Lightship L1 Prototype look over and discussion by Munro Accumulates

[AlDente]

Looks like Sandy and team will be posting a video featuring the Lightship L1 self-powered solar trailer today. I'm very interested in this product ... It seems the perfect camping companion product for the CyberTruck.

Link to Video

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[Rockvillerich]

Looks like Sandy and team will be posting a video featuring the Lightship L1 self-powered solar trailer today. I'm very interested in this product ... It seems the perfect camping companion product for the CyberTruck.

Link to Video

An awesome product, but cost is going to put them out of the reach of most of us. Fun to see anyway.

 

[JBerger]

Can't wait for the L1 to come out. That thing will look awesome behind my cybertruck

 

[tidmutt]

Yeah, I watched some of the video. I've seen other videos on the L1, it looks super cool... and SUPER expensive. It has an 80 kwh battery pack and drive units. I'm sitting there wondering how much... thinking $100K... googled it... $125K... ouch.

 

[Rutrow]

I put down a deposit on the Lightship, but I'll probably cancel it soon. The thing is a bit impractical, especially for longer term outings or a full-timer. Because of the Hi-Lo there are no upper cabinets so storage will be about half what a conventional trailer would have. The two part entry door is a constant inconvenience I'd get REALLY tired of dealing with every time you go in or out. They haven't shown an example of how you'd provide curtains for the windows. They mention autochromic glass, but those aren't good for room darkening, which I think I'd want for times when I want to take a nap during the day. I think it would only be well suited for weekend campers or tailgating events.

Perhaps they should have chose between self-propelled, or aerodynamics of the Hi-Lo. I'd be really interested in a trailer that contributes to range with its own drivetrain, and that would do a lot to overcome the range hit that trailers cause. Or, a trailer without drive motors that would benefit from enhanced aero. Combining both into a really expensive package that has so many space and inconvenience constraints makes me think they've whittled away at their customer base too much to make it financially viable.

It's too bad. I wonder how long it will take AirStream to motorize their larger units?

 

[rudedawg78]

It's too bad. I wonder how long it will take AirStream to motorize their larger units?

I think a modern electric AirStream would fit PERFECTLY being towed behind a CT. I could see myself putting a deposit down on that bad boy.

 

[BayouCityBob]

Yeah, I watched some of the video. I've seen other videos on the L1, it looks super cool... and SUPER expensive. It has an 80 kwh battery pack and drive units. I'm sitting there wondering how much... thinking $100K... googled it... $125K... ouch.

I do not understand why these powered trailer companies (I like the idea of them a lot) do not just adopt Nio's battery swapping design. Then one can buy without the battery and rent a battery when going on a long trip. For short trips you just tow it, nbd. For long trips you rent a battery and have it installed in the already-well-proven battery swap stations. In Europe where Nio already has stations installed you can probably do a deal with them for a caravan battery rental.

 

[HaulingAss]

Yeah, I watched some of the video. I've seen other videos on the L1, it looks super cool... and SUPER expensive. It has an 80 kwh battery pack and drive units. I'm sitting there wondering how much... thinking $100K... googled it... $125K... ouch.

For all the features shown, they won't be able to get that out the door for less than $150K, probably a lot more than that.

 

[HaulingAss]

I do not understand why these powered trailer companies (I like the idea of them a lot) do not just adopt Nio's battery swapping design. Then one can buy without the battery and rent a battery when going on a long trip. For short trips you just tow it, nbd. For long trips you rent a battery and have it installed in the already-well-proven battery swap stations. In Europe where Nio already has stations installed you can probably do a deal with them for a caravan battery rental.

Battery swapping has turned out to be not a good solution for a large number of reasons, one of which, you still need battery swap stations at the same density you need charging stations. And they cost alot more than a charging station because the batteries still have to be charged (and sometimes batteries need to be transported around to keep the batteries where you need them.

All in all, an impractical nightmare of costs and logistics than no one can afford. Why bother when modern chargers can charge a 80kWh battery from 10% to 60% in under 15 minutes?

People who are still proponents of battery swapping must still believe the propoganda that it takes hours to charge back up but, if you have driven x-country in a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y, you know charging stops are only a 10-15 minute rest break from the road..

