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Electric RV specialist Lightship is officially entering the recreation vehicle segment with a renamed version of its all-electric travel trailer, formerly known as the L1. Today, the company unveiled the Lightship AE.1—the production-ready version of its predecessor. It is now on sale as a limited “Cosmo Edition,” of which only a limited supply will be built and sold.

As we’ve detailed in the past, Lightship is a startup rooted in San Francisco with operations in Broomfield, Colorado. It was founded in 2020 by Ben Parker and Toby Kraus—two industry veterans with impressive resumes that include notable contributions at Tesla.

The young company first caught our attention when it quietly launched in the summer of 2022 before officially stepping out of the shadows a year later. During that time, Lightship declared itself the first all-electric RV company, designing unique battery-powered trailers for the all-electric age while striving to bring fresh and, more importantly, sustainable options to a stale trailer and RV segment.

Lightship’s progress began on the wheels of its flagship electric travel trailer, the L1, whose telescoping aerodynamic design caught the attention of many electric mobility enthusiasts. Last December, we spoke to the startup’s founders, who walked us through the design process of this one-of-a-kind, aerodynamic electric trailer.

By January of 2024, capitalists had also caught wind of the design feats Lightship had accomplished with the L1 and opened their checkbooks to commit $34 million in Series B funding to help the startup accelerate electric trailer production.

Eleven months later, Lightship has a production-ready version of the L1 it has now renamed, and today begins accepting initial orders as it gears up to start mass producing them.

  • Electric trailer
  • Electric trailer
  • Electric trailer

Lightship’s electric trailer renamed “AE.1” ahead of sales

Today, Lightship officially unveiled the final design of its flagship electric travel trailer, which is now called the AE.1. The vehicle launch begins with a special Cosmos Edition which will see a limited production run of 50 units, all developed and assembled at the company’s facilities in Colorado. Lightship co-founder and chief product officer Ben Parker elaborated:

With the limited-edition Lightship AE.1 Cosmos, we’re delivering a dream travel experience for
sustainable travelers, tech lovers and EV enthusiasts. Our mission is to bring RVs into the electric age with the AE.1. The Cosmos Edition is the first premium realization, and we have other trims to fit travelers’ needs
coming quickly down the road.

The AE.1, built by “America’s first all-electric recreational manufacturer” features the same modular, telescoping, aerodynamic design showcased in the L1 as well as a “TrekDrive” power system that uses an electric motor to deliver near-zero range loss for EV drivers and less miles-per-gallon drain for gas vehicles towing it

The premium-level Cosmos Edition of the AE.1 features a plush interior focused on sustainability, function, and space. Its roof features an integrated, full-solar design that enables an all-electric camping experience without the annoying noise of a gas generator or the hazards of having combustible propane tanks onboard.

The AE.1 offers room to sleep four and comes complete with an automotive-grade HVAC system, a fully outfitted bathroom, and a Galley Kitchen with all the luxuries of comfortable off-grid living, including a dishwasher, refrigerator, microwave, convection oven, and induction cooktop.

The 50 planned builds of the AE.1 Cosmo Edition electric travel trailer will be available in two unique colorways and are expected to begin production in the summer of 2025. Each Cosmo Edition costs $250,000 and will be sold to early reservation holders first before being made available to other interested parties.

Following deliveries of the Cosmo Edition, Lightship shared plans for three additional trims of its electric travel trailer. They are called Atmos, Panos, and Terros and will “serve travelers’ needs with distinct feature sets and price points.” The company said it will continue to accept refundable reservations for the three future trim levels, but its immediate focus is on getting the premium version of the electric travel trailer out to those interested customers.

You can learn more here and place a reservation if you’d like.

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Zevtron, ParkMobile to support discontinued Shell Recharge EV chargers

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Zevtron, ParkMobile to support discontinued Shell Recharge EV chargers

Zevtron, ParkMobile, and Athena Partners Strategy Group are together supporting charging site owners and EV drivers affected by Shell Recharge’s shutdown of its EV charger software.

Shell Recharge is discontinuing its Shell Sky software in third-party commercial EV chargers in the US and Canada. It will service third-party commercial fleet EV chargers until April 30; after that, it’s lights out, leaving hundreds of EV charging stations across the US inoperable.

Zevtron, ParkMobile, and Athena Partners Strategy Group is deploying Zevtron’s white-label EV charging software across the former Shell Recharge network to restore full operational capacity to these chargers.

