Only 4,000 € and solar power: it’s ugly, but this electric scooter lets you get around (almost) for free

08/10/2026 12:30

Updated to

08/10/2026 14:23

If electric cars are already an option for most people, electric motorcycles are following the same path, though a bit behind. What’s gaining more momentum, however, is charging these vehicles with solar energy… to save money on transportation. And if you don’t believe it, just look at this solar-powered car with a range of up to 644 km.

Its urban two-wheeled alternative has already been launched in the United States, priced at $4,495, which is equivalent to 4,000 €. It’s an ‘original’ — rather ugly — electric scooter that can gain up to 29 km of range on a good sunny day.

Almost forget to pay for getting around

It’s true, it looks ugly... well, not very conventional; but everything about this electric scooter that relies on solar power to recharge is unusual. It’s called Lightfoot, built by the San Francisco-based R&D company Otherlab, and it’s designed for urban use, though it can carry two passengers.

That’s why it’s equipped with a small battery of 1.56 kWh, giving it only a range of 60 km and a top speed limited to 20 miles or 32 km/h. But the most interesting part is that in addition to being chargeable via a household outlet, it also uses solar power to recharge itself—even while in motion. So if used for daily commuting and errands, you can almost forget about having to pay for transportation.

Its “secret” is right in front of everyone’s eyes: the solar panels covering both sides of its body allow it to gain 5 to 6 km of range per hour on a sunny day, according to its manufacturer. And it can go even further if left parked in the sun—on a single day, estimates from I+D Otherlab show it can recharge up to 29 km of range completely free, thanks solely to solar energy.

As we mentioned, it can be charged at home using a 220 V household charger; it will take about four hours to fully charge. However, the idea behind this electric scooter is that home charging should be just one option, not a daily necessity.

Beyond its solar charging, it’s quite practical

Despite its almost toy-like appearance – yes, for 4,000 € – it’s equipped with two 750 W motors, each capable of reaching 1,000 W peak power; it generates a torque of 160 Nm, so even steep slopes like those in San Francisco pose no problem.

In addition, beneath its sloping solar panels, it hides a storage space of up to 45 liters, large enough according to the manufacturer to hold three big shopping bags. And remember, it’s designed to carry two people.

This electric scooter isn’t light, weighing 64 kg; but it comes equipped with regenerative disc brakes and 14x3.2” tires to absorb any unevenness in the road surface. It also includes a practical display for monitoring range and solar charging status, along with Bluetooth connectivity.

For now, it has just been released in the United States — its price of 4,000 euros includes shipping nationwide — but it is an original and very practical idea that could show the way for many users who would avoid paying to move; even in Europe’s major cities.