Lightship L1, the electric caravan that helps itself be towed

Caravans seem to have taken a back seat with the arrival of motorhomes. The latter are more comfortable to drive and offer more space to their occupants. Camper-converted vehicles are also more practical, since caravans need to be towed by a fairly powerful vehicle, capable of pulling the weight of the trailer. In a market where electric cars are beginning to be very present, that can be a problem.

But one of the solutions presented comes from two veterans of Tesla, Ben Parker and Toby Kraus. They have designed a caravan that allows electric vehicles not to consume more energy than normal when towing it, preserving most of their range.

The design of the Lightship L1 is intended to make it three times more aerodynamic than any other caravan on the market. This already helps make it more efficient and means it doesn’t affect the range of the towing vehicle as much. But what really helps maintain that range is the 80 kWh battery.

This battery means that the caravan itself provides traction, so resistance is greatly reduced and far less energy is needed to move it. An electric vehicle with a range of 400 kilometers, for example, will be able to cover that entire distance even while towing the trailer.

Another interesting point is that this caravan can be used not only by an electric vehicle, but can also be towed by a vehicle with a combustion engine. To complement its electrical supply, the L1 has a solar panel installation that produces 3 kW. This energy powers the caravan’s electrical systems and prevents the energy stored in the battery from being used.

The trailer is generously sized: 8.2 meters long, 2.5 meters wide and 3 meters high in camping mode. The maximum weight is 3,400 kg. It can sleep four to six people and is quite well equipped. All of this comes at a price, and it is not cheap. To get hold of a Lightship L1 unit will cost $125,000, with a $5,000 deposit. The first units are scheduled for delivery at the end of 2024.

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