BLOG: Lightship’s quarter-million all-electric RV offers innovation but lacks important features

[Voyageurs]

Nope! By the specs, Rivian.

Spose a farm trailer setup would increase the playing field!

I’m not sure I follow. Tesla cybertruck has a pretty big payload for a half ton. Over 1000 kg (2200 pounds ish) if I remember correctly.

Not sure what the Silverado and Lightning are for payload . But I would be surprised if they can’t handle a 900 pound tongue weight. We certainly see them hauling that amount now.

 

[turbopilot]

I’m not sure I follow. Tesla cybertruck has a pretty big payload for a half ton. Over 1000 kg (2200 pounds ish) if I remember correctly.

Not sure what the Silverado and Lightning are for payload . But I would be surprised if they can’t handle a 900 pound tongue weight. We certainly see them hauling that amount now.

I don't think that poster watched the video. Hard to have an intelligent interchange when one party has the facts.

The AE.1 has a GW of around 8,350 lbs and empty weight of around 7,300 lbs with a tongue weight of 850 lbs. That will easily fit the towing requirements of any F-150 with the trailer towing package. In this use case tongue weight is the only real issue depending on trim level of the truck.

 

[Voyageurs]

I don't think that poster watched the video. Hard to have an intelligent interchange when one party has the facts.

The AE.1 has a GW of around 8,350 lbs and empty weight of around 7,300 lbs with a tongue weight of 850 lbs. That will easily fit the towing requirements of any F-150 with the trailer towing package. In this use case tongue weight is the only real issue depending on trim level of the truck.

We went to the presentation in Colorado at the “charged up rally”. (Annual EV RV rally held somewhere in the US). Same gentleman did the presentation. The eventual plan (down the road) is to make a similar smaller trailer for the EV SUV crowd like us. But it’s way down the road. Something around 20 feet would be cool. Until then we’ll stick with our little EV RV combo.

 

[turbopilot]

We went to the presentation in Colorado at the “charged up rally”. (Annual EV RV rally held somewhere in the US). Same gentleman did the presentation. The eventual plan (down the road) is to make a similar smaller trailer for the EV SUV crowd like us. But it’s way down the road. Something around 20 feet would be cool. Until then we’ll stick with our little EV RV combo.

At 20' I don't think it makes any economic sense to self propel the trailer. In the video they talk about a 2026 version of the 26' LightShip with only one battery pack (35 kWH) and no drive system for around $150,000. No reason they could not scale that model to a single axle 20' model in time keeping the other subsystems the same.

 

[Texas Clodhopper]

$150,000 for a 26' trailer, is that for real?

 

[Voyageurs]

$150,000 for a 26' trailer, is that for real?

As per the video. The first 50 are 250,000. They are all presold for years.

 

[turbopilot]

$150,000 for a 26' trailer, is that for real?

Not sure where this question is coming from but I will take it as honest question.

First, this is not a 26' trailer by the industry conventions it is nominally a 27' LightShip trailer with four trim levels.

A top of the line 27' 2025 Airstream Pottery Edition has a list price of $170,700. This is for a trailer with propane systems, 200 Ah batteries, 300 watts of solar and two standard Drexel axles. Not even in the same league with any of the four new models just announced by LightShip. Including the lowest trim level.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Not sure where this question is coming from but I will take it as honest question.

First, this is not a 26' trailer by the industry conventions it is nominally a 27' LightShip trailer with four trim levels.

A top of the line 27' 2025 Airstream Pottery Edition has a list price of $170,700. This is for a trailer with propane systems, 200 Ah batteries, 300 watts of solar and two standard Drexel axles. Not even in the same league with any of the four new models just announced by LightShip. Including the lowest trim level.

Guess that deserves a response .

No question the two rigs are not in the same class! The airstream has a proven value. We know when we buy one it will hold it's value, kind of like what they call a sound investment.

Because at this time the lightship is more of a tech toy, with no proven resale value, it's more like penny stocks, that have batteries that have a life span issue!

Kind of like comparing Microsoft to Apples, and avoiding life expectancy issue.

 

[turbopilot]

Because at this time the lightship is more of a tech toy, with no proven resale value, it's more like penny stocks, that have batteries that have a life span issue!

LightShip is on the bleeding edge of RV technology. Absolutely true. However, Thor Industries, the largest RV maker in the world is one of the major investors in the company. LightShip is not some invention coming out of a garage in San Jose, it is a high value venture funded by some deep pockets to reinvent the RV. Everyone on this forum obviously has an interest in RV's so what is going on at LightShip should be of interest. The days of pushing 40,000 lbs of steel down the road burning diesel and DEF are coming to an end.