2026-10-26

Dream: Homes That Move

Summary: Research for the Dream page: Tesla Semi power, a model motorhome box, costs, and the law.

Dream: Homes that move

Research for a Happy Mobile Life dream piece. Prepared Oct 26, 2026. This is a dream, not an adopted proposal. Estimates are marked.

The idea

The home is a motorhome box: a trailer-style living unit, like a short "pup" semi trailer, that anything able to pull a trailer can pull. People haul their little life in it. The wow is the Tesla Semi pairing: the truck's big battery and high-power electronics plug into the home to run heat, light, cooking and charging, wherever it parks.

Tesla Semi facts

Battery: 548 kWh usable (Standard Range), 822 kWh (Long Range), per a California Air Resources Board filing. https://electrek.co/2026/05/08/tesla-semi-battery-size-822-kwh-548-kwh-carb-official/
Range about 325 and 500 miles at 82,000 lb; 1.7 kWh per mile; charging up to 1.2 MW, 60% of range in 30 minutes on a Megacharger. https://www.tesla.com/semi
ePTO (electric power take-off): up to 25 kW on both versions, per Tesla's spec sheet. This is the plug-in point for powering a home box. https://www.tesla.com/semi
Cab: a day cab with a center driver seat; no production sleeper. https://www.teslaoracle.com/2022/12/16/tesla-semis-spacious-cabin-is-built-around-the-driver-explains-tesla-engineer/
Price and availability: deliveries began in 2026 from a new Nevada plant; quoted near $260,000 (Standard) and $290,000 (Long Range). https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/articles/tesla-starts-semi-production-6-211500303.html

The pod (replaces "model home")

Spaceship, not house: an ultralight sleep and work pod, about 90 sq ft, with the Semi's electronics built in. No toilet and no built-in kitchen; people use public restrooms at Hubs, parks and public buildings. No black or gray tanks. - Urine station: a small sealed diverting jug, urine only, emptied at a restroom or dump station. Wisconsin requires RV waste to go to a sanitary sewer or dump station (ATCP 79.15, per DNR) https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/Stormwater/MS4/SepticSystems%26PortableToilets.pdf and sewage may not discharge onto the ground at camps (ATCP 78.19). I found no Wisconsin rule specific to urine-only jugs; treat it as RV waste. - Contents: one bunk with room for two, small cold-climate heat pump, LED lights, USB-C charging, Wi-Fi hotspot; modular rails and power ports on every wall. - Platform idea: "We provide the platform. You provide the dream." Like parade floats: whatever pulls it is the mule; you build the float. A standard pod chassis with one standard plug-in interface (high-voltage Semi power, data, utilities) that works with any puller. For instance: work pod (desk, screen, connection); experience pod (clear canopy roof, lie-back seats); storm-chaser pod (radar screens, roof cameras and sensors); camp pod (sleep for two, plug-in induction plate, bike and boat racks). - Semi electrical system: 548 or 822 kWh usable (CARB via Electrek, above); 1,000-volt system, the first production vehicle at that voltage https://eepower.com/news/tesla-semi-rollout-includes-details-on-ultra-fast-dc-charging/ ; 1.2 MW Megacharging and 25 kW ePTO https://www.tesla.com/semi ; three Plaid-style carbon-sleeved motors, up to 800 kW https://insideevs.com/news/624742/tesla-semi-beast-tri-motor-system/ ; onboard self-driving computer and HW4 cameras (not active for self-driving) https://www.torquenews.com/14335/tesla-semi-has-fsd-and-hardware-4 - Daily load, OUR ESTIMATE (unverified): heat pump 10 to 25 kWh in a cold snap, cooking about 1, lights/charging/comms about 1; total 12 to 27 kWh a day. Days per charge: about 20 to 45 (548 kWh) or 30 to 68 (822 kWh), less the reserve needed to drive to a charger. - Build cost, derived: $150 to $450 per sq ft for homes on wheels (House Beautiful, above) x 90 sq ft = about $13,500 to $40,500. No commercial pod exists; unverified.

Cost compared with rent

Sheboygan median gross rent is about $924 a month, about $11,088 a year (ACS 2020-2024, as on the HML Paying page).
A pod at about $13,500 to $40,500 over 10 years is about $115 to $340 a month before parking, power, insurance and upkeep (simple math, no interest). One shared Semi (about $260,000) serves many homes.

