LightShip Systems Review - Aerodynamic Enhancement System

[turbopilot]

LightShip Systems Review - Introduction

The LightShip brings a whole new set of technologies to the recreational vehicle market. The LightShip technology draws highly from the automotive industry and specifically the electric vehicles produced by the world’s manufacturers. The company was started by founders whose roots were in EV vehicles (Tesla). So much of the technology in the LightShip is new to the recreational vehicle industry. Things like large lithium batteries, electric drive motors , high voltage HVAC systems and a vehicle built with CANBUS controllers is not found in any other legacy recreational vehicles. But most this technology is hidden, under the floor or up front under the AeroHub shroud, of the LightShip. As a result the potential customer cannot appreciate the difference between a Lightship and a legacy RV on the market today simply by casual tours of the cabin.

In this thread and a series of future threads to follow I will try to detail what I have learned about “what is under the hood” in a LightShip system by system. This information was gathered by several trips to the factory, following the assembly of my LightShip and several factory tour videos published on YouTube. Through it all LightShip has helped me learn about their technology and very patient with all of my questions. However, this is just the beginning to understand how the LightShip works since so much of the functionality of this RV is in the firmware that ties all of these systems together. In the coming months it is my hope to add to the individual system threads to follow with much more detail about how all of these systems work and more importantly work together. So this series is about the hardware. Hopefully we can someday learn about the hardware that makes it all work together.

I have also been talking to @Rory (Lightship Team) about producing some video presentations by each of the engineers leading the various LightShip systems to get further details about these systems. I have been around recreational vehicles my whole life but very little of the knowledge about RV's learned in that time applies to the LightShip. This is a new to the world product with a steep learning curve. I will be posting future threads about most of the other LightShip systems. Here are some of the systems I am thinking about. If there are other systems you think should be reviewed leave a post.

1. 12 volt Electrical System
2. 48 volt Electrical System
3. 120 volt Electrical System
4. 280 volt Electrical System
5. Solar Panel System
6. HVAC System
7. Trek Drive System
8. CANBUS Body Controller System
9. Telematics System
10. Vehicle Leveling System
11. Fresh Water System
12. Hot water System
13. ATLAS Tablet Application System
14. Tow Vehicle System Integration with the LightShip

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Aerodynamic Enhancement System

The first system to review is the Aerodynamic Enhancement System. This is a foundational system in the LightShip. More than any other system it transforms the look, feel and functionality of the vehicle. At its heart this system performs a very simple task: it reduces frontal area (area exposed to the wind) by 40% that in turn leads to at least a 30% reduction in aerodynamic drag compared to other towable RV’s. That 30% reduction in drag represents most of the resistance to towing a trailer at highway speeds, since rolling friction and weight is a very small part of the towing load at highway speeds.



That 30% reduction in drag leads to a 30% reduction in energy cost per mile while towing and a 30% increase in range of the tow vehicle. That same 30% reduction in drag applies to all types of tow vehicles: EV’s, PHEV’s, HEV’s, EREV’s and all pure ICE vehicles. With the 30% reduction in drag the 77 kWh battery packs have enough energy to offset the drag and rolling friction of the LightShip for 300 miles. If the canopy did not retract It would require at least one more 600 lb battery pack (total of three packs) to propel the trailer at highway speeds for 300 miles. So the added cost and weight of an additional battery pack is offset by the added complexity of retracting the canopy.

For ICE and HEV tow vehicles with good towing range to start the 30% increase in towing range and efficiency supplied aerodynamics alone will probably displace the TrekDrive system to an "on demand" assist device hopefully available in future firmware updates. Given the current state of EV tow vehicle technology using the TrekDrive system full time to gain enough range to compete with other tow vehicle types.

The development of the LightShip aerodynamic system is explained in detail in this 8 minute video segment by Ben Parker during a factory tour beginning at the 20:00 minute point in the video. Listen carefully to this 8 minute segment as it succinctly defines the compelling case in recreational vehicles to improve aerodynamics.



The aerodynamic system is composed to two parts: the over all aerodynamic shape of the canopy, AeroHub and tub of the LightShip and the ability to retract the canopy by translating it three feet down where is covers most of the lower tub structure in "Drive Mode". This translation happens using four, 48 volt, computer controlled lift actuators. These actuators are in no way comparable to the cheap and dumb Lippert 12 volt slide wall actuators well known to the experienced RV owners. The LightShip actuators are 48 volt (see 48 volt electrical system discussion) and are controlled by one of the LightShip body controller modules (see CANBUS Body Controller System). RPM and torque are sensed in each actuator motor to smoothly raise iand lower the canopy. There is logic watching these parameters in the motors to keep them synchronized. Should one actuator fail the logic will take it off line and the other 3 actuators have the capacity to complete the translation up or down. So unlike actuators found in other legacy RV's these devices are smart and strong.

In the case of total electrical failure each lift actuator has a fitting at the base of the jack screw to manually extend or retract the canopy. This back up procedure is detailed in the LightShip Owner’s Manual. Here are the locations for the manual actuator extension connections.

There is a weather proofing seal that runs around the 360 degree circumference of the canopy to keep the interior sealed from external air in the up and down position.

For more information about the LightShip Aerodynamic System see this Lightship Journal story:

Designed From the Ground Up for Efficiency: The Lightship L1 Aerodynamics

If you have any further questions post them in a reply to this thread. I am sure Rory will correct any information I got wrong and answer further questions about this topic.

 

[josephpRV]

Great read @turbopilot ... you still on track to getting yours before New Year. Very much looking forward to your first impressions. I don't have any suggestions to add to your review outline, I would like to suggest that when you review each system, you close each review out with reference to how it is managed/monitored using the Atlas controller, so by the time you get to "13" we'll have a comprehensive understanding of the parts and the whole.