“Shell’s exit has left hundreds of chargers effectively stranded,” said Chris Mckenty, SVP of sales & marketing at Zevtron. “Our goal is to rapidly restore these stations to full functionality while enhancing their capabilities with flexible branding, seamless payment options, and improved management tools.”

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ParkMobile will extend its capabilities to process EV charging sessions so users can both park and charge. “Integrating EV charging parking sessions into ParkMobile simplifies access for millions of drivers who already rely on our platform,” said Andy Harman, vice president of sales at ParkMobile.

Athena Partners Strategy Group will work closely with cities, businesses, and property owners to deploy the new solution efficiently. “We see this as a major opportunity to not only restore EV charging infrastructure but also improve it for the long term,” said Nick Stanton, managing partner of Athena Partners Strategy Group.

The partnership says it’s a “turnkey solution to ensure uninterrupted service, enhanced user experience, and improved revenue potential.”

For more information on transitioning Shell Recharge EV chargers to the Zevtron-powered network,
contact Chris Mckenty at cmckenty@zevtron.com

Read more: Shell Recharge exits the US EV charger software market


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Volkswagen ID.4 breaks into the top 5 best-selling EVs in the US after sales surged in January

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Volkswagen ID.4 breaks into the top 5 best-selling EVs in the US after sales surged in January

The Volkswagen ID.4 was the third best-selling EV in the US last month, trailing only the Tesla Model Y and Model 3. Volkswagen’s electric SUV made a comeback after sales surged over 650% in January.

Volkswagen ID.4 was the third best-selling EV in January

Although ID.4 sales fell by 55% last year after Volkswagen halted production and deliveries in September due to a recall over faulty door handles, the EV made a triumphant return in 2025.

Volkswagen sold 4,979 ID.4’s in the US last month, up 653% from January 2024. To put it in perspective, VW only sold 646 ID.4 models in the fourth quarter and just over 17,000 in 2024. At this rate, ID.4 sales are on pace to reach nearly 60,000 by the end of 2025.

According to Cox Automotive’s latest EV Market Monitor report, the ID.4 was the third best-selling EV in the US last month, behind the Tesla Model Y and Model 3.

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The Honda Prologue and Tesla Cybertruck rounded out the top five. Combined, the top five selling EV models accounted for 54% of total sales in the US last month.

Rank Model
1. Tesla Model Y
2. Tesla Model 3
3. Volkswagen ID.4
4. Tesla Cybertruck
5. Honda Prologue
Top-selling EVs in the US in January 2025 (Cox Automotive)

Over 102,200 electric vehicles were sold in the US in January, up nearly 30% from January 2024. Although sales were down from the record 132,392 sold in December 2024, a drop was expected over typical seasonal trends.

Tesla doesn’t provide a breakdown of US sales, so we will not know exact sales numbers until registration data is released.

Honda-Prologue-best-selling-EV
2024 Honda Prologue Elite (Source: Honda)

Honda’s electric SUV continues to take the market by storm, with 3,744 Prologues sold in January. After delivering the first models last March, the Honda Prologue became the seventh best-selling EV in the US last year, with over 33,000 models sold.

Volkswagen announced the ID.4 was back on sale last month, with the “aim of re-instating the ID.4 to its prior position as one of the best-selling electric vehicles in the US and Canada.” It looks like it’s happening quicker than expected.

Volkswagen-ID.4-best-selling
Volkswagen ID.4 (Source: Volkswagen)

The new entry-level 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 RWD Pro model starts at $45,095, while the AWD Pro costs $48,995. Both are powered by an 82 kWh battery. Volkswagen said the 62 kWh battery will be available later this year. The larger battery provides an EPA-estimated range of up to 291 miles.

VW’s base models feature a gloss black grille, black roof rails, and a 12.9″ infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support. The AWD version has 20″ wheels, a heated windshield, and a tow hitch.

Volkswagen-ID.4-best-selling
Volkswagen ID.4 interior (Source: Volkswagen)

The ID.4 Pro S RWD starts at $50,195, and the AWD model has a sticker price of $54,095. It gets an added illuminated VW logo at the front and rear, premium LED projector headlights, a panoramic fixed glass roof, power tailgate, and more.

Volkswagen’s range-topping 2025 ID.4 Pro S Plus is only available in AWD and starts at $57,295. The Plus trim features 21-inch wheels, added exterior design elements, heated rear seats, a premium Harman Kardon audio system, and an Area View (an overhead view camera).

