Lightship unveils L1, the first all-electric, self-propelled travel trailer.

Lightship, America’s first all-electric recreational vehicle (RV) company, has announced the launch of its latest product - the Lightship L1. The Lightship L1 is a battery-powered travel trailer, and the first of its kind to have a self-propulsion system that enables near-zero range or mile-per-gallon efficiency loss for the vehicle towing it.

The Lightship L1 boasts a hyper-efficient design that is three times more aerodynamic than a traditional travel trailer, which allows for a longer range and greater efficiency. This means that a 300-mile range electric vehicle (EV) used to tow the trailer remains a 300-mile range EV, and a 25-mpg gas truck remains a 25-mpg gas truck.

The Lightship L1’s electric powertrain has up to 80 kWh of onboard battery capacity, allowing the trailer to propel itself and achieve near-zero range or efficiency loss for the tow vehicle. The no-compromise battery system can provide a week of off-grid power without charging, and coupled with up to 3 kW of solar power, the RV can power the living needs of its occupants, eliminating reliance on propane and other fossil fuels.

The Lightship L1 has a starting price of $125,000 or $118,400 after an available tax credit, and is available now for a $500 pre-order. Production is expected to begin in late 2024.

With a growing trend towards electric vehicles and sustainable travel, the Lightship L1 may appeal to eco-conscious RV enthusiasts who are looking for an environmentally friendly option for their travel needs.

Ben Parker, Lightship Co-Founder and CEO, said: One in 10 American families own an RV, but the RV industry hasn’t experienced innovation for decades. Inefficient, unreliable product designs and a power experience that relies on smelly, noisy, gas or propane generators fundamentally hinder the amazing experience of traveling in the outdoors.

Lightship’s co-founders, Ben Parker and Toby Kraus, were reminded of their early days at Tesla when they saw an opportunity in the RV industry. They noticed that advancements and innovation had stagnated, mainly due to a handful of large companies dominating the market.

To address this, Lightship secured funding through a Series A funding round in the summer of 2022, led by Victoria Beasley of Prelude Ventures, and a Seed funding round in 2021, led by Andrew Beebe of Obvious Ventures. The company also received support from other investors, including Congruent Ventures, My Climate Journey, HyperGuap, Alumni Ventures, Climactic, and Tony Fadell’s Build Collective.

Also Read: The All-Electric Fisker Pear Crossover Set to Release at Under USD 30,000.

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