Thor's New Electric RV Comes With 500 Miles of Freedom
Image Credit: Thor Industries.
It looks like the good old American RV scene is finally getting a jolt of electricity - and I'm not talking about accidentally plugging your toaster into the wrong outlet at the campground. Thor Industries, the big cheese of the RV world, has teamed up with Harbinger Motors to create what they call the "world's first hybrid Class A motorhome." Now, that's a mouthful, even for someone like me who's been around the automotive block a few times.
This behemoth, cleverly named the "Test Vehicle," boasts a 140-kWh battery pack that can take you a respectable 150 miles on pure electric power alone. That's enough to drive from Los Angeles to San Diego and still have enough juice to find the best fish tacos in town and keep the aircon going all night.
Thor and Harbinger added a gas-powered generator to the mix, giving this RV a combined 500-mile range. Suddenly, driving from New York City to Niagara Falls, marveling at the waterfall, and still having enough juice to cook up a nice meal, and stay warm all night, is a real possibility. All without having to stop and charge, unless you want to, of course.
I bet you're wondering … "Isn't a gas engine a bit old-school for a hybrid?" Well, yes and no. This engine isn't meant to propel the RV directly; it's there to charge the battery on the go, making it a "Near-Zero Emission Vehicle," according to the California Air Resources Board. So, it's a little bit like having your cake and eating it, too - enjoying the benefits of electric power without the range anxiety.
Apart from the generator, the first hybrid RV from Thor can charge its battery using solar panels on the roof or a regular campground electrical hookup. It can even power your home during an outage. Talk about being prepared for anything! Once you're parked at your campsite, the battery can power all your appliances, charge your electric bikes, and keep your beer cold. It really is a mini power plant on wheels. Well, maybe not so "mini."
The Test Vehicle also comes with all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a modern RV, including advanced driver assistance systems, steer-by-wire technology, and a comfortable double-wishbone front suspension. And thanks to its electric drive system, this RV has twice the torque of a diesel engine, making it easier to merge onto the highway or climb those steep mountain roads.
Thor plans to launch RVs based on this hybrid chassis in 2025, so you'll have to wait a tiny bit longer before you can hit the open road in one of these bad boys. But in the meantime, you can always dream about all the adventures you'll have, the places you'll see and the memories you'll make. Just remember to pack your sense of humor and a good map - and maybe a spare extension cord, just in case.
