# Driving Towards Sustainability with Electric RVs: Insights from Ben Parker, Co-Founder at Lightship

- Show: [Hardware to Save a Planet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet)
- Published: 2024-03-14
- Length: 37m
- Episode: 48
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-03-14-driving-towards-sustainability-with-electric-rvs-insights-from-ben-parker-co-fou
- Listen: https://podcasts.fame.so/e/183630ln-driving-towards-sustainability-with-solar-powered-rvs-ben-parker

## Summary

Ben Parker, Co-Founder and CPO of Lightship, discusses the development of Lightship, an electric and aerodynamic solar-powered recreational vehicle designed to reduce gas usage and accelerate EV adoption. Parker explains how the company leverages his background at Tesla and a 6,000-mile research trip to build a product that integrates home electrification technologies like induction cooking and heat pumps into a towable trailer. He details the engineering challenges of creating a novel e-assist propulsion system that works with both gas and electric trucks without relying on emerging vehicle-to-trailer communication standards, and outlines the company's strategy to scale production and expand the RV lifestyle to mainstream demographics.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-03-14-driving-towards-sustainability-with-electric-rvs-insights-from-ben-parker-co-fou#t=3) Introduction and Climate Impact of RVs
- [5:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-03-14-driving-towards-sustainability-with-electric-rvs-insights-from-ben-parker-co-fou#t=320) Ben Parker's Background at Tesla and the Food Truck Project
- [5:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-03-14-driving-towards-sustainability-with-electric-rvs-insights-from-ben-parker-co-fou#t=320) Market Research and Founding Lightship
- [13:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-03-14-driving-towards-sustainability-with-electric-rvs-insights-from-ben-parker-co-fou#t=793) Strategic Vision: Electrifying the Pickup Truck and Home
- [18:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-03-14-driving-towards-sustainability-with-electric-rvs-insights-from-ben-parker-co-fou#t=1093) Engineering the E-Assist Propulsion System
- [22:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-03-14-driving-towards-sustainability-with-electric-rvs-insights-from-ben-parker-co-fou#t=1335) Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Scaling Challenges
- [30:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-03-14-driving-towards-sustainability-with-electric-rvs-insights-from-ben-parker-co-fou#t=1824) Future Vision and Career Advice

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Lightship (company)
- Tesla (company)
- Model 3 (product)
- Ford F-150 (product)
- Thor Industries (company)
- Forest River (company)
- Airstream (product)
- Heirloom (company)
- Indiegogo (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S4E37 Troy Nergaard | Lightship – L1 Electric RV](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-09-29-s4e37-troy-nergaard-lightship-l1-electric-rv) (Being an Engineer)
- [Rivian: RJ Scaringe](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-09-12-rivian-rj-scaringe) (How I Built This)
- [An Interview with Bob Simpson - Ardent Automotive Artisan](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-09-10-an-interview-with-bob-simpson-ardent-automotive-artisan) (The Amp Hour)
- [85. The Future of EVs: Hydrogen Hybrids and Plug & Play Platform](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-08-30-85-the-future-of-evs-hydrogen-hybrids-and-plug-play-platform) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [39. The EV You’ll Never Have To Charge](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-10-12-39-the-ev-youll-never-have-to-charge) (The Next Byte Podcast)

## Citing this page

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