Great revolutions often start with seemingly crazy (and visibly ugly, in this case) ideas. When the team of Otherlab proposed to create a scooter with integrated solar panels, many smiled skeptically. And I don't know if looking at the final result they continued to laugh, probably, or stopped. And yet, the result is here before our eyes: the Lightfoot, a vehicle that challenges conventions and opens up new possibilities for urban mobility. With its unique design that integrates solar panels directly into the structure, this scooter is a “bold” first step towards a future where our means of transport will not only be efficient, but also self-sufficient.
A design that sparks discussion
Let's face it: the Lightfoot won't win any beauty awards. It looks more like a mobile charging station than a traditional scooter. It's like sitting on a power bank, come on. I don't even want to imagine the temperature between your legs. The two 120W solar panels act as a "seat", with a small cushion wedged in between. The result is certainly original, although perhaps not in the way we would expect. The inspiration, according to Otherlab, comes from the Vespa and the Volkswagen bus. I think it is needed a good dose of imagination to see this similarity, but perhaps this is the beauty of it: we are facing something completely new, which has no precedents in the world of electric vehicles. And to think that I of particular things I've seen them…
Amazing solar performance
The technical specifications are, if anything, a little more interesting than the aesthetics. With a power of 750W per wheel, Lightfoot promises aautonomy of approximately 60 kilometers on a single charge. The maximum speed is 32 km/h: not record-breaking, but more than enough for urban travel. And when the scooter is parked in the sun, what happens? Every hour of direct exposure translates into approximately 5 kilometers of additional autonomy. On summer days, this can mean up to 32 extra kilometers of range. Not bad for a vehicle that recharges simply by parking it.
Convenience and wallet
Now, after this brief parenthesis of hope, let's get back to hitting this project (in a constructive way, eh? Let's be clear). The price is definitely demanding: almost 5.000 euros. It's a figure that makes you think, especially considering that there are electric gadgets (like this) which cost practically a fifth. But Saul Griffith, the Australian engineer and founder of Otherlab, has a clear vision: this is not just a means of transport, it is an investment in mobility zero emissions.
The scooter offers space for two people on the “solar seat” and a waterproof storage compartment that can hold up to 15 kg of cargo. A one- or two-year warranty on major components and a three-month buy-back promise offer peace of mind even for the bravest early adopters who want to try riding a solar panel (yippie aye yay, amigo!)
The future of urban mobility
If I speak of it, even badly, it means that I still consider it fascinating. And so it is. In a world increasingly oriented towards renewable energy, the idea of a scooter that recharges itself while parked will always have its reasons. It will always interest me, right? Sure, you have to trust your neighbors to leave it outside, and it probably takes a certain pioneering spirit to get on it without fearing the ridicule of the Universe world.
The first deliveries, however, are scheduled for January 2025. It will be interesting to see how many innovation adventurers will be willing to bet on this peculiar vision of the future of urban mobility. I can assure you of one thing, however: you will not go unnoticed.
