MDC goes 48-volt: new XT MK4 range debuts with 840 Ah-equivalent lithium and 4,000 W inverter

MDC has unveiled the XT MK4 range — eight models from 14 to 19 feet that move the brand’s off-road caravans from conventional 12-volt electrics to a fully integrated 48-volt platform. The range debuted at the Let’s Go Queensland Caravan & Camping Supershow in early June, with two display models shown: the XT15 POP MK4 and XT16 ISLAND MK4.

The 48V system

The MK4 electrical platform is built around the Projecta Intelli-Grid 48V Power Management System — a package MDC values at over $27,000:

• 48V 210 Ah lithium battery bank — equivalent to roughly 840 Ah at 12V
• 4,000 W Projecta inverter/charger
• 10-inch colour touchscreen with smart monitoring
• Solar: 965 W on the XT15 POP, 875 W on the XT16 ISLAND, with some MK4 models expected to exceed 1,500 W
• Combined charge inputs delivering up to 30 A at 48V

For context: the XT16HR Island MKIII currently in our catalogue ships with 600 Ah (12V) and 700 W of solar — itself top-tier for the segment. The MK4 platform roughly doubles usable energy storage and adds enough inverter capacity to run domestic appliances, including air conditioning off-battery for meaningful stretches — the historic dividing line between “off-grid capable” and genuinely grid-free touring.

Why 48 volts matters

Higher system voltage means lower current for the same power — thinner cabling, less voltage drop, less heat, and more efficient inverter operation at high loads. It’s the same engineering logic driving the automotive industry’s 48V transition. Marine and high-end motorhome builders adopted it years ago; MDC bringing it to sub-$100k-class off-road caravans is the notable move.

“48V completely changes the conversation,” MDC’s James Field said at the launch — the company frames the MK4 as “building a caravan around how people actually want to travel.” Vaughan Hindley pitched the range as “strong value, serious capability” with high standard inclusions.

What we don’t know yet

Pricing. MDC hasn’t announced MK4 pricing — a significant unknown given the $27,000 attributed value of the electrical package alone. The MKIII range positioned aggressively (XT16HR at $79,990, XT19HRT at $99,990); whether MK4 holds near those points or steps up materially will determine how disruptive this launch actually is.

Availability timing beyond the June reveal also hasn’t been confirmed. We’ll update our MDC catalogue entries as MK4 variants reach dealers with confirmed specs and pricing.

The context

The launch lands amid the sharpest consolidation the Australian caravan industry has seen — six manufacturer exits in 12 months and imports near production parity. MDC’s bet is differentiation through hardware nobody else offers at the price point. A 48V platform with 1,500 W of solar is exactly the kind of spec-sheet gap that’s hard for either struggling local rivals or value-focused importers to close quickly.