Electric motorhomes today

Entegra Embark electric Class A: not in retail production; fleet use in 2026, retail expected 2027, about $400,000 estimated. https://www.entegracoach.com/embark/ and https://rv-pro.com/features/jayco-charges-ahead-with-new-class-a-strategy/
Coachmen shelved its electric Class B for 2026. https://www.rvnews.com/exclusive-coachmen-shelves-rvex-concept-for-2026/
So a trailer-style box plus a Semi is the simpler path today.

What the law says now

CDL: Wisconsin requires a Class A for a combination of 26,001 lb or more towing a unit over 10,000 lb. https://wisconsindot.gov/pages/dmv/com-drv-vehs/rqts-for-cdl/cdl-requirements.aspx
RV waiver: Wis. Stat. 343.055(1)(d) waives the CDL for a person driving a motor home, or towing a 5th-wheel or single-unit recreational vehicle, that they own or lease, carrying only family, guests or personal property, not for hire. https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/343/ii/055 A program moving homes for others needs a Class A driver; one driver and one Semi can move several homes, so residents need no CDL.
Registration: a vehicle converted to a motor home registers by gross weight, $48.50 to $119.50 a year; an RV trailer is $15 a year. https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/vehicles/title-plates/fee-chart.aspx
City of Sheboygan: no trailer or camper on a street 11 PM to 5 AM unless hitched to a registered, operable vehicle (Sec. 52-119); no vehicle on a street over 24 hours (Sec. 52-109); winter alternate-side rules Dec 1 to Mar 31. https://sheboyganpolice.com/community/parking-information/ and https://www.sheboyganwi.gov/DocumentCenter/View/508/SPD66-Prohibited-Overnight-Parking-Pamphlet-PDF
Town of Sheboygan: no camping in any vehicle on town roads, parks or lots without Town Board approval (Sec. 310-22). https://ecode360.com/40063867
State parks: 14 days in any 3 weeks, then 7 days away (NR 45.10). https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/nr/001/45/10
Sheboygan Broughton Marsh county campground: two-week maximum. https://www.sheboygancounty.com/departments/departments-f-q/planning-and-conservation/facilities/parks/sheboygan-marsh-park-campground
Camping on highways and their right-of-way is illegal (Wis. Stat. 86.025, per WisDOT). https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/about-wisdot/newsroom/news-rel/101424-parknride.aspx
So "park a week or two" works today at campgrounds within those limits; a city home base needs an approved off-street lot.

Models that work

Green Bay: Safe Place Parking, a staffed overnight lot for up to 46 vehicles with power banks, Wi-Fi and housing referrals; the only listed Wisconsin program. https://www.wisewomengp.org/programs-groups/safe-place-parking/ and https://wisconsinwatch.org/2026/09/wisconsin-green-bay-hidden-homeless-living-in-vehicles-housing-safe-parking/
San Diego: Dreams for Change started the first safe parking program in 2009. https://www.dreamsforchange.org/program/safe-parking/ A city lot hosts city-owned camper trailers. https://www.sandiego.gov/homelessness-strategies-and-solutions/services/safe-parking-program
Los Angeles: Safe Parking LA, several staffed sites. https://safeparkingla.org/program/
Seattle and King County: safe lots, and a vehicle resident assistance program passed Oct 2026. https://kcrha.org/find-services/vehicle-residency/ and https://council.seattle.gov/2026/10/20/seattle-city-council-approves-councilmember-strauss-vehicle-resident-assistance-program-legislation/
Madison: a temporary urban campground with climate-controlled units. https://www.cityofmadison.com/mayor/blog/2021-11-24/update-on-city-progress-addressing-unsheltered-homelessness
Milwaukee: no safe-parking program found; WisDOT closed park-and-ride lots in 2024 after helping rehouse more than 80 people (WisDOT link above).

How we'd start

One Semi, a few pods, one approved off-street winter lot near a Happy Mobile Life Hub, with restrooms, water and a charger. One licensed driver moves homes to campgrounds in summer for a week or two, within park limits. The free bus links the lot to work, clinics and town.

Update 2026-10-26 (2:30 PM CT): self-contained pod, history, timeline, funders

This overrides the earlier no-bathroom and urine-jug spec.

