Electric RV charging station imagined

Full electric towing rigs comprising an EV and 'gas free' caravan are few and far between, at least in this country, but that hasn't stopped American RV giant Thor Industries from providing its vision of how all-electric towing rigs when they arrive en-masse, will 'fill up' on their holidays.

Thor says its state-of-the-art concept for EV charging stations is "designed to serve the specific needs of a full range of electric recreational vehicles (eRVs), from smaller campers to the largest motorhomes".

Thor, which is one of the world's largest RV manufacturers with 15 brands including Airstream, says it want to encourage the development of pull-through eRV-compatible chargers near rural destinations popular with RV owners, and is urging state governments to support and invest in installing eRV-compatible stations.

“Electrified transportation will play a central role in the future of RVing as eRVs become available for purchase, and more people opt to pull a traditional or electrified travel trailer with an EV tow vehicle,” Thor Industries President and CEO Bob Martin said.

“A charging station ecosystem that can accommodate eRVs and EV tow vehicles is essential to this transformation, which is why Thor is actively exploring options to support the effort. We designed this concept to provide states and rural communities a better understanding of the infrastructure needed near parks, destination towns and other popular destinations to retain the tremendous economic benefits future RV travelers will offer."

Thor's concept includes drive-through charging stations that are wide enough to allow RV owners to charge their EV tow vehicles without the need to unhitch and re-hitch. They also include dual charging cords for simultaneous charging of the tow vehicle and e-caravan if required.

All the charging points have a roof designed to capture the sun’s power and rainwater while there are also amenities, including restrooms, a playground and fitness equipment, to help eRV owners relax and recharge alongside their vehicles.

Ancillary services are also available at the concept charging station, including an air pump for tyres, a water station to fill the RV’s tanks, and a sewage dump station.

Thor says the charging station concept is based on best practices developed by the engineering firm Black & Veatch (B&V), a leader in EV charging infrastructure design. The ideas were first outlined in a recent white paper commissioned by the RV Industry Association detailing the economic case for US states to use some of the $7.5 billion federal EV funding currently available to build eRV-compatible pull-through charging stations.

Thor is a front-runner in eRV development, with a number of vehicles in development including the EStream travel trailer unveiled in 2022.