The L1 from Lightship has both an electric drivetrain and a big battery pack. The L1’s battery pack is kept charged by the solar panels that are built into it. The L1, which costs about $125,000, won’t be sent out until 2024. We often have questions that still need to be answered. Do other planets have a life? Is there any chance of peace in the world? How well can a long-distance camper be pulled by an electric car? Since many recreational vehicle companies are adding battery-electric propulsion, the second question may be answered soon. A new company called Lightship is the most recent one to join this market. Ben Parker and Toby Kraus started Lightship, which will begin making its solar-powered, battery-powered L1 camper trailer in late 2024. Both men worked at Tesla for five years in the past. Lightship says that the L1’s 80 kWh battery pack allows it to move without putting stress on the attached vehicle’s electric motor(s) or internal combustion engine(s). In theory, this means that neither the energy efficiency nor the range of the EV or ICE vehicle to which the L1s are attached will be affected. Before our L1, we will only fully understand how this works in real life. Lightship believes the L1’s large battery pack can move this camper 300 miles at “highway speed” on a single charge. Lightship plans to add several 3 kW solar panels to the L1. Although solar panels can charge the battery pack, most L1 buyers will set it at home with Level 1 or 2 chargers or on the go with a DC fast charger. Since most fast chargers have a limited range, it may be hard for people to charge their EVs and the L1 simultaneously or one after the other if they tow it. Also, doing so could anger other EV drivers who need to set up their cars. But it’s nice to know that owners of the L1 won’t have to wait hours for this camper to charge using its solar panels or a slower AC charger while they’re on the road. Even though the L1’s electric drivetrain is equally suitable for gas, diesel, and battery-powered tow vehicles, America’s growing electric charging infrastructure means that EV drivers who want to travel long distances with their camper in tow will likely be more likely interested in this low-slung sleeper. In our tests, we found that when a 6100-pound trailer was attached to a Ford F-150 Lightning, a GMC Hummer EV pickup, or a Rician R1T, the driving range of each electric truck was cut by more than 50% compared to how far it could go when it was unloaded on a 75-mph highway. The solar-powered L1 has a sleek design and an electric drivetrain. It costs around $125,000 before the $6,600 tax credit that Lightship says the L1 is eligible for. Even with the tax credit, the L1 is not a cheap buy. On the plus side, people who want to buy an L1 only have to pay $500 to reserve one. Since deliveries will start in a year, people who have made reservations have time to figure out how to get the rest of the money they need to buy an L1.
