You have a lot of options when it comes to buying an RV. Aside from what you want from the RV and where you want to take it, you'll need to decide which RV is best for you and your companions. To the buyer's surprise, Airstream has a product that will change the industry by switching to battery electric power in the near future.
Thor Industries, the builder of the Airstream and other notable RVs, is a favorite among nature lovers and aesthetic nerds for its classic aluminum trailers. The eStream electric camper concept was recently revealed at the 2022 Florida RV SuperShow. This innovative trailer has an electric design with individual motors and large batteries beneath, for a new way to experience the RV.
A New Way To RV
The eStream trailer is in collaboration with Erwin Hymer Group's European business and the technology firm ZF. To solve the need for supplementary electricity, which limits the distance that vehicles can tow, is still a challenge for most campers and RVs.
With its shining silver paint, the eStream concept resembles a traditional Airstream trailer. What has changed, however, is on the inside, which will undoubtedly make you feel like Thor Industries has taken the next step in the RV experience.
The Airstream eStream framework combines a trailer and an electric car into a single package. The eStream is a self-propelled camper since it has an electric powertrain. This reduces the burden on the tow vehicle, improving range in electric automobiles or gas mileage in traditional combustion-powered trucks. Allowing for the conservation of fuel or electric range that would otherwise be eventually wasted because of towing.
What's more interesting is the ability to park the trailer using a smartphone app, which allows the owner to steer the eStream to a precise position after unhitching it from the automobile for easy maneuverability. This is going to be a favorite feature for RV owners, for sure.
The Powertrain And Other Features
The eStream concept features two electric motors, one at each wheel. That produces a total of 242 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque using two lithium-ion battery packs with a total capacity of 80 kWh.
The question arises: can the trailer drive itself, except for remote parking? The answer is No, the eStream cannot drive itself without gas or an electric tow vehicle. Because the goal is for the trailer to be able to carry its own payload only enough to lessen the burden on the tow vehicle, thus saving energy or gas.
Users can also personalize their living area by using voice control with the help of Amazon Alexa to alter the lighting, temperature, and other features to their preferences. Airstream also correctly measures the power levels of your battery packs down to the mile when asked. That isn't all, though. Solar panels on the roof of the trailer allow passengers to live out in a touch of nature. And explore the world without worrying about the gas or charge limit.
The eStream is now in the concept stage, and it is unclear if it will reach the assembly lines. Many hope that the eStream concept, which is extremely practical and meets the needs of RV consumers, will one day become a reality, albeit probably at a huge premium price.