Bathroom and water

Incinerating toilet: Incinolet TR1800 is rated 0.5 to 1.0 kWh per use, 1,800 W heater, 70 min cycle, 42 kg (93 lb) https://www.vvsbutiken.nu/dokument/Incinolet-broschyr.pdf . A lab test found 1.41 kWh (Cinderella Comfort) and 1.42 kWh (Incinolet) for a single cold-start use https://www.testfakta.com/sites/default/files/test-pdf/Grafik_Forbranningstoalett_UK180225.pdf . Cinderella says about 1 kWh per use on average https://sustainabletoilets.com/pages/compare-products
Separating dry toilet: a small fan, well under 0.1 kWh a day; the urine must still go to a sewer or dump station.
Water: 20 gal fresh tank = about 167 lb full (8.34 lb/gal). A recirculating mini shower at 1 to 2 gal per shower. 20 gal greywater tank. About 5 to 7 days per fill.
Wisconsin rules: RV sewage and domestic wastewater (greywater) go to a sanitary dump station or per NR 113 (ATCP 79.15(3)) https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/atcp/055/79/15/2 . Composting toilets must meet NSF 41 and be listed, be vented, and any liquid goes to a sewer or POWTS (SPS 391.10) https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/code/admin_code/sps/safety_and_buildings_and_environment/388/391 . I found no Wisconsin rule specific to incinerating toilets in RVs; use a UL/CSA listed unit.

Power budget (estimate, cold snap, one person)

Heat pump 10 to 25; toilet 2 uses 1 to 3; shower 0.5 to 1; freeze protection and fans 0.5 to 1; lights, cooking, charging 2. Total 14 to 32 kWh/day. 548 kWh: 17 to 39 days. 822 kWh: 26 to 59 days. Water, not power, is the limit.

Everything a semi ever carried (no images used; none verified as licensed)

Autonomy status

Aurora: about 20 driverless trucks on I-45 Dallas-Houston and I-20 Fort Worth-El Paso, aiming for 200 by end of 2026 https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/22/aurora-autonomous-semi-ride.html . Rain, fog and wind validated; light snow expected by end of 2026; black ice and severe storms are outside its operating domain https://www.marketbeat.com/instant-alerts/aurora-innovation-targets-200-driverless-trucks-in-2026-as-customer-demand-builds-2026-08-20/?.tsrc=rss
Kodiak: 35 driverless trucks in the Permian Basin; Dallas-Houston driver-out targeted for end of 2026 https://kodiak.ai/news/kodiak-names-dallas-houston-driverless-launch-lane . Snow and ice shut its trucks down https://www.ccjdigital.com/equipment-controls/autonomous/article/15545864/av-developers-integrate-weather-for-safety-rerouting
Tesla: Semi production began Q3 2026, Nevada capacity 25,000/yr, no build count, no driverless Semi service https://www.forwardernews.com/news/2026-10-21-kodiak-uptime-and-tesla-semi
Wisconsin: testing is legal only with a person behind the wheel https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/projects/multimodal/cav/faq.aspx ; EO 245 (2017) only created a steering committee; AB 848 (AV permits) failed to pass 3/23/2026 https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/2025/proposals/ab848
Charging: FHWA certified Wisconsin's NEVI corridors fully built out 2/11/2026; I-43 Round 1 site in Sheboygan (3912 Motel Rd) https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/projects/multimodal/wevi-round1-rfp-awarded-locations.pdf . Those are car fast chargers, not 1.2 MW truck Megachargers.

Timeline (as on page)

Now to 2027: human-driven prototype pod plus winter safe-parking lot. 2028 to 2030: small county fleet. 2030 to 2032: night driverless moves, only if Wisconsin law changes and snow autonomy matures. Pod cost curve is our estimate; no published pod pricing exists.

