Lightship RV has unveiled a new RV travel trailer, the Lightship L1, that can propel itself while being towed, solving a problem that EVs face while towing, which is a drop in range. According to the company, the L1's aerodynamic design, electric power plant, and 80 kWh battery pack mean that "a 300-mile range EV used to tow it remains a 300-mile range EV, and a 25-mpg gas truck remains a 25-mpg gas truck."
The L1 is a 27-foot-long travel trailer that is 6 feet, 9 inches tall in Road Mode and 10 feet tall in Camp Mode. The RV is lightweight, weighing around 7,500 pounds when fully loaded, which means it can be towed by any half-ton full-size pickup, including electric vehicles like the Ford Lightning and Rivian R1T. The entire roof, as well as its dual awnings, are covered in solar panels that can produce 3 kW of energy, allowing owners to boondock without access to power for up to a week or more. Moreover, the L1 can even charge EVs with the sun's rays.
The L1 can sleep up to 4-6 people, and the RV has a bed that can be converted from the main lounge area, an indoor and outdoor kitchen, and an onboard bathroom with a wet bath that includes a rainfall shower. All appliances are electric, so there's no propane on board. However, there's no word yet on the sizes of the fresh water, grey, and black tanks.
The Lightship L1 comes at a price of $125,000 or $118,400 after tax credits, which might be expensive for some. However, the RV offers features and build quality that can't be found in mass-market brands. The Lightship L1 is available for pre-order at $500, and production is expected to begin in late 2024.
The Lightship team is composed of people from Rivian, Proterra, Lucid, and Zoox, in addition to Tesla. The co-founders, Ben Parker and Toby Kraus, both worked on the Model S during their tenure at Tesla.
Source: electrek