You know those aerodynamically shaped silver caravans, sparkling in the sun and always present, somehow, in American films? True icons of mobility, those caravans have marked the history of the United States. Well, those caravans are produced by Airstream which, from the post-war years to today, has filled the streets (and US campsites) with many models for all the needs of recreational vehicles. Today Airstream offers its first electric “concept”, the caravan that moves by itself, “guided” by an app, during parking but at the same time is able to “collaborate” with the vehicle towing it while driving on road, “weighing” less on it, tuning the speed of the two vehicles, reducing consumption and also increasing safety.
Actually Airstream is not the first manufacturer of motorhomes and caravans to have the idea of electrically “motorizing” recreational trailers. Already in 2018 a German company, Dethleffs, tried it with a revolutionary concept for those years. But the American company today seems to think big for an “electric” caravan. It must be said immediately that many companies that produce large caravans have already implemented an electric system to move the trailer during parking, but eStream, this is the name of the caravan conceived by the US company, does much more. First of all, while driving, it provides real “additional traction” to the vehicle towing it, reducing the weight on the axle and adjusting the speed of the two vehicles. Furthermore, by constantly communicating with the vehicle, the caravan is able to self-stabilize in the presence of strong wind or particularly adverse weather conditions, thus increasing overall safety.
The caravan is equipped with two electric motors powered by batteries which in turn can be recharged both with the traditional system of connection to the columns, and through the solar panels on the roof. The on-board technology is very advanced: with Alexa, for example, it is possible to manage the ambient lighting and even the uncoupling and coupling of the caravan to the towing vehicle, as well as keeping the charge of the batteries under control. For the rest, eStream is equipped with all the most modern equipment for camping and outdoor life, from the kitchen to the bathroom with shower, from comfortable bunks to tanks for drinking water and waste water. In short, an uncompromising caravan.
It is not yet clear when the “concept” will actually become a model “on the road”, but the American company leader, the Thor Industries group, seems willing to proceed quickly. Also because the silver caravans of the American tradition are actually means used in different fields (for example for film sets) and are considered “high-end”, both for prices and for the economic availability of buyers.