Ahead of initial production scheduled for 2024, electric RV startup Lightship is offering a peek behind its solar electric curtain, detailing the efforts that went into its flagship L1 towable trailer to ensure it arrives as the more aerodynamic option on the market.
Lightship is a San Francisco, CA, and Boulder, Colorado-based startup that heralds itself as the first all-electric RV company – designing battery-powered trailers for the all-electric age. It was founded in 2020 by Ben Parker and Toby Kraus – two industry veterans with notable tenures at Tesla.
We have followed Lightship since its inception, through to the official unveiling of its L1 electric RV trailer at SXSW this past March. This travel trailer is unique in its aerodynamic, modular design and comes equipped with its own all-electric powertrain and battery pack, alleviating the towing capacity for the vehicle in front of it.
The result is a towable EV that will empower future owners to drive further and more efficiently without recharging as much. The L1’s debut last spring did not disappoint, but we have admittedly been left craving more details as an electric trailer that maintains its towing vehicle’s range has the makings to be an absolute game-changer in a stale RV industry.
Today, Lightship shared details of the L1’s development process – particularly the keen focus its creators put on aerodynamics – as it works to deliver a true one-of-a-kind electric RV.
The L1 in “Road Mode” / Credit: Lightship
Real world efficiency testing using Rivian EVs
Two examples of CFD simulated CFD runs that helped optimize the exterior design of the L1
Every facet of Lightship’s electric RV is optimized for aero
As you’ll learn about in the video from Lightship below, the startup simulated thousands of hours in a virtual wind tunnel using advanced modeling software and help from Angus Locke, who was the lead aerodynamicist on the Tesla Roadster.
This cost-saving technique helped Lightship analyze the airflow behavior around competitor trailers and compare it to its own electric RV designs, enabling its final concept. The startup’s founders also gathered their experience in passenger EVs to develop L1’s unique “Dual Mode” design, which allows for a roomy cabin with 7’6″ of headroom when parked in “Camp Mode” before telescoping its hard-sided walls down to “Road Mode,” thus reducing the Coefficient of Drag and Frontal Area by 35-40%.
Lightship goes on to point out three specific areas it optimized the L1 electric RV trailer:
Tongue Box: The trailer’s ever-so-important leading edge – dictating how the air interacts with the rest of the object downstream while in motion. The L1 features a storage box that helps stabilize the flow around the front of the vehicle while helping reduce the differential between the vehicle towing in front of it, regardless of whether it’s an EV or an ICE truck.
Boat-tailed Rear: Shallow angles at the back help avoid inducing strong vortices, which can increase drag while maintaining the central portion of the cabin to ensure a queen-size bed can still fit.
Electric Powertrain: The star of the show. Lightship’s L1 Long Range RV comes equipped with its own electric motor and battery, propelling itself while reducing the load on the tow vehicle and resulting in improved range.
R&D is vital in this process as Lightship looks to deliver a slam dunk on its first attempt to enter the RV market. However, simulations and computer designs can only go so far. At some point, real-world testing is necessary. To truly put the L1’s aerodynamics to the test, it towed an Essential version (no electric powertrain) 60 miles at a 60 mph pace using three different vehicles: a Rivian R1T pickup, R1S SUV, and gas-powered Ford F-150. For added comparison, Lightship also towed a “bullet-shaped trailer. Here are the results:
Configuration
R1T EV
R1S EV
F-150 Gas
No Trailer
2.17 mi/kWh
1.97 mi/kWh
23.2 mpg
“Bullet Trailer”
0.93 mi/kWh
0.96 mi/kWh
10.2 mpg
L1 Essential
1.26 mi/kWh
1.33 mi/kWh
14.4 mpg
L1 vs. “Bullet”
0.33 mi/kWh (+35%)
0.37 mi/kWh (+28%)
4.2 mpg (+29%)
Overall, the L1 is more efficient than its competitor, regardless of whether the towing vehicle is electric or combustion. Keep in mind that the data above does not account for the L1 Long Range, which promises to offer near-zero range loss thanks to its own drivetrain system.
Current electric pickup and SUV owners are seeing huge cuts to range when towing, making long trips with a trailer more difficult than a traditional ICE vehicle. However, Lightship’s L1 RV has solved that issue, even without its electric motor.
The Lightship L1 is currently available for pre-order with $500 down and is priced between $125,000 and $151,500, depending on which version you opt for. Production is expected to begin in late 2024.
Be sure to check out Lightship’s aerodynamic testing in the video below:
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There are plenty of electric fat tire bikes on the market these days, but few feel as purpose-built and refined as the Puckipuppy Labrador Pro. While the name might sound like a friendly pooch, don’t let it fool you… this is a serious all-terrain machine with enough power to rip through sand, snow, or steep trails. Plus, if it can do all that, it can surely handle your commute, too!
