I Really Wish I Could Love This Solar-Powered Electric “Cargo” Scooter – CleanTechnica

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The interwebz have been buzzing lately about a new solar-powered electric “cargo” scooter, dubbed Lightfoot, that was just announced by Otherlab, and its main selling point seems to be its dual onboard solar panels, which could provide “up to 18 miles (28 km) of additional range per day,” just by being parked outside in the sun.

And I really tried to like this e-scooter, I really did, but… I have questions and concerns. First, however, here are the basic specs and talking points of the Lightfoot.

The Lightfoot is powered by a pair of 750W brushless DC motors (90Nm of peak torque) and a 48V 1.1kWh battery that is said to have a range of “up to 37 miles (60 km) on a full charge,” and the 600W onboard charger is claimed to be capable of delivering an 80% SOC in 90 minutes using a standard 110V plug.

“Each hour of sunbathing recharges Lightfoot with 3 miles of solar-powered freedom.”

Its top speed is 20 mph, and to be clear, this is a pure scooter — no pedaling possible even if you wanted to — and uses a twist throttle for acceleration, while its regenerative braking feature is intended to help recoup some energy. The Lightfoot can seat two, and its 1.5 cubic feet (45.2L) lockable and weatherproof compartment within the aluminum frame “can comfortably fit up to 33lb (15kg)” of stuff. This scooter weighs in at 137 pounds (62kg), has a max carrying capacity of 282 lb (128 kg), and is being priced at just under $5000.

“We call it Lightfoot – a sun-powered cargo scooter for your everyday short trips.

Lightfoot brings together head-turning design, powerful components and modern technology to make getting around town a little easier, a little faster, and a lot more fun. It marries the familiarity of a bicycle with the convenience and effortlessness of an e-scooter, creating an approachable micromobility experience that helps you get more done every day. From standstill to just under 20 MPH, anyone can ride a Lightfoot with confidence.”

My first thought was that integrating some onboard solar panels for extended range is a cool idea, considering the scooter probably spends a lot of time parked outside. But my next thought was that the way the panels are oriented — nearly vertical — means that only one 120W panel could possibly get significant solar exposure at a time. And then that made me wonder if the panels might pivot open horizontally so that both panels can generate electricity. But nope, the solar panels are hinged at the bottom, and when opening them up to get access to the massive amount of “cargo” (33 pounds capacity and a whopping 1.5 cubic feet of space), the solar cells are actually facing down toward the ground. That seems like a lost opportunity to me, but hey, what do I know?

The seat on the Lightfoot, even though the marketing copy says “Bring a friend. Bring a date,” looks like someone just slapped a neoprene knee-brace on top of it and called it good, and even if the seat (I feel like calling it a seat is a bit of a stretch) is almost 30″ long, it really doesn’t look date-friendly. But then again, the aesthetic of the Lightfoot altogether, while it may indeed be a “head-turning design,” is more like a junction box or utility cabinet with wheels, or an electric rideable suitcase, and I’m having a very difficult time imagining that this design is really going to move a lot of people to shell out $5000 for one. The press release says that the design was “Inspired by iconic vehicles like the Vespa and the Volkswagen bus,” but I’m really not seeing it. I mean, I may be a design heathen, but when the copy claims that “Lightfoot aims to be equal parts eye-candy, functional and fun,” I’m thinking maybe fun, maybe functional, but eye-candy? Hmm.

One last thing caught my eye in the press materials, which is the claim that the Lightfoot’s design “is built for ultra-low maintenance and fast, easy repairs,” because (emphasis mine) “The scooter is built with off-the-shelf, highly rated parts.” Which made me wonder why this heavy, slow, and uncomfortable-looking e-scooter built with off-the-shelf components retails for $5000, because for that same amount of money, you can buy a helluva good e-cargo bike instead and carry more stuff for a longer range at a higher speed. And you can even pedal an e-cargo bike if you run the battery flat, unlike this scooter, but hey, two highly visible 120W solar panels is probably great for cleantech cosplay.

I tried so hard to like the Lightfoot, I really did. But my inner curmudgeon showed up instead. However, don’t let my skepticism ruin it for you if this e-scooter really floats your boat. Head over to rollingsunshine.com to find out how you can get one for yourself (deliveries to begin in January 2025).

Images courtesy of Lightfoot.