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Unmasking Misinformation: Journalist’s Quest for Verified Truth (International Edition)

The Journalists as Fact Checkers workshop, organised by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Africa for the Womentorship Champions, recently, was an unexpected catalyst for my growth as a female human rights defender. It effortlessly merged with my duties as both a journalist and an advocate, highlighting how journalism serves as a crucial act of service against misinformation. In Zimbabwe, where confirming straightforward facts such as fatality counts from road accidents can be difficult because of restricted access to data, fact-checking goes beyond being just part of one’s job; it transforms into a nuanced but important mode of defiance. One powerful takeaway was learning about “lateral reading,” which pushed me to go deeper than just skimming content and succumbing to click temptations. This change in mindset has provided me with a persistent critical outlook, examining each headline through the meticulous gaze of an investigator. Rather than taking information at ...
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Airstream's New Electric RV: Pricier Than a Luxury Lucid Air

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 motorized wheels.
  • The Airstream's battery supplies power to all the devices.

Airstream, known for its distinctive aluminum recreational vehicles, has officially made the leap into electrification with the introduction of the Basecamp Xe. This version builds upon the standard Basecamp design but includes an additional battery pack along with numerous solar panels mounted on the rooftop to supply energy for interior features.

That said, Airstream’s first electric camper doesn’t have electric motors to alleviate the range loss experienced by the vehicle that’s towing it. The company showcased a rather impressive electric trailer concept called the eStream In 2022, it featured an impressive 80-kilowatt-hour battery pack and was capable of helping the tow truck while in transit.

While this may not apply, the Basecamp Xe comes equipped with a 10.3-kWh Battle Born lithium-ion battery pack. This powers a completely invertible 30-amp electrical system complemented by up to 600 watts of solar panels, expandable to 900 watts, along with a 3000-watt inverter. In case of emergencies, a compact 20-pound propane tank serves as an additional power source. It aids in heating water or warming the entire trailer through the Truma Combi Eco Plus System, capable of utilizing either electric current, propane, or combining both for generating warmth.

More Electric Camping

  • A $175,000 CyberTrailer Camper That Will Charge Your Electric Vehicle Is Being Developed

  • The Living Vehicle Is An Off-Grid Camper With A Folding Patio Deck

  • Lightship’s Self-Propelled Electric RV Trailer Is Going Into Production, And It Ain’t Cheap

  • Thor’s New Extended Range RV Packs Off-Grid Power For Days, 500 Miles Of Range

The trailer measures 20 feet in length, features a single axle, and accommodates up to four individuals within a designated sleeping area at the rear. Additionally, the dining table upfront can transform into extra bedding space. It comes equipped with a wet bathroom containing a shower, sink, and toilet, along with a detachable induction hob for meal preparation. Among the available upgrades are a composting toilet, a microwave oven, and an air conditioning unit; however, heating is offered as an optional feature.

There’s no word on how much time it will take to deplete the battery, but that’s understandable as it all depends on how much energy is used by the appliances. If the 3 kW inverter is maxed out, a full battery should last a little over three hours, but that’s likely an edge case. In normal conditions (not too hot or too cold outside), a full battery should be enough for a day or two of camping.

The Airstream Basecam Xe starts at $76,900. That’s roughly $6,000 more than a brand-new Lucid Air sedan, a luxury EV that can move under its own power. Granted, it would be quite uncomfortable to camp in an Air. That said, the Basecamp Xe is also $22,000 more expensive than the regular, non-electric Basecamp travel trailer.

Is it worthwhile? Let's crunch the numbers, purely out of curiosity. With the base price of Airstream’s electric travel trailer, you could instead pay for 384 nights in hotels priced at $200 each night. Given that you get 30 vacation days annually, it would require approximately 13 years to use up $76,900 solely on lodging expenses.

That doesn't seem like a particularly budget-friendly buy, but we shouldn't overlook the fact that Airstream (and others like it They also offer camping trailers priced at more than $200,000. Despite this, people do purchase them. While you might find the luxuries of a hotel cheaper, you cannot set up a hotel room beside a tranquil riverside nestled within a remote mountain valley.

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