A START-UP making zero-emission recreational vehicles with former Tesla staff has unveiled its new versatile L1 Lightship camper.

The model redefines the traditional RV trailer experience with improved aerodynamics, a battery-powered drive for low-powered towing, and a sliding roof.

A Rivian R1T electric truck shown hauling an L1 Lightship camperCredit: LIGHTSHIP

4

The L1 Lightship camper contains a sliding roof instead of pop-out sectionsCredit: LIGHTSHIP
Ben Parker, CEO of Lightship, had previously spent five years as a Tesla battery engineer working on the company’s Model 3 sedan, Electrive reports.

Parker founded Lightship alongside the company’s current president, Toby Kraus.

Kraus similarly worked at Tesla in the company’s finance department before transitioning into Model S development.

But ex-Tesla staff aren’t the only minds looking to inject some life into the currently quiet electric RV market.

The L1 Lightship is also being made alongside Rivian, Proterra, Lucid, and Zoox electric vehicle (EV) veterans, MotorTrend reports.

L1 Lightship comes with three times more aerodynamic capabilities than a traditional trailer.

A vehicle with improved aerodynamics provides drivers with more electric range during towing.

This advanced camper also features a proprietary propulsion drive component with up to 80kW of onboard battery capacity, MotorTrend reports.

The drive results in the trailer propelling itself to achieve near-zero range or efficiency loss for the front tow vehicle, according to Electrive.

This drive works alongside the camper’s battery system, backed by up to 3 kW of power to supply a week of off-grid energy without charging.

Instead of traditional camper slide-outs, the L1 Lightship’s entire roof is sliding, so you feel less trapped inside the trailer.

While Tesla doesn’t yet have a camper to compete with the L1 Lightship, fans of the electric car manufacturer have published their own ideas for a competing product.

Tesla fans unveiled mods of the company’s upcoming Cybertruck turned into a wild camper van.

The company manufacturing this mod is named Space Campers.

Space Camper’s site describes their camper: “Our robust and resilient build utilizes aerospace-grade composites and manufacturing processes to put strength, precision, and durability first,”

The futuristic camper’s pre-sale price is $24k.

L1 Lightship production will launch in 2024, with models starting at $125,000.

4

An interior view of the L1 Lightship’s sleep areaCredit: LIGHTSHIP

4

Former Tesla, Rivian, Proterra, Lucid, and Zoox electric vehicle staff collectively created the L1 LightshipCredit: LIGHTSHIP