Airstream’s Electric Trailer Concept Can Run Off-Grid for Weeks

(Bloomberg) -- Electric vehicle technology, having zipped from sedans to scooters to tractors, finally is connecting to homes on wheels. And, similarly to autos, it is starting on the swanky end of the market.

Airstream, the brand of silver-bullet shaped campers, has rolled out an electrified travel trailer that will help its parent, RV giant Thor Industries, navigate towards an emissions-free future. The rig, dubbed the eStream, is only a concept and isn't yet available for purchase, but it showcases technology that Chief Executive Officer Bob Wheeler says will soon trickle through the booming RV industry.

“Everything that's packed in the eStream won't make sense for the market as is,” Wheeler said at a press event showcasing the trailer, “but there are so many threads, so much can come out of this that will find its way in the future.”

The eStream is outfitted with a span of solar panels and a skateboard-style chassis with two large battery packs in a configuration much like Tesla's. Narrower and with fewer vents and protrusions, the rig is about 20% more aerodynamic than a traditional Airstream. The solar panels, for example, are built into the roof, rather than bolted on.

Airstreams are trailers and, as such, are traditionally engineless. The sheer bulk and profile of most RVs present a significant challenge to traveling the distances electric vehicle owners have come to expect. The eStream, however, represents a kind of middle ground on the path to emissions-free camping. It has a pair of electric motors driving its axle, essentially making it easier to tow. If it's being towed by a gas-powered vehicle, the drivetrain will offset some emissions; if it's being towed by another electric vehicle, the camper will extend its range. The powered axle will also help the rig navigate slick or uneven terrain, according to McKay Featherstone, the brand's vice president of product development and engineering.

Its cleverest party trick, however, is moving while unhitched. The trailer can be driven independently via a smartphone, precluding the fraught process of backing into a tight camping spot. “That's a pain point we hope we can just simply eliminate and we'll save a lot of marriages with this product,” Featherstone said.

RVs often draw electricity from brawny outlets at campgrounds — “shore power” in industry-speak. Airstream says its new rig will be able to pass up those plugs and let owners roam more freely off the grid. The bank of batteries juices the air-conditioner, refrigerator and other appliances, creature comforts that typically have relied on burning propane. They can be charged via plug, but will also top up from the solar panels and a regenerative braking system.

“It's going to help customers go wherever they want to go and to stay there as long as they wish,” Featherstone said. “You could literally stay off-grid for weeks if you wanted to.”

The camper can also export its electrons, acting as a backup generator for a home or a charger for a separate electric vehicle.

The eStream is hitting an industry with momentum. With consumers steering clear of airlines and hotels, RV sales accelerated throughout the pandemic. Last year, U.S. RV companies delivered 600,240 vehicles, a 48% increase over 2019, and most of those rigs were towable trailers like the ones Airstream makes.

Thor, however, isn't the only company investing in electric R&D. Last month, Winnebago unveiled an electric motorhome dubbed the e-RV that will be able to drive 125 miles on battery power. Alas, it also a concept vehicle and, like the eStream, won't be available for sale.

For the moment, climate conscious campers will have to think smaller. Sometime this year, Ford is expecting to deliver the first electric versions of its Transit van, which will travel about 126 miles on a charge. And Volkswagen is reprising its storied camper van in an electric iteration dubbed the ID.Buzz, which is expected to hit dealers sometime next year.