This new sun-powered electric cargo moped is literally giant solar panels on wheels
Cargo scooters are a rare breed, filling a niche that exists between typical e-bikes/e-scooters with minimal storage and larger cargo-specific models designed for utility. But that dearth of cargo scooters may be changing, based on several interesting new models we’ve seen lately, including the recently unveiled Lightfoot cargo electric scooter.
Yet unlike the few other cargo scooters rolling around out there, the Lightfoot has one major advantage: its built-in solar panels keep it charged up directly from the sun.
It’s not the first solar-powered scooter we’ve seen, but it’s definitely the most eye-catching model yet.
Developed by Otherlab, the Lightfoot electric cargo scooter features a pair of 120W solar panels on either side, hiding a large 45.2 L (12-gallon) storage compartment. One panel is hinged, opening the entire side of the vehicle for easy cargo access, then locking back in place for secure storage.
Also hidden away by those panels are the equally large UL-certified 1.1 kWh battery and the 600W on-board charger (just in case you do need to plug it into the grid for a quicker charge than you’d get from the solar panels). In fact, the company claims an 80% charge is possible in just 90 minutes from a 110V wall outlet. Based on the company’s figures, it looks like solar charging is likely to fill the battery at a rate of roughly 7-8% per hour (around 3 miles or 5 km of additional range per hour of sun exposure). That means heavy utility users will likely still rely on the wall plug from time to time, but there’s nothing wrong with outdoor parking helping to extend the range.
The company rates the scooter’s range as up to 37 miles (60 km) per charge and claims an extra 18 miles (30 km) of range can be added per day from the solar panels.
That means the scooter could actually be purely solar-charged when used for modest duty cycles, i.e. less than 18 miles (30 km) per day. As the company explained, “If you only need it for a few short errands a day, park it in your driveway and it will always be ready for you. For many riders, we’re hoping this means saying goodbye to plug-in charging altogether.”
With a 20 mph (32 km/h) top speed, the scooter is said to be “bike lane legal” without requiring any additional license or registration.
The Lightfoot is also designed to be easy to work on with minimal mechanical components. The dual motor system relies on hub motors instead of centrally mounted motors, meaning there are no chains or belts to deal with. Between those two 750W rated (1 kW peak) motors, the scooter should get up to speed pretty quickly while laying down nearly 2,000 watts of power.
The company is offering a 1-year warranty on the entire scooter, with an even longer 2-year warranty for the major components consisting of the frame, motors, controllers, brakes, lighting, and front suspension. The scooter is also covered by an “ironclad buy-back guarantee” with the company promising to buy the scooter back from any riders who are “unsatisfied with their purchase for any reason.”
Set to begin deliveries in January 2025, the Lightfoot is now available for purchase with an MSRP of US $4,995.
Electrek’s Take
Look, I’m split here. My inner mechanical engineer is drooling over this thing, while my inner MBA is wondering how you sell it to a broader market than… people like me. My two professional backgrounds have often been in conflict before, but this is peak engineer’s delight meets ultra-niche aesthetic.
Sure, I would 100% ride the hell out of this thing. I’d ride it everywhere with zero qualms about the appearance. But I’m probably not the best representative of the average scooter customer since I tend towards the tech nerd side of the spectrum. And so I hope that the Lightfoot can find wider appeal than I fear it may be limited to.
Oh, and for all of those ready to hammer out the “AcTuAlLy ThAt’S NoT tHe MoSt EfFiCiEnT WaY tO dO iT…” comments, I think that’s missing the point. The whole idea here isn’t to maximize every photon, but rather to not waste the ample sunlight that otherwise simply bakes the paint on every other scooter and moped out there (and don’t get me started on the “moped” linguistic purists). Sure, you’re probably only ever getting appreciable solar charging from one panel at a time, but why not maximize your chances of catching those rays whenever you can?
So all told, I love this thing. I just wonder how many people will love it as much as I do.
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Leading electric vehicle analyst, author, and industry thought leaders Loren McDonald and Bill Ferro stop by Quick Charge to discuss EV Adoption’s acquisition by Paren, the “crisis” of EV charging reliability, and the real state of the EV market.