Both electric SUVs feature some of the biggest discounts on the market right now. To make room for 2025 models, VW is offering close-out prices on the 2024 ID.4, with leases starting as low as $189 per month. However, the Honda Prologue is hard to pass up, starting at just $209 per month. Ready to check them out for yourself? You can use our links below to find deals on the Volkswagen ID.4 and Honda Prologue in your area today.

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Here’s why Rivian’s (RIVN) stock is down today even after its big Q4 milestone

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Here's why Rivian's (RIVN) stock is down today even after its big Q4 milestone

Rivian (RIVN) shares hit a new yearly low on Monday, dropping nearly 10%. Despite achieving its first gross profit in Q4, Rivian’s stock is taking a beating due to mixed analyst opinions. Here’s what they’re saying.

Last week, Rivian released its fourth quarter 2024 earnings, announcing a gross profit of $170 million. Although still a relatively small number, it’s a massive $776 million improvement from Q4 2023 and Rivian’s first positive gross profit.

After shutting down its manufacturing plant in Normal, IL, last April for upgrades and launching its second-generation R1 vehicles, CEO RJ Scaringe said the company is seeing “meaningful” cost reductions.

“This quarter, we achieved positive gross profit and removed $31,000 in automotive cost of goods sold per vehicle delivered in Q4 2024 relative to Q4 2023,” Scaringe explained last week after releasing fourth-quarter earnings.

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Rivian built 49,476 vehicles last year and delivered 51,579. In 2025, the company expects slightly fewer deliveries, projecting between 46,000 and 51,000 due to external factors, including changing government policies. It also expects lower EDV deliveries for Amazon after higher output in Q4.

Q1 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024 Full-Year 2024 2025 guidance
Deliveries 13,588 13,790 10,018 14,183 51,579 46,000 – 51,000
Production 13,980 9,612 13,157 12,727 49,476 N/A
Rivian EV deliveries and production by quarter in 2024

Some Wall St analysts are also concerned about policy changes under the Trump Administration. On Monday, Bank of America analysts downgraded Rivian stock to an Underperform rating from Neutral following its Q4 results.

The analysts also cut Rivian’s stock price target to $10 from $13, saying the 2025 delivery forecast was “softer than expected” and “there could be more downside risk if policy changes are enacted.”

Rivian-stock-Q4-2024-earnings
Production at Rivian’s Normal, IL plant (Source: Rivian)

Rivian stock hit with a downgrade after Q4 earnings

Bank of America warned that new competition from Lucid (LCID), GM’s Chevy, and VW’s Scout could impact sales projections over the next few years.

Meanwhile, the memo did say Rivian is still “one of the most viable” EV startups and the joint venture with Volkswagen is “complicating earnings forecasts for at least the next four years” for forecasting. Rivian finalized its EV joint venture with VW in the fourth quarter, worth up to $5.8 billion, of which Rivian will get $3.5 billion over the next few years.

Rivian-stock-Q4-2024-earnings
Rivian’s next-gen R2, R3, and R3X (Source: Rivian)

Part of Rivian’s lower 2025 delivery forecast is due to plant upgrades coming at the end of the year for its more affordable R2 SUV. Starting at $45,000, the R2 will be nearly half the cost of the current R1S and R1T.

Rivian plans to begin R2 production early next year in Normal but expects output to significantly ramp up at its new EV plant in Georgia.

Rivian-stock-Q4-profit
Rivian EV production plans (Source: Rivian)

Despite closing on its loan agreement for the US DOE for up to $6.6 billion last month, the funding is up in the air with Trump threatening to freeze federal loans.

“Given the Trump Administration’s focus on cost-cutting, we believe there could be a risk to RIVN’s $6.6 billion Department of Energy loan closed by the Biden Administration on Jan 16,” Bank of America analysts said.

Rivian-stock-Q4-2024-earnings
Rivian (RIVN) stock chart February 2024 through February 2025 (Source: TradingView)

Despite the downgrade, several analysts upgraded the stock. Needham raised its price target from $14 to $17, while Wells Fargo bumped theirs up to $14 from $11 with an “Equal-Weight” rating.

Rivian’s stock was down over 8% on Monday following the downgrade. At around $11.90, however, Rivian shares are still up 11% over the past year.

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