Solar energy is being implemented all over the world and may sound very modern, but the reality is that the first solar panels that existed and were capable of generating electricity date back to the end of the 19th century (1883), after the photovoltaic effect was discovered almost 50 years earlier. Therefore, we are talking about a technology that is more than 140 years old.
That said, what is unusual is for solar energy to be used directly in electric vehicles. Yes, it is true that the energy generated by solar panels can be used to recharge them, but the fact that they have their own solar panels and that, in addition, they are effective and increase their autonomy, is not the most normal.
But now there is a new scooter that uses the solar energy it gets from its own panels and which, according to its creators, allows the range to go up to 29 kilometers per day. Its name is Lightfoot and it was created by Saul Griffith and the startup Otherlab, which he created himself.
As you can see in the images, it is a small scooter with features that bring it closer to what we could consider a hybrid between a moped and a scooter, which in the United States does not require a driver’s license. In fact, its tires are 10 inches and have two 750-watt motors inside their rims that allow the motorcycle to travel up to 32 kilometers per hour.
Thanks to solar energy you can add 18 extra kilometers of autonomy per day
It is not a very high figure, but the curious thing is in the autonomy part and that is that by charging the 48V/1.1 kWh lithium-ion battery you can reach up to 60 kilometers, a distance that in the city is enough for several days of transport. But the best thing is that this figure can increase up to 18 kilometers per day thanks to the solar energy that comes from the panels on its sides.
These are two 120 watt panels, which although they would be scarce to power a house, in the case of the scooter it is perfect both for moving it and for powering the lighting systems, which are LED, or the LCD touch screen. According to the figures, for every hour of exposure to maximum sunlight, 5 extra kilometers would be generated thanks to them.
One of the doubts and challenges of this project was to guarantee that the panels would not heat up to burn the driver and, according to Otherlab, they have achieved this. In addition, they open as if they were “gull-wing” doors, giving way to an interior space of 45 liters.
As for the weight of the set, it stands at 62 kg and is designed for users between 157 and 188 centimeters. Regarding the price, for now it will go on sale in the local market for $4,995.