Built for the wild (and the wild commute)
Right out of the gate, the Puckipuppy Labrador Pro feels like it’s aimed at a very specific type of rider – someone who wants the capability of an electric mountain bike, the stability of a fat tire cruiser, and the commuting chops of a Class 3 bike built for the streets.
That hybrid identity is reflected in the bike’s rugged 6061 aluminum frame, which includes internal cable routing for a clean look and a removable 48V 20Ah lithium-ion battery nestled into the downtube. The battery is locking and removable, offering a massive 960Wh of capacity. It claims up to 80 miles of range per charge under optimal conditions.
That’s quite respectable for a nearly 1 kWh battery powering a peak 1,350W hub motor!
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Custom-motor muscle with real torque
Puckipuppy’s Labrador Pro isn’t running just any hub motor. This one’s a custom PUCKIPUPPY-branded unit, and it cranks out a claimed 1,350W of peak power. In addition to an extra helping of wattage, this thing delivers serious torque, and it delivers it instantly.
Thanks to the smart torque sensor, the motor responds immediately to how hard you’re pedaling. You don’t get that jarring “kick” from cadence-sensor bikes. Instead, the assist feels intuitive and fluid, even when climbing steep dirt paths or rolling over beach dunes.
It’s the kind of responsive pedaling experience that makes you forget you’re even riding an electric bike, at least until you realize you’re doing a solid 25 mph while barely breaking a sweat.
Suspension and traction dialed in
One of the standout features of the Labrador Pro is its full-suspension setup, which instantly sets it apart from most fat tire e-bikes in this price range. Up front, you’ve got a sturdy hydraulic suspension fork with 130mm of travel, while the rear features its own shock that smooths out bumps, roots, and rough terrain. Whether rolling over rocky trails or dropping curbs in the city, the dual suspension keeps the ride comfortable and under control.
That plush suspension pairs perfectly with the bike’s 26” x 4” all-terrain fat tires, which offer a massive contact patch and plenty of cushion. The bike can float over sand, gravel, and even loose pine-needle trails with zero drama. These tires aren’t limited to only off-road performance either. On pavement, they give the Labrador Pro a smooth, stable feel, especially when aired up to road pressure.
And when it comes time to slow things down, the 180mm hydraulic disc brakes give you reliable, confidence-inspiring stopping power, even on fast descents or in wet conditions.
Drivetrain and speed
Backing up the torque-heavy motor is a Shimano 8-speed drivetrain, which shifts smoothly and gives you enough range to ride comfortably even without assist. That’s especially nice when your battery gets low, or when you want to dial down the motor to extend your range on a long ride.
The Labrador Pro is also a Class 3 e-bike, meaning it provides pedal assist up to 28 mph. There’s also a left-side thumb throttle that can get you moving without pedaling at all, and it’s zippy – topping out around 20 mph on throttle alone. Combined, these modes make the Labrador Pro equally useful as a car-replacing commuter or a weekend trail shredder.
Looks and utility of the Puckipuppy Labrador Pro
The Puckipuppy Labrador Pro comes in four different colors, though the orange option here is definitely the brightest and the most fun, at least in our opinion. No matter your color, the integrated headlight and rear brake light are a nice touch for safety to help you be seen, especially for early morning or dusk rides.
It also includes front and rear fenders, which help when you’re splashing through mud or wet pavement, and a heavy-duty rear cargo rack. Plus, the bike supports up to 400 lb of payload. That makes this bike more than just a toy – it’s also a workhorse capable of hauling groceries, gear, or just about anything you can throw at it.
The full-color LCD display mounted on the handlebars gives you real-time readouts of speed, battery level, distance, and assist level. The control pad on the left is intuitive, and gives you all the info you need at a glance.
Final thoughts on the Puckipuppy Labrador Pro
The Puckipuppy Labrador Pro is a seriously capable all-terrain e-bike with great specs at a competitive price of just $1,599. For riders who want a go-anywhere, do-anything machine with torque-sensing pedal assist, fat tires, and real power under the hood, this is a compelling option.
It’s not the cheapest fat tire e-bike out there, but you don’t want the cheapest bike when you’re barrelling down a rocky trail. And when you consider the powerful motor, torque sensor, 960Wh battery, hydraulic brakes, and full commuter-ready features like fenders and a rack, it starts to look like a solid value.
Whether you’re carving through mountain trails, powering across sandy beaches, or just blasting past traffic on your way to work, the Labrador Pro brings its A game every time.
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Super73, the lifestyle e-bike brand known for its moto-inspired designs, just dropped a teaser that has fans buzzing… and scratching their heads. In a cryptic Instagram post, the company shared a silhouetted image of a new two-wheeled electric vehicle alongside the promise of unveiling “an entirely new generation of electric mobility” next month.
