Even if you own the most powerful car in the world, towing a big trailer will significantly reduce its range. It’s a problem that people don’t talk about much, but Thor Industries may have found a solution.
The new Airstream eStream electric trailer concept, which Thor showed off during the 2022 Florida RV SuperShow, features a ZF electric powertrain with 242 horsepower and 132 foot-pounds of torque. When you tow this trailer, its powertrain kicks in to take some of the load off your towing vehicle, saving mileage or gasoline throughout your journey.
Because of its 80 kilowatt-hour batteries and 900 watts worth of solar panels, the Airstream eStream shouldn’t run out of power during a long journey. In fact, when you arrive at your destination, you can use a remote control to “drive” the camper (without a towing vehicle) to whatever location you want to leave it.
And man, this trailer has a slick interior. We’re talking voice and touch controls for lighting and air conditioning, a fancy kitchenette, and oodles of entertainment devices. Thor claims that the Airstream eStream can charge “must faster than low-voltage alternatives,” though its solar panels should get you by if you’re far from a charging station.
Thor says that the Airstream eStream is just a concept and may never enter production. I hope that the company is lying, or at the very least, that it will sell an improved model in the near future. Of course, the Airstream eStream is probably way beyond my imaginary “trailer budget,” but a man can dream.
Source: Thor via Inside EVs
