bifacial panels are only available with the 600Ah Lithium Power System package. If you don’t opt for the 600Ah Lithium Power System package, 600-watts of solar comes standard on everything but the 610.
Are the bifacial panels the same size as the other solar panels you’re using?
Yes. They’re the same size, with the same mounting locations, and the same wiring.
How did you go about designing the new Lithium Power System?
Our design team worked directly with Go Power. Go Power is now owned by Dometic, but is based out of Victoria, British Columbia. They have been pioneers of solar in North America. Their team lead has been to our factory, and we’ve been sending parts back and forth during the design and development process.
Above: 600Ah Lithium Power System package components starting top left and going clockwise: Positive Bus, Negative Bus, Transfer Switch (10-2 STD, Gen Option), AC/DC Distribution Panel, 40A DC/DC Charger, 40A MPPT Charge Controller, and (center left) Breakers for Solar, DC Charger, Jacks, Distribution Panel, and 7 Way Charging
The 600Ah Lithium Power System package consists of all new products for GoPower (owned by Dometic). We were fortunate to get the first batch of these new products last fall for in-house testing and prototyping. I was testing the 300Ah batteries in my personal Northern Lite last year, and I was very impressed. The other GoPower components are also in my unit, including the new 3,000-watt inverter-charger and 40 amp MPPT solar controller.
Is the new Lithium Power System available for all Northern Lite models: 610 to 10-2EX, Sportsman to Limited Edition?
It’s available in all of our models except the 610 and the 8-11EX dry bath. Unfortunately, it won’t fit in those units.
Above: The 3,000-watt Go Power inverter
What is the capability of this system?
With the 3000-watt inverter, you can run every 110 appliance in the camper, including the air conditioner and the microwave. Most people are optioning in the 12-volt compressor refrigerator option with the 600Ah Lithium Power System package so they can dry camp indefinitely.
At least until the holding tanks run out. Why not make the 12-volt compressor refrigerator part of the 600Ah Lithium Power System package?
We kept the three-way propane refrigerator/freezer as standard to give customers the choice. Some people prefer the propane option.
Have you tested the air conditioner with the new 600Ah Lithium Power System package?
Yes, but it hasn’t been hot enough to give it a proper test. We can run the air conditioner all day inside our heated factory, but it’s not cycling like it would when it’s 100 degrees out (38 degrees Celsius). When it gets hotter this summer, we’ll test it more. Any lithium battery and air conditioner setup is limited to how hot it is outside.
Are you considering offering more efficient air conditioners in the future?
Yes. We’re waiting for full specs to come out with a supplier we’re working with. Right now, we offer a high-efficiency 11,000 BTU air conditioner.
Above: One of two GoPower 300Ah smart batteries being installed at Northern Lite
What make, model, and size of battery are you using for the 600Ah Lithium Power System?
We are using a GoPower 300Ah smart battery (model GP-ADV-LIFEPO4-300). It has built-in Bluetooth, a smart DC heater, an IP67 rating, UL Certification, an internal BMS battery management system, and a 10 year warranty.
Are you looking at the 600Ah Lithium Power System package as a built-in generator replacement, or a built-in generator complement?
For most people, it will be a replacement; we’ve had orders for units with both. A camper would be truly set for power in any situation with both options.
Above: Installing a Truma Combi Eco Plus at the Northern Lite factory
What are the benefits of the Truma Combi Eco Plus over the standard and proven furnace and water heater?
With the Truma system, we were able to put additional heat ducts into the cabover space. We can’t offer that with our standard Suburban. The Truma system is also much quieter. And there’s slightly less power draw with the Truma Combi Eco Plus.
Above: Go Power 3000-watt inverter installed on the left, Truma Combi Eco Plus installed on the right
On the flip side, you get a 2.6 gallon tank in the Truma versus six gallons with the standard Suburban. The Truma Combi Eco Plus is an on-demand water heater, but it takes about 15 minutes to heat. The only real negative for Truma is that they cost more than a conventional system.
Can you retrofit the 600Ah Lithium Power System package into an existing Northern Lite?
No. The water heater and furnace location have to be moved. It would be a significant change with a substantial amount of man-hours in addition to the new units. It’s technically possible, but you would likely be better off trading in your unit for a new model.
Left to right above: The tank monitor and water pump switch, Truma CP Plus control panel, and battery system monitor
How much weight does this 600Ah Lithium Power System package add to a Northern Lite?
It adds 85 pounds. You lose weight with what we would otherwise install standard, and then gain weight back with the larger batteries, additional components, and the Truma system.
What is the cost of the 600Ah Lithium Power System package?
It is $8,500 US.
Has your new warehouse building helped you stock up more inventory and potentially avoid any shortages?
It has. When we’ve seen any potential increases, we have bought extra from the suppliers that had inventory. We now have two additional warehouses that are full. The second warehouse is also on the same street as our factory and our forklift operators can legally drive from one warehouse to the other. Having the two warehouses so close has been a great asset.
Above and below: We visited Northern Lite’s first warehouse in 2023
What does having the two warehouses mean to the end consumer?
For our customers, it means we don’t have a large potential for additional price increases. We’ve had a relatively small price increase for 2026. We are optimistic we won’t need any other price increases.
In early April, we published an article on the tariff situation that explained how the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA in the US, CUSMA in Canada) allowed truck campers manufactured in Canada to be imported into the United States without tariffs—provided that they meet USMCA requirements. To date, has that agreement worked as intended for Northern Lite?
Yes, it has—fortunately. The existing trade agreement is working.
On a lighter note, is there any other news to share from Northern Lite?
For 2026, we have discontinued the Special Edition models. When we came out with Limited Editions, Special Edition sales declined dramatically. With the Special Editions discontinued, we are going to offer the Sportsman Plus models with more options, including the Limited Edition interiors. Essentially, we’re offering the Limited Edition with the works, and the Sportsman Plus models with a deep à la carte option list.
For example, the 2026 Sportsman Plus will get the option for a power side awning. You can also upgrade to leather upholstery in the Sportsman Plus models. We are giving customers more of a choice with this approach. The Sportsman Plus even has the full Limited Edition features as à la carte options. A couple of key features like the solid hardwood tables, will remain Limited Edition only, but the core components can be upgraded on the Sportsman Plus.
Our camper sales are now 95 percent Limited Editions, and 5 percent Sportsmans. For our 2026 models, we want to give Sportsman Plus customers the ability to add even more nice features.
For more information about Northern Lite, visit their website at northern-lite.com. Click here for a free Northern Lite brochure.
