Airstream eStream concept by Thor Industries โ€” being towed by a Tesla Model X | Image: Thor Industries

Recreational vehicle manufacturer Thor Industries revealed last week an electric tow assisted โ€œeStreamโ€ trailer concept under its Airstream brand and also a battery-powered RV with a range of up to 300 miles (via Electrek).

The Airstream eStream trailer could be like any other camper that you tow โ€” but this one can be detached and remotely moved around a campsite. That could make maneuvering easier and improve safety. While it may seem similar to such gimmicks as a Teslaโ€™s remote parking feature, the eStreamโ€™s electric propulsion enables other advances, such as the ability to synchronize with a towing vehicle to help increase range between recharging.

Nowadays, electric vehicles have expanded range capabilities, but if youโ€™ve ever tried towing a trailer behind a Tesla, you might find it to lose a significant amount of range. The eStream could be a stark improvement for those seeking an all-electric lifestyle out on the open road.

Many campsites offer 240-volt service, where the eStream and an additional EV could be recharged. When not plugged in, the eStream also has solar panels that can regain power to the camperโ€™s 80 kWh battery system (no more diesel generators powering campers).

Thor industries also introduced the Thor Vision Vehicle concept โ€” a Ford Transit van converted to an EV with a futuristic tech-filled interior plus a large tablet-style infotainment system with trip planning and other internet-connected features seen in many modern electric cars.

The Thor Vision also has solar panels, but its surprise power source is a fuel cell that can charge the batteries for extended dry camping periods. Other features include voice control using Alexa, which can do anything from giving a charge status to adjusting lighting and temperature.

Winnebago is another company working on a fully outfitted electric RV van (built on a Ford Transit as well). And although this concept seems realistically ready for production, its 125 miles of range seems ever so anemic for the use-case compared to the Thor Visionโ€™s 300 miles target.

Winnebago’s new Transit-based EV camper has a range of 125 miles. Research suggests 54% of new RV buyers prefer to stay within 200 miles. Still, is that enough? https://t.co/QAnvKAmFdK pic.twitter.com/eNhQhDVnCq

โ€” Autoblog (@therealautoblog) January 19, 2022

As with all concepts, it remains to be seen when and if the eStream camper and the Thor Vision vehicle reach production โ€” so donโ€™t get too hyped about having that all-electric off-grid lifestyle just yet.

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