The official debut is set for October 11th at the Moto Beach Classic, and while details are scarce, the image and language give us a few key clues.
First, there are the visuals. The teaser image shows a chunky, fat-tire two-wheeler that looks like a departure from Super73’s current lineup. The frame appears heavily stylized with what may be body panels that cover part of the traditional bike silhouette in the rear, or perhaps just extra gussets on the frame. There’s no visible suspension, neither in the fork nor the rear triangle (in fact, there’s no rear triangle at all, opting for a classic mini-bike styled frame instead), suggesting this could be a rigid ride. That could point to a lightweight design or a retro mini-bike platform that ditches extra components in favor of simplicity and affordability.
Pedals are still visible, keeping this squarely in e-bike territory (at least legally), but everything else about the bike leans much more toward electric moto than bicycle. With large off-road tires, a long flat seat, and a minimalist-looking cockpit, it gives off stripped-down dirt bike or electric pit bike vibes.
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There’s also a fairly large battery slung under the top tube. If the bike rides on 20″ tires like the rest of Super73’s lineup, then that could be a much bigger battery than we’re used to seeing. I overlaid a Super73-Z Miami on the image below, and you can see that the mystery bike’s battery dwarfs the one on the red Super73-Z. But those could also be smaller-diameter tires, meaning the battery may be a standard Super73 pack.
A red Super73-Z Miami overlaid on the teaser bike
Then there’s the caption. Super73 says they’re unveiling the “next big thing (figuratively speaking),” which might lend credence to the theory that this will actually be smaller than their usual offerings. Could it be a compact adventure mini-bike? A budget-friendly urban ripper? A youth-focused model? We’ve seen the brand expand into kids’ bikes before, so it wouldn’t be a shocker.
The real wildcard is how much power this thing will pack. Super73 has always leaned into the blurred line between e-bike and moped, and if this new model keeps pedals just for show while cranking serious wattage under the hood, we might be looking at something more akin to a Sur Ron competitor.
With recent shakeups in Super73’s leadership team and the seemingly frozen state of the long-awaited Super73’s C1X electric motorcycle, which only made it partway through development, perhaps this could be the new model replacing the company’s former motorcycle aspirations.
Whatever it is, it’s not just another iteration of the RX. This looks like a whole new category, possibly even a new platform for the brand. And in an industry where yearly innovation often just means a new paint job, it’s refreshing to see a company hint at something different.
Stay tuned – we’ll be watching closely when the curtain lifts next month.
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Mercedes-Benz is saying goodbye to its capable, seven-passenger EQB electric vehicle – but that doesn’t mean it’s over. If you’ve been eyeing a new, quasi-affordable SUV with nationwide dealer support and a luxury logo, the time is now.
German-language Mercedes fansite JESMB is reporting that Mercedes-Benz has removed the EQB from its dealer configurator page, and the company’s Hungarian plant in Kecskemét will only produce new EQBs that have already been ordered until production of the new-look Mercedes GLB “with EQ technology” begins in 2026.
A quick search reveals that dealers are pushing hard to unload their existing stock of Mercedes EQBs. Mercedes-Benz of North Olmsted in Ohio (home of Benzs and Bowties’ Doug Horner), for example, recently advertised a new EQB with an MSRP of $59,300 with a $9,000 manufacturer incentive plus a $4,744 dealer discount. That’s more than 23% off the EV’s original sticker price and, at $45,556, is well below the $48,841 average transaction price for new vehicles in July.
MBZNO sold that car, and they’re not alone. CarsDirect has reported up to $14,500 in total Mercedes-Benz lease incentives for some EQB lease programs in select markets while TrueCar reports an average 15.6% average savings (!) off MSRP.
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For that money, Mercedes’ EQB customers get a capable, mid-sized SUV with room for five adults and two kids in (what my family has come to call) “the wayback” seats, 251 miles of EPA-rated range and a 30 minute 10-80% charge time on a 100 kW DCFC. 0-60 mph performance and highway acceleration is adequate, ranging from a 6.0-second sprint in the EQB 350 models and 7-8 seconds from the 250+ and 300 models.
It’s still a tough sell
Mercedes EQB slasher sale; via ChatGPT.
Even with the discounts, there’s no escaping the fact that EVs from brands like Chevy, Ford, Hyundai, and Kia have objectively eclipsed the EQB in terms of range, performance, and charging speeds.
That said, the three-pointed star still means something to a lot of buyers. If they can look beyond the specs and take the EQB for a test drive, they might find that the signature Mercedes-Benz feel indeed lives in this well-rounded electric SUV, and that will probably be able to handle everything they throw at it. Plus, with the $7,500 Federal EV Tax Credit set to expire on September 30th, the current deals on this electric SUV might be as good as it gets!
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