Depending on who you listen, EVs are either driving brands to record growth and are about cross that critical 10% of the overall market nationwide, or the future is bleak, the market is down, and EVs just aren’t selling. What’s really going on? Loren and Bill (probably) have some answers.
Today’s episode is sponsored by BLUETTI, a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 52% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday sale, now through November 28, and be sure to use promo code BLUETTI5OFF for 5% off all power stations site wide. Click here to learn more.
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Read more: All my favorite EVs, racecars, and robots from Electrify Expo Austin.
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Chevy EV owners in Texas who have Reliant as their electric utility can now charge for free at night with renewable energy.
Over 150 Chevrolet dealerships across Texas are now offering the Reliant Free Charge Nights plan to new EV buyers. With Free Charge Nights, customers can offset their charging costs by receiving credits for electricity used between 11 pm and 6 am. The plan is powered entirely by renewable energy, thanks to the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs).
Rasesh Patel, president of NRG Consumer, says the plan is about making power personal: “We’re excited to help Chevrolet EV drivers offset the cost of charging their vehicle all while having access to a renewable electricity plan.”
This collaboration aims to make EV adoption more appealing by making charging cheaper and greener. GM Energy’s chief revenue officer, Aseem Kapur, emphasized that partnerships like this help build the ecosystem needed to support an all-electric future: “The Reliant Free Charge Nights plan is a great example of how an automaker and an energy company can work together to make EV adoption an easy decision.”
Existing Reliant customers can also sign up for the Free Charge Nights plan. To get started, Chevrolet EV owners need to designate their vehicle on the GM Energy Smart Charging Portal before enrolling in the plan.
Reliant Energy, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, serves over 1.5 million customers in Texas, making it one of the largest electricity providers in the state.
Read more: Texas to get 1 GW AI-powered virtual power plant, enough to power 200,000 homes
If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*
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Texas is about to get a major power boost – a new AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) delivering capacity equivalent to 200,000 homes during peak demand.
NRG Energy is teaming up with Renew Home to bring nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity to the Texas grid by 2035, aiming to make it more resilient while helping residents save on energy costs.
The new VPP will rely on hundreds of thousands of smart thermostats and other connected home devices, making use of AI technology provided by Google Cloud. These devices, like Vivint and Nest smart thermostats, will be offered to eligible customers at no cost. By automating HVAC adjustments, they help shift energy use to when electricity is cheaper, cleaner, and less strained.
NRG and Renew Home have big plans for the VPP. Starting in spring 2025, the companies plan to roll out the program across Texas, installing these smart thermostats in homes served by NRG’s retail electricity providers. Eventually, they plan to add home battery storage and EVs to expand the power plant’s capabilities.
Texas has faced record-breaking energy demands, with peak usage hitting 85 GW in 2023. As the state’s population grows and extreme weather becomes more frequent, VPPs like this one could play a key role in stabilizing the grid. VPPs aggregate a lot of small-scale energy resources, from smart thermostats to home batteries, and use them to help balance supply and demand during times of high stress on the grid.
This nearly 1 GW VPP will be one of the largest of its kind in Texas. NRG’s president of consumer operations, Rasesh Patel, calls it a “pivotal step” for improving customer experience while making Texas’ energy infrastructure more sustainable and resilient.
In addition to Renew Home, NRG is working with Google Cloud to maximize the power plant’s effectiveness. Google Cloud’s AI and analytics tools will help predict weather conditions, forecast renewable generation, and optimize energy usage, all of which will help make energy management smoother for both customers and the grid.
Ben Brown, CEO of Renew Home, said:
NRG’s commitment to creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future while also making electricity bills more affordable makes them an ideal partner for co-developing this unique VPP program.
This initiative raises the bar for future-proofing our electricity infrastructure and delivering cost savings to customers.
Read: Chinese solar giant Trina sells its Texas factory a week after it opens
To limit power outages and make your home more resilient, consider going solar with a battery storage system. In order to find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and you share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*
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