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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Tesla has started offering leases of certified pre-owned cars, which is relatively rare in the industry, with $0 down as it desperately tries to move vehicles before the end of the quarter.
With the federal tax credit for electric vehicles set to expire at the end of the quarter, automakers in the US are all trying to optimize EV sales, as demand is being pulled forward.
This also applies to used EVs, as the $4,000 federal incentive for used electric vehicles will also expire on September 30th.
Now, leasing used vehicles is much less common than leasing new cars, but some automakers, or mainly dealers, do offer it.
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Tesla is getting into this business for the first time.
In California and Texas, Tesla is now offering leases on certified pre-owned (aka used) Model 3 and Model Y vehicles.
These are reasonably priced and can be as low as $215 per month with $0 down for a 24-month lease and 10,000 miles per year.
Tesla also offers a 12-month lease and up to 15,000 miles annually. While there’s no down payment needed, there’s an “Acquisition Fee” of $695.
That, and the first month, is all you need to get in a used Tesla for the next year or two.
This is undoubtedly the cheapest way to get into a Tesla vehicle right now.
Tesla is trying to sell as many vehicles as possible in the US this quarter, as demand for EVs has been pulled forward due to the end of the tax credit. This is expected to result in a record quarter in the US, but it also going to create a few difficult ones in the future.
With demand being pulled forward and future buyers feeling like they missed out on EV discounts, the US EV market is expected to experience a significant slowdown over the next 12 to 18 months.
Tesla sales are down about 13% globally so far this year. While this quarter is expected to be better, many analysts still anticipate Tesla’s year-over-year performance to be down.
This year alone, Tesla added more than 50,000 electric vehicles to its inventory.
Used cars have also been piling up.
Tesla owners rushed to sell their vehicles as Tesla’s brand perception dived following its CEO’s involvement in politics.
Danish equipment makers HG build job site dumpers that help move sand, rocks, debris, construction waste, and building supplies across rugged, uneven urban job sites. And with the introduction of their newest E3000 model, they’re helping move more than three tons of that stuff without emissions and — just as crucially — without noise.
HG announced the E3000 electric site dumper just this week, adding the new 3 tonne capacity to its growing lineup of 1 and 2 tonne dumpers (that’s over 6,600 lbs., in “landed on the Moon” units). With a 180° swivel tip on the bucket as standard equipment and an optional high tip version available at launch, it should be able to handle just about anything a hard working construction crew can throw at it.
“With the HG E3000, we once again prove that electric dumpers are not only better for people and the environment. They are also more efficient, cheaper to operate, and can run more than a full working day on a single charge,” explains Nikolaj Birkerod, CEO of HG, told Power Progress. “With 3 tonne dumpers, we are proving, as we already have with 2 tonne dumpers, that we can deliver on both performance and reliability while enabling customers to save 15% per operating hour compared to a diesel dumper.”
Exact specs haven’t been released, but HG claims the E3000’s 29 kWh is good for 12 full hours of continuous, loaded operation, and that it can be fully recharged on a “standard” 220 charger (L2) in about four hours. If you’re curious about what has been released, I’ve got all that for you right here:
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The only all-electric dumper on the market that gives you 12 working hours while carrying 3 tonnes payload.
Our latest addition to accelerate 100% machinery:
3-ton payload for high-capacity material handling
12-hour working – a full day’s work without recharging
Optional high tip for quick and flexible unloading into containers and trucks
180° swivel tip as standard for precise placement of loads
Fast charging: 0–100% in approx. 4 hours with the integrated charger
Lithium 29 kWh battery with automatic heating for all-season use
One-pedal drive for smooth and intuitive operation
The E3000 is built for contractors and rental companies who demand maximum productivity without compromising on environmental responsibility.
With a carrying capacity of 3 tonnes and an industry-leading 12 hours of effective runtime on a single charge, it’s proof that heavy-duty work and zero emissions can go hand in hand.
At the heart of the E3000 is HG’s patented articulated drivetrain with four independent in-wheel motors. This unique design delivers the most energy-efficient power transfer in the industry, using significantly less power than conventional electric system. This translates directly into lower operating costs and more hours on site between charges.
No word yet on pricing or whether or not the new dumper will eventually be sold outside the European market, but we do know that HG plans to deliver the first examples of its new machine to customers by early 2026.
Electrek’s Take
E3000 w/ high-tip bucket; via HG.
While there are a lot of people outside the urban construction space who may scoff at environmental concerns, the quest for improved efficiency and cost reduction among commercial fleet managers knows no political ideology. Add in more restrictive noise regulations and the side benefits of improved job site safety and fewer sick days, and electric equipment is a no-brainer.
Simply put: If it’s better or cheaper, fleets will buy it. If it’s better and cheaper, they’ll buy two — and battery powered equipment is proving to be consistently better, in a broader scope of use cases, than diesel.
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For just $129 per month, the Volkswagen ID.4 might be the best EV lease deal right now. At that, it’s almost half the cost of a new Jetta.
Volkswagen ID.4 is cheaper to lease than a Jetta
After the 2025 model year went on sale, the ID.4 raced out to become the third-best-selling EV in the US in January.
With ultra-low lease prices starting at just $129 per month, it’s no wonder Volkswagen’s electric SUV is flying off the lots.
For a $45,000 SUV, any lease under $200 a month is a steal nowadays. It’s even cheaper than leasing a new Jetta S, despite costing nearly twice as much.
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The deal is for a 24-month lease with a $2,499 due at signing, resulting in an effective monthly cost of $233. To put that into perspective, the 2025 VW Jetta S is listed for lease at $269 for 36 months. With $3,999 due at signing, the effective rate is $380, making the ID.4 a significantly better deal.
Volkswagen ID.4 (Source: Volkswagen)
Volkswagen’s deals vary by region. The $129 offer is available in California and a few other West Coast states. In others, it’s listed at $329 for 24 months with $4,499 due at signing.
The Volkswagen ID.4 is available in five different trims: Pro, AWD Pro, Pro S, AWD Pro S, and AWD Pro S Plus. The base 2025 ID.4 PRO RWD starts at $45,095 with up to 291 miles of driving range.
Volkswagen ID.4 interior (Source: Volkswagen)
Although the ID.4 lease offer is tempting, Hyundai may still have it beat with the 2025 IONIQ 5 available to lease from $179 per month nationwide.
Volkswagen’s offer ends on September 30, when the federal EV tax credit is set to expire. After that, much of the savings will disappear unless the company steps in with its own incentives.