Thor Industries unveiled its eMobility strategy around electrification of the RV industry at the 2022 Florida RV SuperShow.
At the show, Thor displayed two electric RV concepts: a motorhome and a travel trailer.
Bob Martin, Thor CEO, said the company has focused on the eMobility electrification strategy for several years, with significant progress.
“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,” Martin said. “Instead, as the industry leader, we harnessed emerging technology and co-developed flexible, scalable and customizable platforms on which our family of companies will build distinct products, providing a best-in-class RV user experience.”
The travel trailer concept, named eStream, is built on Thor’s exclusive high-voltage electric chassis. Powered by a propriety system, the trailer dramatically reduces loss of range for electric tow vehicles and improves gas mileage for traditional tow vehicles. The high-voltage chassis distinguishes Thor’s design from others in the space and offers a number of differentiating benefits, including the ability to charge much faster than low-voltage alternatives, providing the faster recharging experience electric vehicle consumers’ demand.
In its partnership with ZF, Thor and its European subsidiary Erwin Hymer Group developed the technology specifically to extend the range of towing for electric vehicles.
Josef Hielmaker, Thor chief innovation officer, said the proprietary technology addresses EV users’ top concern: range limitation. Towing with an EV causes a significant loss of range, no matter the trailer size.
“The technology we co-developed creates a synchronized relationship between the trailer and the tow vehicle,” Hielmaker said, “enabling the trailer to move in harmony with the tow vehicle, reducing the pulling effect required from the tow vehicle. This, in turn, dramatically improves the possible range of the combination. In essence, we have turned the trailer into an electric vehicle. The technology is game-changing for our industry and others.”
Hielmaker said Thor’s technology will improve and extend off-grid camping, power electronics, operate the trailer from a digital device and remote-control park the trailer after unhitching the tow vehicle.
“Because our system actively stabilizes the trailer,” Hielmaker said, “the self-propelled wheels and dynamic controls enable a superior towing experience, improving the safety of our roads.”
The motorhome concept, the Thor Vision Vehicle (TVV), is built on an electric chassis co-developed with Roush, the motorsports manufacturer. The TVV motorhome includes several elements designed to maximize chassis performance. Range extending technologies, including integrated fuel cell components, enable a range of up to 300 miles — well within the average non-stop travel distance of most RV users.
Todd Woelfer, Thor’s chief operating officer, said the research team targeted understanding the impact of design elements on range, including aerodynamics. The company strategy is to create a unique electric experience tailored for RVers, which resulted in identifying several product enhancement opportunities.
“At the Florida RV SuperShow, we are showcasing two concept units which are only the first outputs from our defined electric RV strategy,” Woelfer said. “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. Our electric RV concepts are the stars of the 2022 Florida RV SuperShow and provide a glimpse of the incredible propriety technology we have developed, but the real story is Thor’s investment and dedication to continue to be the innovation leader in the RV industry on a global basis.”
To learn more, visit www.thorindustries.com/innovation.
