The world’s largest RV manufacturer, Thor, took the opportunity of the Tampa RV show to introduce two concepts that point to serious innovations in the RV industry. Showing off both a new electric Class B RV based on the Ford Transit platform and a new eStream all-electric Airstream travel trailer. 

What both of these had in common is a total re-imagining of climate control systems, user interface and that they were aerodynamically tested and honed. Neither of them has big protruding air conditioners and they have smooth underbellies. 

They both also have significant battery systems aboard and solar up above, owing to the fact that the roofs don’t have multiple holes and protrusions. 

The idea is to develop concepts to show what is possible using EV, or electric vehicle, technology available today and promise some future ideas much as the concept cars of the 1950s and ‘60s did in the world of the automobile. 

Thor Electric Motorhome

While the skeleton of Thor’s prototype B van comes from the Ford Transit it is also very far removed from that vehicle. 

Propulsion for the vehicle comes from an electric drive train but Thor claims a 300 mile total range and mentions fuel cells. In the past they had been working with a company called WATT Imperium who makes fuel cell for RVs and this sounds like exactly what they’re up to. These fuel cells have utilized propane which is already in abundance anywhere you find campers gathered. 

But there were some interesting details in the van including the fact that it’s really an integrated package. For example, you can use a voice assistant to put the van in “shower mode” which turns on the water heater and dims the shower window while also turning on the water pump. 

Not much is left from the Ford bones - the driver interface between human and vehicle is more like what you’d expect in a modern electric vehicle with a large display at the center of the instrument panel and a smaller one directly in front of the driver. 

Interestingly they have cameras in place of the rear-view mirrors and then small screens on either side of the instrument panel to display what those cameras see. Further the rear-view mirror at the center where you would expect a rear-view mirror is also a display for the rear-facing camera at the back of the rig. 

Speaking of displays Thor showed off how they were able to use the built-in TV to also serve the camper with that display showing off things like fuel and tank levels and the status of various systems. 

In a video with Jason Epperson Thor’s chief technology officer said that the idea of using the TV meant that the camper didn’t have to go into a cabinet or other enclosure just to turn on a light or activate the water heater. 

The idea of this platform isn’t to necessarily demonstrate a new rig but rather demonstrate the technologies that Thor is working on. From there they can offer these technologies to the various divisions which actually build out the RVs themselves. 

For example, Thor could make this available to subsidiary companies like Jayco, Airstream and Tiffin and, from there, those divisions could choose various ways to package the systems to their specs. 

While the propulsion system is certainly interesting and newsworthy, so too are the materials used inside. For example, flooring is cork, the walls are a recycled paper material and other more environmentally-friendly components were chosen. 

Airstream eStream

Not to be outdone by a traditional motorhome format, Airstream also showed off a new vehicle in the eStream. The eStream is an Airstream trailer, of sorts, but with its own large battery pack and significant solar charging system. None of this is that unusual but what is are the electric drive motors. 

Using the large battery system plus the electric drive motors the eStream can actually overcome the losses incurred in pulling a trailer. While normally your fuel mileage, or electric vehicle range, drops markedly when pulling a trailer the eStream uses its built-in battery and electric motors to overcome those losses. 

Essentially the trailer is carrying its own weight. But there is also a provision with the eStream where it can be remotely maneuvered into a camp site or parking space with an app on a phone. 

Again, details were scant but it seemed that the eStream used some sort of surge controller like you might find on a U-Haul trailer to determine how the eStream was interacting with the tow vehicle. The trailer essentially then adapts quickly so that it does’t push the tow vehicle but, rather, simply overcomes its own drag factor. 

Speaking of which this nifty trailer has no protrusions on the roof at all owing to further aerodynamic testing by Airstream. So this begs the question of where the air conditioner and such are. The idea of a better AC system is something the RV industry could use and while we’ve seen that in the Truma Aventa it still is a roof-top unit. 

It’s the future?

While there are absolutely limitations to the technology and functionality of both of these rigs they also point to a future of far better RVs. But that means the cost would also likely be significantly higher than what we’re seeing today. 

Interestingly companies like Thor and Winnebago, who also announced an electric motorhome, have traditionally been only builders of a portion of an RV in the past. The rolling chassis have come from outside firms like Lippert and vehicle manufacturers such as Ford. Seeing Thor think of starting from the ground up means that the company will have to do things very differently including being much more diligent about wiring and build quality. 

Big questions

There are inevitable questions about any electric vehicle although Tesla has overcome so many of the issues with the technology. While many naysayers are already sounding the drum beats of negativity about these ideas there are also some real issues. 

For example, very few charging stations are configured to allow for charging a vehicle with anything in tow. Typically charging stations are a single parking space so if you do have a towed vehicle, like the eStream, you would have to disconnect it at one charging station and then charge the trailer there. If you’re also towing with an electric vehicle, you’d have to charge that at another station. 

However Airstream also implied ranges of 300 miles in some conversations so it’s certainly possible that you drive 300 miles in a day with either an electric tow vehicle or a internal combustion vehicle and then charge the trailer overnight at an RV park’s 50 amp service. 

Other complaints I’ve seen about the eStream is people concerned that the trailer is pushing you but, from what I can tell, this wouldn’t be the case. The trailer is simply compensating for its own losses. 

While lots of folks I see on line talk about the electric grid, and that’s certainly a good thing to be concerned about, remember that many of these rigs will be charging at night when demand is otherwise very low. 

These concepts along with the e-RV concept Winnebago showed certainly are an interesting look forward. Another thing that caught my eye was that both the concept B van and the eStream bandied the 300 miles figure about. What do you think?