Ex-Tesla Engineers Created EV Camp Trailer That Pushes Itself

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In the event you’re available in the market for a swanky camper to tow behind your huge truck, you’ve received loads of good choices to select from lately. There are the traditional stylings of an Airstream or the fashionable minimalism of a Bowlus trailer to try to choose between. Or, you can go for one thing extra fashionable trying like this: the Lightship L1.

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This futuristic tenting trailer has been designed by a duo of ex-Tesla engineers and options just a few modern occasion tips. As you would possibly anticipate from a pair of EV consultants, the trailer encompasses a hefty 80 kWh battery pack. However not like most trailers that use their batteries to energy issues like fridges and lights, this energy pack is used to run electrical motors that flip the camper’s wheels.

Why would you desire a camper that may push itself round, I hear you ask. Properly, in response to Lightship it’s all in support of maintaining the vary and effectivity of the car that’s towing the trailer. In accordance with Lightship, due to the onboard motors, a “300-mile vary electrical car (EV) used to tow it stays a 300-mile vary EV, and a 25-mpg fuel truck stays a 25-mpg fuel truck.”

A render of the interior of the Lightship camper.

Cabinets and tables and chairs, oh my!
Picture: Lightship

What’s extra, this RV has much more electrical trickery up its sleeve. The engineers additionally fitted the roof with three kW of solar energy, which the corporate says can run the wants of its occupants for “week of off-grid energy with out charging.”

It’s a reasonably spectacular sounding machine, and will get much more interesting if you hear about its residing quarters, which, in any case, are a very powerful factor about any tenting trailer.

First up, there’s the pop-top. The entire camper has been designed to fold in on itself to cut back drag whereas driving. Which means if you cease to arrange camp, it’s important to elevate up the roof to create a 10-foot tall RV.

Inside all that area, you’ll discover an “ecosystem of all-electric home equipment,” which may embrace an electrical fridge, oven and range high. There’s additionally a small lavatory that contains a bathe, rest room and sink.

A photo of the solar panels on the roof of the Lightship.

Taking the time period ‘panel van’ to a complete new degree.
Picture: Lightship

Within the residing area, Lightship will match the trailer with a “versatile lounge area” that can be utilized as a seating space and doubles up as a mattress. That seating space can also be surrounded by panoramic home windows, to provide the greatest views of wherever you’ve chosen to spend the evening.

Throughout the trailer, you’ll additionally discover a great deal of cabinets and space for storing for all of your touring necessities, and a big worktop for all of your meals prep wants. I have to say, all of it appears very neat.

In complete, the Lightship L1 measures 27-feet lengthy, eight-feet six-inches broad and six-feet nine-inches tall, in it’s folded down, road-going mode. It weighs 7,500 lbs when totally loaded and Lightship says it has area for 4 to 6 passengers, “relying on configuration.”

An image of the Lightship camper set up for the night.

I simply popped as much as say whats up.
Picture: Lightship

For now, that is only a idea that we will all take pleasure in, however Lightship is taking pre-orders for the L1 forward of its launch. You will get your identify on the waitlist for a $500 deposit, and the ultimate worth of the journey trailer will begin at $125,000. Manufacturing of the Lightship L1 is predicted to start in late 2024.

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