The ‘Lightfoot’ Electric Scooter Lets You Literally Ride a Solar Panel Around Town

Forget electrical cars. The 1 means of locomotion I’ve ever wanted was to thrust a star sheet shaped similar a equine saddle. I would propulsion up to the stable, hitch the sweat from my brow, and hitch up my robotic equine named “Sunrider” earlier barging done the saloon doors; a existent “pistols astatine dawn” moment. Unfortunately, determination are nary solar-powered horses, astatine slightest not yet, but tiny scooter shaper Otherlab is offering the next, closest thing. The Lightfoot scooter includes a monolithic star sheet you drape your legs across. Will it supply other range? Perhaps. Will it beryllium the oddest-looking scooter strolling done immoderate frontier municipality oregon down a metropolis street? Absolutely.

Lightfoot makers, the startup Otherlab, said successful its announcement post the Lightfoot cargo scooter was inspired by the Vespa and Volkswagen bus, and it’s surely 1 of those vehicles that volition get an aging hippy excited. It sports twin, 120W star panels connected either broadside of the scooter portion you remainder your rear extremity connected a tiny cushion shoved betwixt them. With 750W of powerfulness per wheel, the scooter is expected to get 37 miles of region connected a afloat complaint and scope a apical velocity of conscionable nether 20 MPH. That’s surely not the fastest scooter you tin get, but–be honest–are you truly going to get a solar-powered scooter for the speed?

According to the company, the scooter tin past complaint the 48-volt, 1.1kWh artillery portion it’s parked. Each hr successful nonstop sunlight converts to 3 much miles of drive. That whitethorn adjacent retired to 20 miles successful summertime oregon 10 miles successful winter, weather-dependent. Otherlab claims this volition adjacent astir 18 miles of further scope per day. If you necessitate a faster recharge, opt for the 600W onboard charger instead. Lightfoot besides includes 2WD regenerative braking to adhd other foodstuff connected the go. 

The institution said there’s country for 2 connected the seat and that you should beryllium capable to parkland it anyplace you tin parkland a motorcycle (and not interest astir it being stolen). Despite its name, the Lightfoot volition measurement dense connected your wallet. It costs astir $5,000. Beyond that, there’s a one-year and 2-year warranty for the astir important parts. In addition, the institution is promoting an “ironclad” three-month buyback guarantee, arsenic stated, though the store leafage isn’t yet available. Otherlab said it expects to vessel Lightfoot successful January adjacent year. 

There’s capable waterproof trunk abstraction for astir 33 pounds, oregon astir 3 bags worthy of groceries, according to Otherlab. Other acold cheaper cargo e-scooters, specified as Razor’s $1,100 EcoSmart Cargo, are available. Similar bikes and scooters mightiness connection much trunk space, and others beforehand they tin fold up for easier storage. Recent noncargo scooters similar the caller Segway ZT3 assertion they tin get astir 44 miles successful eco mode. However, the constituent of the Lightfoot is that it’s much economical, particularly if you parkland it extracurricular for agelong periods. 

Otherlab is simply a San Francisco-based startup founded by Australian technologist Saul Griffith, with a squad based successful respective U.S. cities, Australia, and Taiwan. The institution claimed this was a mode to person a “zero emissions” means of transportation, though that’s lone existent if you permission it extracurricular for hours and lone thrust Lightfoot sparingly. That’s not to accidental it’s a atrocious idea, either. If you unrecorded determination you spot your neighbors and lone request to usage it sparingly, the wealth you prevention connected energy mightiness yet outweigh the outgo of a $5,000 scooter.