Airstream, Inc. is sharing details regarding its one-off travel trailer, the eStream.
The manufacturer stated the travel trailer was created to deliver new technologies, innovative features and spark conversations about sustainable products across the RV industry.
The heart of the eStream, Airstream stated, is a bank of high-voltage batteries that powers everything from the air conditioning to the all-electric appliances and drive-assist motors in the wheels.
The eStream is primarily designed to evoke conversations about the next generation of RV mobility, Airstream stated. With a rear bed and front convertible dinette, four people can comfortably sleep and stay in the 22-foot-long floorplan. Bob Wheeler, Airstream president and CEO, said the trailer is a glimpse into Airstream’s future.
“We created an aspirational travel trailer,” Wheeler said, “something that supports and encourages a sustainable way to travel and gives future customers the opportunity to spend more time off-grid pursuing their passions without having to worry about managing their resources. It is really about improving the customer experience and making sure we deliver a sustainability-focused product at the end of that road.”
The eStream battery bank stores 80 kWhrs of power, providing more than 30 times the power of the lithium batteries included with many Airstream models. The high-voltage batteries and electronic systems are essentially capable of providing a shore power connected experience while being far from shore power, the company said. The eStream operates all onboard systems, including the air conditioner, without being connected to shore power. The power platform charges other electrically powered vehicles — or even a home — by exporting power from the electric drivetrain.
McKay Featherstone, Airstream vice president of product development and engineering, said the trailer has enough power to run all its systems for an “extended” period of time off grid. Airstream stated the trailer can provide be off-grid for up to two weeks.
“It is going to help customers go wherever they want to go,” Featherstone said, “and to stay there as long as they wish.”
The eStream includes 900 watts of solar power from five 180-watt semi-flexible solar panels — more than double the solar capacity of any current Airstream model.
The eStream creators stated RVers will be able to use a state-of-the-art signal booster that provides 5G connectivity and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The booster, which is still in development, will operate lighting, HVAC and access troubleshooting and support resources through voice commands. Touch screens will monitor power, water, and waste tanks, and a smartphone app is in development to make trip planning easier while syncing the information to the eStream’s onboard systems. The trip planning technology will be curated to maximize efficiency, range, charging, accessibility, and height restrictions.
Airstream’s design team improved aerodynamic drag by another 20%, translating directly into more towing range, the manufacturer stated.
Other aerodynamic enhancements include a profile 8 inches narrower than the typical Airstream width, a smooth roof with fewer protrusions and an underfloor with a rear diffuser. With air conditioning system in the basement area, the rooftop is free from protrusions creating aerodynamic drag.
The aerodynamic improvements operate to passively extend the range and enable future owners to go further, Airstream stated. The eStream’s chassis actively works to extend towing range in driving mode. The eStream’s electric powertrain, integrated into the chassis, provides off-grid power, dual motors integrated with the axle, and an advanced sensor and control system. While in tow, the drive-assist motors actively move the travel trailer forward in tandem with the tow vehicle — reducing the energy consumed by the tow vehicle and extending the tow vehicle’s range.
The powertrain provides additional traction, electronic stability control, anti-sway and anti-theft features locking the motors when not in use. The drive axle and stability controls make a weight distribution hitch unnecessary. Featherstone said the powertrain is designed to make the trailer go further, no matter the tow vehicle.
“But once you have powered wheels in your travel trailer there is so much more that you can do,” Featherstone said. “They can give you more traction for navigating slick roads, or you can lock them while parked for extra protection against theft.”
The powered drivetrain gives the eStream the ability to maneuver independently by remote control at low speeds.
“Backing up a travel trailer is one of the most intimidating things for new customers – and sometimes even for customers with plenty of experience,” Featherstone said. “With this remote-control capability, we have completely eliminated that – with one finger on the phone or tablet you can easily move the eStream into any tight spot or position it so the solar panels catch more of the sun. You may drive the trailer into a tight campsite, or it might just be a gas station or storage or anywhere that you need to maneuver with precision.”
The eStream concept charges the battery in three ways. It is compatible with much of the U.S. electric vehicle charging infrastructure and includes a separate 30-amp input so that it can be charged at an existing RV campground hookup. The solar panels will also charge the batteries.
“With more charging stations coming across the country and many campgrounds starting to install them,” Wheeler said, “we are watching (EV) infrastructure grow day by day.”