Funders

National, ranked by realistic fit: 1. Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge. Fit: city-led bold pilots, transit included. 2025-26: 24 cities got $1M each https://www.bloomberg.org/press/bloomberg-philanthropies-announces-2025-2026-mayors-challenge-winners/ . Approach: open competition for cities, next round to be announced; the city must lead. 2. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Fit: health, housing, transportation. Example: Community Connectors street-safety pilots with Smart Growth America https://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/services/community-connectors-2026/ ; Local Data for Equitable Communities, $50K grants https://anr.rwjf.org/templates/external/DHC4%20Feb2026%20Applicant%20Webinar%20Slides.pdf . Approach: open calls (2026 rounds closed). 3. Bezos Day 1 Families Fund. Fit: family homelessness. Example: $5M to United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, 2025 https://www.bezosdayonefund.org/day1familiesfund . Approach: invite-only, by nomination. 4. Kresge Foundation, American Cities. Fit: mobility and housing. Approach: invitation or inquiry https://grantedai.com/grants/american-cities-focus-area-grants-the-kresge-foundation-9de5aba3 5. Ballmer Group. Fit: housing and homelessness innovation (2025 grantees include Terner Housing Innovation Labs and Enterprise Community Partners) https://ballmergroup.org/our-grants/?_impact_area=housing . Approach: no unsolicited applications. Others checked: - Musk Foundation: low fit. 2025 grants were mostly to schools, plus Austin Habitat for Humanity $5M and XPRIZE carbon removal https://www.kindora.co/en/funders/musk-foundation . No open process. - Rivian Foundation: low fit (conservation and clean energy; GRID Alternatives $300K) https://rivianfoundation.org/grantees - Knight Foundation: low fit. Knight Cities Challenge 2026, up to $200K, but only in 26 Knight communities (Sheboygan is not one) and for news, opportunity and arts https://knightfoundation.org/articles/news/knight-cities-challenge-2026-launch-press-release/ - XPRIZE-style prizes: a possible model; Musk Foundation funds XPRIZE (above). - Greater Milwaukee Foundation: housing grants, but only for Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties https://www.greatermilwaukeefoundation.org/grantseekers/2026-grant-guidelines-cycle-1/ . Not eligible for Sheboygan. - Not verified this pass (no example grant pulled): Gates (likely low fit; global health), Arnold Ventures, Rockefeller, MacArthur, Ford Foundation, Lumina (education), Schmidt Futures, W.K. Kellogg (Michigan and Midwest focus), Bradley Foundation, Ford Philanthropy. Federal and state status, 2026: - SMART grants: closed; Congress reallocated the leftover funds, no new notices https://www.transportation.gov/grants/SMART - NSF Civic Innovation Challenge: 3.0 complete, funding opportunity archived https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/civic-civic-innovation-challenge/505728/nsf24-534 - FTA ICAM Pilot (transit plus medical rides, a recovery-rides fit): FY26 round closed 9/9/2026 https://www.transit.dot.gov/notices-funding/fy-2026-notice-funding-opportunity-innovative-coordinated-access-and-mobility-pilot - FHWA ATTAIN: FY25-26 round closed 7/27/2026. - Wisconsin opioid settlement funds: https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/opioids/settlement-funds.htm - DOE Vehicle Technologies https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/vehicle-technologies-office , HUD https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/comm_planning , WEDC: status not verified. Local, ranked separately (Kohler entities excluded): 1. United Way of Sheboygan County Innovation Grants: $10K to $40K for housing, shelter and transportation; 2026 cycle ran 3/16 to 4/30, $40K awarded https://www.uwofsc.org/our-impact/innovation-grants/ . Approach: open call, likely next spring. 2. Frank G. & Frieda K. Brotz Family Foundation (confirmed as the "Bratz" foundation; Sheboygan, EIN 39-6060552). FY2025: 88 grants, $2.5M, median $10K, top $300K, mostly capital projects in Sheboygan County. Housing-adjacent example: Dementia Innovations, Livasu Village, $100K https://grantable.co/funders/frank-g-and-frieda-k-brotz-family-foundation-inc-morg_81f1e249969e4987a21e05b103cd5f01 . I found no mobility or homelessness pilot grants. Approach: a written letter to the Grants Committee, 3518 Lakeshore Rd, Sheboygan, with the 501(c)(3) purpose, intended use and proof of status; no deadline https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/396060552 3. Sheboygan Service Foundation Tier 3: $500 to $2,500; open 9/1 to 10/31 each year https://grantable.co/grants/tier-3-funding-a851e1bf6f67 4. Lakeshore Community Foundation: donor funds open 2/1 to 3/15 https://lakeshorecommunityfoundation.org/apply-for-a-grant-2/ - "Sheboygan County Community Foundation": I could not confirm a separate grantmaker by that name. - Jake's Network of Hope: a Fox Valley diaper bank that receives grants (for example from the J. J. Keller Foundation), not a funder https://www.jjkellerfoundation.org/grant-spotlight/jakes-network-of-hope/