At the 2022 Florida RV SuperShow, recreational vehicle (RV) leader THOR Industries unveiled its e-mobility strategy and displayed two electric RV concepts—a travel trailer and a motorhome. Presented by the company’s leadership team including President and CEO Bob Martin, the electric units were designed to create a radical improvement of the user experience for electrified RVs.

“We’ve been focused on an electrification ‘e-mobility’ strategy for a number of years and have made substantial progress on our journey,” said Martin. “Early on, we determined that success for us would not be to simply put our name on the side of an electric chassis built by a third-party electric chassis manufacturer. Instead, as the industry leader, we harnessed emerging technology and codeveloped flexible, scalable, and customizable platforms on which our family of companies will build distinct products, providing a best-in-class RV user experience.”

 

eStream and THOR Vision Vehicle

The travel trailer concept, the Airstream branded eStream, sleeps four and is built on THOR’s exclusive high-voltage electric chassis. The trailer is powered by a propriety system that is engineered to dramatically reduce loss of range for electric tow vehicles and improve fuel efficiency for traditional tow vehicles. A partnership with ZF and THOR’s European subsidiary Erwin Hymer Group developed the technology specifically to extend the range of towing for electric vehicles (EVs).

THOR says the high-voltage chassis is meant to distinguish its design from others in the space. It offers a number of differentiating benefits including the ability to charge much faster than low-voltage alternatives, providing the faster recharging experience EV consumers demand.

“Our proprietary technology addresses the top concern of electric vehicle users—range limitation,” said Josef Hjelmaker, THOR’s Chief Innovation Officer. “Studies have established that electric vehicles experience a significant loss of range even when towing a small trailer. The technology we codeveloped creates a synchronized relationship between the trailer and the tow vehicle, enabling the trailer to move in harmony with the tow vehicle, reducing the pulling effect required from the tow vehicle.”

This is said to dramatically improve the range of the combination, in essence turning the trailer into an EV. The technology is game-changing for other electric reasons.

“Our technology also provides important features including the ability to dramatically improve and extend off-grid camping, power electronics (even your home), operate the trailer from your digital device, and remote-control park the trailer after unhitching the tow vehicle,” added Hjelmaker. “And because our system actively stabilizes the trailer, the self-propelled wheels and dynamic controls enable a superior towing experience, improving the safety of our roads.”

The drive unit for the eStream trailer, developed by ZF, has two offset electric motors each making 30 kW of continuous and 90 kW maximum power. Each motor produces a maximum of 66 lb·ft (89 N·m), but with the 16:1 reduction ratio, this amounts to 1062 lb·ft (1440 N·m) at the wheels.

In Move mode, the eStream’s drivetrain can be used to remotely park the trailer without the tow vehicle. This capability, aided by ultrasonic sensors, helps to back the unit into a campsite or storage location.

Voice control and touchscreens can operate lighting, HVAC, appliances, and entertainment; monitor resources (power, water, waste tanks); and be used for troubleshooting and support. Connectivity is provided by 5G with a signal booster.

The battery array consists of two high-voltage battery modules that provide a combined 80 kW·h of power for both travel and living—30 times more power than the largest lithium battery system in current Airstreams. Solar power from five Merlin Solar 180-W semi-flexible panels of up to 900 W is sent to both the battery and the unit’s digital systems such as the integrated Airstream Connected Wi-Fi router.

The THOR Vision Vehicle (TVV) motorhome concept is built on an electric chassis co-developed with Roush. It has a range of up to 300 mi (482 km), which Thor says is well within the average non-stop travel distance of most RV users.

The TTV sleeps two and is a B+ high-voltage, battery electric vehicle with a fuel-cell range extender. It is chargeable at existing EV infrastructure. It can camp off-grid (boondocking) and use all appliances (including AC) for up to seven days. A solar roof maximizes power-generation capabilities with a maximum of 1500 W.

Intelligent power management automatically starts and stops the onboard fuel cell to keep batteries charged, eliminating the need to closely monitor battery levels. It has many of the same connectivity options as the eStream including remote diagnostics and proactive service.

Advanced driver-assistance systems make for safer change lanes, identify obstacles when backing up/maneuvering to a campsite, and enable “auto-pilot” functionality.

“Our team has conducted a massive amount of research targeted at understanding the impact of design elements on extending range including aerodynamics of the units,” said Todd Woelfer, THOR’s Chief Operating Officer. “Our strategy to create a unique electric experience specifically tailored for RV users has identified a number of product enhancement opportunities that we can and will implement well before we industrialize the electrified units.”

 

Electrification and sustainability

The two show concepts are the first outputs from Thor’s new electrification strategy.

“Our command of the technologies around the electrified RV experience demonstrates THOR’s commitment to innovation is an essential part of our growth model and future success, which positions us to maintain our global leadership position in the industry,” added Woelfer.

Earlier in January, THOR published its fourth annual sustainability report detailing the company’s sustainability efforts for FY2021 across its global family of operating companies, which include many RV brands beyond Airstream and Erwin Hymer.

“We are proactively addressing environmental, social, and governance risk, and we believe these ongoing sustainability efforts will have a very positive impact on our business, consumers, team members, partners, and the communities in which we live, work, and play,” said Martin.

As the global leader in the RV industry, THOR believes that employing sustainable business practices will encourage others in the industry to do the same.

In FY2021, THOR says it took bold steps toward achieving a 50% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions, the interim target of its carbon net-neutral goal by 2050, as part of its June 2020 commitment to “Business Ambition for 1.5˚C.” The company’s Erwin Hymer Group became a carbon net-neutral manufacturer in FY 2021, a significant milestone and a first for the RV industry. It appointed its first Chief Innovation Officer, Hjelmaker, to develop the company’s vision for evolving advanced technologies and optimizing innovation.

Beyond environmental sustainability, THOR says it solidified its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion by engaging a Chief People and Inclusion consultant to develop a framework and benchmark initiatives, implement new recruiting and retention strategies, create an inclusive culture, and build partnerships that serve diverse communities. The company founded the Together Outdoors Coalition, in partnership with Outdoor Recreation Roundtable, to work to make the outdoors a more diversified, inclusive, and inviting place through education, equity, and action by joining forces with organizations across the outdoor economy.

“Our global sustainability program highlights our deep-rooted commitment to better the lives of our team members and customers, foster the viability of communities, and promote a clean and safe environment,” said Woelfer. “The products that our companies build inspire people to travel, build connections with family and friends, and develop a lasting appreciation for nature, and our sustainability efforts are beneficial for our company, our customers, the industry, and the environment over the long term.”

For more on THOR’s electric RV concepts, visit www.thorindustries.com/innovation.