A major RV maker announced both a fully electric camper van and Airstream trailer take a closer look at the 2 new eRVs
The concept Thor eStream.Thor Industries
- Thor Industries unveiled two electric RV concepts: a motorhome and a travel trailer.
- The electrified motorhome platform will be available first, likely sometime in 2023, according to Thor.
Thor Industries has unveiled electric camper van and travel trailer concepts at this year's Florida RV Supershow, a first for the company as it continues to push towards RV electrification.
Thor's concept Vision Vehicle and eStream. Thor Industries
Source: Thor Industries
The RV giant — which oversees brands like Airstream and Jayco — isn't the only company to have recently showcased eco friendly tiny homes on wheels.
A screenshot of Thor Industries' teaser video for the eStream. Thor Industries
Since the start of the New Year, companies like Mercedes-Benz and Winnebago have unveiled electrified RV concepts ...
Winnebago Industries' e-RV on the road. Winnebago Industries
... signaling a potential boom in an industry that only currently exists via concepts.
A screenshot of Thor Industries' teaser video for the Thor Vision Vehicle. Thor Industries
Now, Thor predicts it'll be competing with both classic RV makers and newcomers in the quickly blossoming segment, the company told Insider in a statement.
The Mercedes-Benz EQV and Sortimo conversion concept. Daimler
Like Winnebago, Thor built its own electric chassis with the help of other companies instead of relying solely on another provider.
A screenshot of Thor Industries' teaser video for the Thor Vision Vehicle. Thor Industries
Let's start with Thor's eStream travel trailer concept, an Airstream-branded trailer on the RV maker's fast charging "high-voltage" electric chassis.
The concept Thor eStream. Thor Industries
If you have crippling range anxiety but want to tow the eStream with your electric vehicle, you're in luck.
The concept Thor eStream. Thor Industries
The trailer's electric chassis — developed with Erwin Hymer Group — will help your EV maintain some of its range by "stabilizing" the trailer's movements, therefore reducing the effort it takes to tow the tiny home on wheels, according to Thor.
The concept Thor eStream. Thor Industries
Source: Thor Industries
But if you're more of a #VanLifer, the RV giant also has the electric RV for you: the Thor Vision Vehicle motorhome.
The concept Thor Vision Vehicle. Thor Industries
The camper van sits on an electric chassis created with Roush, which also helped develop the chassis for Winnebago's e-RV concept electric camper van.
The concept Thor Vision Vehicle. Thor Industries
Source: Insider
The Thor Vision Vehicle (TVV) camper van can travel up to 300 miles, the strongest range of all the recently unveiled electric camper van concepts.
The concept Thor Vision Vehicle. Thor Industries
Winnebago's recently unveiled e-RV concept has a range of 125 miles, while Mercedes-Benz's EQV 300 electric van (without the camper add-on) can operate up to about 266 miles.
Winnebago Industries' e-RV on the road. Winnebago Industries
Fully electric tiny homes on wheels may seem like an invention of the future, but Thor's TVV and eStream prototypes are both already fully functioning, the company said.
The concept Thor Vision Vehicle. Thor Industries
Details regarding the interior of the two concepts haven't been unveiled yet, but you won't have to wait long to see inside your own planet friendly Thor RV.
The concept Thor Vision Vehicle. Thor Industries
Thor says its electric camper van platform will hit retail in 2023, and the trailer will be available shortly after.
A screenshot of Thor Industries' teaser video for the Thor Vision Vehicle. Thor Industries
Thor hasn't announced pricing yet, but the company told Insider that it believes the electrified units will have a "modest premium [compared] to a similarly-fitted RV."
The concept Thor eStream. Thor Industries
This move towards electrification comes at a time of commercial success for the RV giant.
The concept Thor eStream. Thor Industries
Source: Insider
Demand for tiny homes on wheels has skyrocketed throughout 2020 into 2022 with no signs of slowing down, causing Thor to amass a $18.07 billion order backlog, the company said in its 2022 first-quarter earnings report in December 2021.
Workers inside the Airstream factory in Jackson Center, Ohio in 2014. Jay LaPrete/AP Photo
Source: Insider
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