Best LightShip Tow Vehicle?

[turbopilot]

Many of us considering the LightShip have been trying to crunch the information available to match the best tow vehicle with the unique capabilities of the LightShip. As LightShip evolved they were focused on returning as much range as possible to an EV tow vehicle. Their solution was to come up with a two prong solution for range anxiety: exceptional aerodynamic drag reduction and a self propelled battery drive assist motor connected to one axle of the LightShip. Both efficiency improvements contribute more or less equally to returning an EV to its original range.

But then it was discovered the same relative efficiencies were available to both HEV's and gas/diesel ICE vehicles. Everyone wants better efficiency towing an RV and LightShip delivers this economy to any type of tow vehicle. Every vehicle towing a LightShip with TrekDrive active will return to nearly normal efficiency.

Now some newer tow vehicle candidates have come along with a new feature that is just what a LightShip needs: a high output inverter based built in generator. This feature is present in the Ford Lightning EV truck (9.6 kW), the Ford PowerBoost HEV F-150 (7.2 kW) and the Tesla Cybertruck (11.9 kW)

While the LightShip has a big 77 kWh battery (the biggest RV battery on the market) and 1.8 kWh solar assist, it is an electric RV with a big appetite for electricity. Everything runs on electricity in this RV including propulsion. So while the LightShip has a big battery it also uses a lot of electricity. The advent of inverter based generators in EV and HEV tow vehicle trucks answers that need.

But now a new category of EV truck is getting ready to hit the market: the EREV (extended-range electric vehicle) tow vehicle. RAM has been pushing the much delayed RamCharger EREV for years. Some suggestion it may be available by the end of the year, but it has slipped so many times, who knows.

Now we know Ford may be joining the EREV market with a just leaked spy photo of a Lightning EREV being tested in Arizona. No information on this new model is available, but if it is like the RamCharger, it will have a normally aspirated, constant speed engine attached to a high output generator in the frunk that will support the truck and trailer at normal cruise speed assisted by the battery.

For the LightShip these new EREV's appear to be a perfect solution.They will normally cruise on a battery, even towing, but when the EREV or the LightShip battery needs to be charged the EREV can do that to at the same time with the stand alone ICE generator in the frunk outputting through an inverter. No need to visit a charge station. The RamCharger has a 26 gallon fuel tank enough to give the RamCharger a total battery plus gasoline range of 700 miles.

The LightShip and EREV's appear to be a unique point of convergent technology coming to the market about the same time.

 

[beeobee]

Currently have a lightning and hope to get a lightship AE1. If this combo is not ideal or to my liking, yesh...I'm thinking and hoping to get a EREV. Hope one comes to market soon. You mention the ram charger, ford, I'm also eyeing the Scout Terra truck!

 

[turbopilot]

Currently have a lightning and hope to get a lightship AE1. If this combo is not ideal or to my liking, yesh...I'm thinking and hoping to get a EREV. Hope one comes to market soon. You mention the ram charger, ford, I'm also eyeing the Scout Terra truck!

Ford and RAM are playing games with the EREV release timing. I don't think either company really wants to make an EREV, but neither one wants to be left alone if one company commits. RAM is saying, as of yesterday, TBD when the RAM EREV will ship. But not any time soon. Ford says maybe two years before the Lightning EREV ships.

Last I heard the Scout Terra is going to have a 2 liter ICE generator. That will not be enough, in my opinion, to pull an 8,000 trailer with TrekDrive off.

So the decision is whether you want a secondary source of electricity available in the tow vehicle to support the LightShip today or in the next few years. If the answer is yes, you want the Ford F-150 PowerBoost HEV with the 7.2 kW ProPower on Board option. It is the only choice because Ford has patents around the concept of a high power inverter generator in a hybrid truck. It is the only solution available that can tow 8,300 lb trailer and give you the option to convert gasoline to electricity anywhere you go with the LightShip.

The Powerboost has a 31.5 gallon tank and will generate 7.2 kW of electricity at idle burning .9 gallons per hour. The means a PowerBoost parked next to a LightShip at a campsite has the potential to generate 252 kW of power in addition to the 77 kW in the LightShip LFP battery. That is a total 329 kW of electricity available to camp before you account for the daily output of the 1.8 kW solar array on the roof of the LightShip.

It gets even better if the F-150 PowerBoost is substituted with an F-150 Lightning EREV. But that is not going to happen anytime soon.

Bottom line between, the LightShip 77 kW battery, the LightShip 1.8 kW solar array and the 252 kW of potential gas to electricity conversion of the PowerBoost, you really will never have to worry about plugging in the LightShip to a fast charger or a campground pedestal, except to save the time and expense of converting gasoline to electricity with the PowerBoost.

 

[Freightrain]

Ford abandoned their EV production.

 

[turbopilot]

Ford abandoned their EV production.

Yes, previously discussed in this thread.

Thread 'The Ford Lightning is Dead but Here Comes the Lightning EREV'

Dec 15, 2025

The perfect LightShip tow vehicle. Have not seen a date for the EREV Lightning.

From Ford:

Hi F-150 Lightning owners,

I’m coming to you today with an update on our product roadmap. There has been a lot of speculation recently and we just went live with some news. So, I want to give you the facts straight from Ford, explain what is changing, and more importantly, why.

With the F-150 Lightning, we proved an electric truck could be a hit, and it has remained the best-selling electric pickup. Let’s be real about what we’ve learned from you, the owners, and the market over the last few...

• turbopilot
• Replies: 41
• Forum: Lightship RV Owners Club

 

[Holdmybeer]

Ford abandoned their EV production.

They're actually only transitioning to Extended Range EV's from the limited range plug in EV. The reality is the plug in trucks are largely akin to all hat and no cattle. Not really practical for doing real truck stuff. Great look for hedge fund investors, not so great for someone who wants to hook up to a trailer and not spend the day trying to find a pull through charging station in Oklahoma. Presently with gas here in Plano at $1.89, the rush to trade a gas burner for even an EV or EREV just isn't materializing. The prospect for more oil, adding to global supply, as the zeitgeist suggests, the EREV/EV industry may be suffering some existential angst.

 

[Blackstone]

Currently have a lightning and hope to get a lightship AE1. If this combo is not ideal or to my liking, yesh...I'm thinking and hoping to get a EREV. Hope one comes to market soon. You mention the ram charger, ford, I'm also eyeing the Scout Terra truck!

I follow quite a few people on X that love their Lightning’s and regularly document towing travel trailers with them, sharing the good and the bad.

Seems they generally feel the positives outweighs the negatives, but most/all of the negatives go away with the Lightship (I’ll be towing mine with our Cybertruck)

I will note that I’ve heard through the grapevine (people that work for automotive suppliers) that the RAM EREV is essentially dead at this time.

 

[turbopilot]

I will note that I’ve heard through the grapevine (people that work for automotive suppliers) that the RAM EREV is essentially dead at this time.

And given the track record of all things electric at Stallantis this is a good thing. My take is that RAM will do the EREV if Ford moves forward but they don't want to be first.