Airstream's New Electric RV Costs More Than a Luxury Lucid Car

The Airstream Basecamp Xe features an integrated battery pack; however, this does not drive the wheels.

• The inaugural production-model electric camper trailer from Airstream features a 10.3-kWh battery pack.
• In contrast to the significantly bigger and pricier Lightship RV, this trailer lacks powered wheels.
• The battery of the Airstream supplies power to all the devices.

Airstream, known for its distinctive aluminum recreational vehicles, has officially embraced electrification with the introduction of the new Basecamp Xe. Built upon the standard Basecamp design, this version features an additional battery pack along with numerous solar panels atop the trailer to energize all interior conveniences.

As mentioned, Airstream's initial electric camper does not include electric motors to mitigate the range reduction faced by the tow vehicle. The firm presented an quite notable electric trailer concept named the eStream In 2022, it featured an extensive 80-kilowatt-hour battery pack and was capable of helping the tow truck while in transit.

The Basecamp Xe doesn’t work like that. It features a 10.3-kWh Battle Born lithium-ion battery bank, supplying power to a completely invertible 30-amp electrical setup with integrated 600 watts of solar panels (expandable up to 900W), along with a 3000W inverter. In case of an emergency, there’s also a 20-pound propane tank available for supplementary heating needs such as warming water or the entire caravan through the Truma Combi Eco Plus System, capable of utilizing either electric power, propane, or a combination of both to generate warmth.

More Electric Camping

• A $175,000 CyberTrailer Camper That Can Recharge Your Electric Vehicle Is Being Developed
• The Living Vehicle is an off-grid camper featuring a folding patio deck.
• Lightship’s Self-Powered Electric RV Trailer Enters Production, But It Comes at a High Cost
• Thor’s Updated Extended Range RV Offers Unmatched Off-Grid Power for Multiple Days with a 500-Mile Range

The trailer measures 20 feet in length, features a single axle, and can accommodate up to four individuals in a specific sleeping area at the rear. Additionally, the dining table upfront can transform into extra bedding. It comes equipped with a wet bathroom complete with a shower, sink, and toilet, along with a detachable induction cooktop for meal preparation. Among the available upgrades are a composting toilet, microwave, and air conditioning unit; however, the heating system is sold separately.

It hasn’t been specified how long it takes to drain the battery completely; this makes sense since it varies based on the power consumption of the devices being used. Should you push the 3 kW inverter to its limits, a fully charged battery might sustain operations for just over three hours, though this would probably represent an extreme scenario. Under typical weather conditions—not excessively hot nor cold—a full charge ought to suffice for one to two days of camping use.

The Airstream Basecamp Xe has a starting price of $76,900. This is approximately $6,000 higher than a brand new Lucid Air sedan, which is a luxurious electric vehicle capable of self-propulsion. While camping inside an Air might not be very comfortable, the Basecamp Xe still costs $22,000 more compared to the standard, non-electric version of the Basecamp trailer.

Is it really worthwhile? Let’s indulge in some calculations, purely for entertainment purposes. With the base price of Airstream’s electric travel trailer, you could instead opt for accommodations at hotels priced at $200 per night for up to 384 nights. Given that most people get about 30 vacation days annually, it would take approximately 13 years to accumulate enough savings—$76,900—to match this expenditure on lodging alone.

That doesn't seem like a particularly budget-friendly buy, yet we shouldn't overlook the fact that Airstream (and others like it They also offer camping trailers that come with a price tag exceeding $200,000. Despite this, people do purchase them. While you might find comfort at a hotel for a lower rate, you cannot set up a hotel room beside a tranquil riverside in a remote mountain valley.