From RV to EV: New electric caravan system targets towing anxiety

Jan 04, 2024

A new electric recreational vehicle system could "ruin" not only your weekend, but your entire caravanning experience. Recreational vehicle (RV) maker Thor Industries has signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) to give Thor companies exclusive rights to automotive developer ZF's eTrailer System.

The idea is to create a new kind of caravan that would possibly extend the expected range of an electric vehicle while towing.

This would be done by replacing a dummy axle with an electric drive axle and putting batteries into the space between a caravan's frame rails. This turns the RV into an EV. By proxy the towing vehicle has more power and range.

Sounds a simple enough concept, maybe some of our intrepid DIY enthusiasts will have a go themselves. The car and the caravan communicate with each other through the regular four-pin connectors that are already in use. There is still some work ahead as technicians work out any bugs in the communication between EV and caravan and the optimum weight and size of batteries.

For those who aren't too keen on electrifying their caravans, the good news is that Thor Industries owns Jayco. So we might just get some of these EV RVs in the land Down under.

Thor has already demonstrated the proof of concept, using an Audi e-tron to tow an EV trailer over the Alps. Of the demonstration, RV Travel reported that, "the Audi SUV "pulled" the trailer out of Germany and into Italy, right over the Alps. The whole trip was about 240 miles – just shy of the Audi's estimated range. The Audi-combo made the trip without any need for a recharge stop."

Until now, the RV camping and recreation crowd have been watching the EV revolution from the sidelines. But if you can have a battery in your trailer or caravan it will ease the anxiety suffered by loss of range when towing. This opens up a whole new demographic who are keen to get involved – grey nomads, nature lovers, climate crusaders and even tradies.

David Waterworth is a researcher and writer, a retired school teacher who continues to provoke thought through his writing. He divides his time between looking after his grandchildren and trying to make sure they have a planet to live on. He is long on Tesla.