{"id":51308,"date":"2023-12-15T19:21:26","date_gmt":"2023-12-15T19:21:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myroadnews.com\/?p=51308"},"modified":"2023-12-15T19:21:26","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T19:21:26","slug":"if-tesla-made-a-telescopic-caravan-it-would-probably-look-like-this","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myroadnews.com\/car-reviews\/if-tesla-made-a-telescopic-caravan-it-would-probably-look-like-this\/","title":{"rendered":"If Tesla made a telescopic caravan, it would probably look like this"},"content":{"rendered":"
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If you\u2019re going to buy a car as head-turning as the Tesla Cybertruck, you can\u2019t hitch it to some bland-looking blob of a caravan that could be mistaken for a portaloo. What it deserves to be paired with is a caravan as futuristic and technologically advanced as the very latest electric cars, and that\u2019s exactly what the Lightship L1 is meant to be.<\/p>\n
It might look like the L1 was designed by Tesla itself to be the perfect companion for the Cybertruck, but alas not. San Francisco-based start-up Lightship was founded by two former Tesla employees though, and much like the Cybertruck, the L1 was designed from the ground up, with a radically different approach in mind compared to what came before.<\/p>\n
In the L1\u2019s case, Lightship was focused on making the most aerodynamic caravan it could, optimising every element possible to reduce drag, including the tongue box and boat-tail rear end. Then there\u2019s the unique telescopic design, which allows the L1 to measure around three metres tall in \u2018Camp Mode\u2019 or be collapsed down to just 2.1 metres in \u2018Road Mode\u2019 at the touch of a button. The end result is the L1 being three times more aerodynamic than a traditional caravan.<\/p>\n
The other goal for the L1 was a near zero range or mile-per-gallon efficiency loss for the tow vehicle. The aerodynamic design helps massively with that, but the L1 is available with a self-propulsion system, similar to the one in the\u00a0Pebble Flow \u2013 another innovative caravan from Silicon Valley we recently took a look at. In the L1, a single electric motor drives the caravan\u2019s own wheels to make towing effortless and reduce strain on the tow car.<\/p>\n
In order to power the motor, the L1 is fitted with either a 40kWh or 80kWh battery, with the larger unit good for 300 miles of driving on a charge, or able to provide a week\u2019s worth of off-grid power when you\u2019re camping deep in the sticks. You\u2019ll need to plug the L1 into a home wallbox to charge it in between trips, but there are solar panels integrated in the roof along with \u2018quick-deploy solar awnings\u2019 that can help add a little bit of extra juice.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Inside, the Lightship L1 can sleep up to six people depending on the configuration, and features a flexible lounge space, dozens of windows to provide panoramic views and all-electric appliances, including a dishwasher which minimises water use.<\/p>\n
However, before you add a Lightship L1 to your Christmas list, there are a few things you need to know. For starters, it weighs 3,400kg when fully loaded with gear so you\u2019d need a car capable of towing something that hefty just to get it off your driveway – a Cybertruck would be ideal. The L1 is also over 8.2 metres long and starts from over \u00a398,000 without the self-propulsion setup. Adding that brings the price up to nearly \u00a3120,000, in case you\u2019re wondering.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Finally, pre-orders for the Lightship L1 are only available in the US at the moment. But if you live across the pond, have a very healthy bank balance and a muscular tow car, then L1 production is expected to begin in late 2024.<\/p>\n
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