 

[BayouCityBob]

Battery swapping has turned out to be not a good solution for a large number of reasons, one of which, you still need battery swap stations at the same density you need charging stations. And they cost alot more than a charging station because the batteries still have to be charged (and sometimes batteries need to be transported around to keep the batteries where you need them.

All in all, an impractical nightmare of costs and logistics than no one can afford. Why bother when modern chargers can charge a 80kWh battery from 10% to 60% in under 15 minutes?

People who are still proponents of battery swapping must still believe the propoganda that it takes hours to charge back up but, if you have driven x-country in a Tesla Model 3 or Model Y, you know charging stops are only a 10-15 minute rest break from the road..

I do not think that is applicable for what I was describing at all. I am proposing that trailers use swapping and have battery rentals rather than buy the batteries (where there are rarely utilized because they are in an RV). Battery swapping as a recharging solution does not make much sense* but battery swapping technology to enable battery rentals on low-utilization trailers can drop the effective cost of the battery by 50% or more. In the application I am proposing you do not need swap station density anything close to charging stations. Indeed, one per urban area is probably fine to serve thousands of vehicles.


* One place where the more traditional NIO-style battery swap model seems to be effective is in high urban density situations in China with limited dedicated parking where one is relying on public charging all the time.

 

[Rutrow]

RVs use their batteries all the time. Unless they run their generators full time, they use batteries and an inverter to power their A/C, fridge, lights, water pump, internet, etc.

That's why adding a drive train to travel trailers is an excellent idea. Every RV owner wants a battery capable of lasting a week while boondocking so they don't have to have the drone of a generator spoiling their peace and quiet. And why people won't want to swap out a battery with some stranger's battery that has been treated... who knows how poorly.

 

[AlDente]

I put down a deposit on the Lightship, but I'll probably cancel it soon. The thing is a bit impractical, especially for longer term outings or a full-timer. Because of the Hi-Lo there are no upper cabinets so storage will be about half what a conventional trailer would have. The two part entry door is a constant inconvenience I'd get REALLY tired of dealing with every time you go in or out. They haven't shown an example of how you'd provide curtains for the windows. They mention autochromic glass, but those aren't good for room darkening, which I think I'd want for times when I want to take a nap during the day. I think it would only be well suited for weekend campers or tailgating events.

Perhaps they should have chose between self-propelled, or aerodynamics of the Hi-Lo. I'd be really interested in a trailer that contributes to range with its own drivetrain, and that would do a lot to overcome the range hit that trailers cause. Or, a trailer without drive motors that would benefit from enhanced aero. Combining both into a really expensive package that has so many space and inconvenience constraints makes me think they've whittled away at their customer base too much to make it financially viable.

It's too bad. I wonder how long it will take AirStream to motorize their larger units?

Sounds like you want to live in it so no, probably not the RV for you. It's only in the prototype stage so down the road who knows ...

I much prefer the Lightship to any of those bed mount popup units.

 

[Crissa]

An awesome product, but cost is going to put them out of the reach of most of us. Fun to see anyway.

It doesn't get to us, ever, if it doesn't come out in the first place, tho.

-Crissa

 

[HaulingAss]

I do not think that is applicable for what I was describing at all. I am proposing that trailers use swapping and have battery rentals rather than buy the batteries (where there are rarely utilized because they are in an RV). Battery swapping as a recharging solution does not make much sense* but battery swapping technology to enable battery rentals on low-utilization trailers can drop the effective cost of the battery by 50% or more. In the application I am proposing you do not need swap station density anything close to charging stations. Indeed, one per urban area is probably fine to serve thousands of vehicles.


* One place where the more traditional NIO-style battery swap model seems to be effective is in high urban density situations in China with limited dedicated parking where one is relying on public charging all the time.

I thought you wanted to use battery swapping for range extension. But I don't think it's very viable as a cost-reducing measure either. How does one battery swapping station handle an entire urban area when everyone and their brother wants to get out of town for the long Labor Day weekend? And who pays for all those batteries to sit around in the off-season?

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