RV FEATURE
LightShip AE: 1 looks like a modernised Prattline caravan dialled up to 11.
The Lightship AE: 1 is a great example of what I’ m talking about. Measuring 26ft 7in, this huge caravan can accommodate four adults, has a kitchen and ensuite with all electric appliances, 270- degree panoramic windows and a split-system heat pump airconditioner.
But that is just the beginning. The AE: 1 has its own 77kWh battery powering its own electric motor. And the party piece? The whole top half of the van lowers over the bottom half to present the most aerodynamic profile while on the road. Think of it like the old Prattline caravans built using 21stcentury technologies and dialled up to 11. It is an astonishing engineering marvel, and it is not unique in the US market.
Honestly, if the RV manufacturers in the USA are seeing this as the future of caravans in their country, Australia cannot get left behind. We must start looking at what we can do if we are going to maintain a viable industry in a world dominated by batterypowered vehicles.
Fortunately, there is still time for the industry to get its skates on. The electric vehicles of today are vastly different to those available just five years ago. And with the rapid development of improved battery and recharging technologies, the tow vehicles of the 2030s will make the Toyota Land Cruiser look like a museum piece. They will tow heavier loads over greater distances with shorter recharge times. It gives Aussie caravan manufacturers something to aim for with their product development today.
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