Almost everyone who sees it says it looks ridiculous, but in a fun, whimsical sort of way. No doubt that’s why its maker dubs it the “smile machine.” No other vehicle I’ve ever ridden has commanded this much attention. People have commented on the Lightfoot at traffic lights and even mid-ride, where several cyclists precariously pulled out their phones to take photos.
The Lightfoot hails from Otherlab, a research and design company founded by inventor Saul Griffith, who also cofounded Rewiring America, a nonprofit that helps US households switch from fossil fuels to clean energy. Griffith tells WIRED that the project started several years ago after publicly available data showed that 52 percent of all US passenger trips across all modes of transportation were less than three miles. Instead of relying on a car, why not try a simpler vehicle for short trips that can also recharge itself during the day?
“Solar can make a meaningful contribution. There’s a nice pathway here for an easy vehicle that people really engage with that’s simple and robust,” Griffith says.
Making it a scooter instead of a bike gives it a broader appeal too. “I think for every one person who wants something with pedals, there’s nine people who don’t give a fuck about pedals,” Griffith says.
I’ve been living with the Lightfoot for a little over two weeks. Unfortunately, for most of that time, New York City has been facing heavy rainfall—with a nor’easter sprinkled in. Not ideal conditions for a solar-powered scooter. That’s why Otherlab is initially focusing on selling its $4,495 vehicle in California—it’s now officially on sale (in sky blue or solar orange), and you can reserve one for $100.
Eventually, Griffith says, the company plans to expand into more southern states, beelining toward the Sunshine State, Florida, then gauging interest in northern states. Griffith says the company is talking to resorts, campuses, and fleet managers and plans to sell the Lightfoot in countries like Vietnam, where Hanoi will heavily restrict gas-powered scooters starting in 2027. But that’s the larger vision—for now, the focus is to produce enough vehicles and get them to initial customers first.
“If you look at the bloodbath that is people who’ve done micromobility companies, they nearly all raised too much money and tried to be gigantic immediately,” Griffith says. “We just didn’t want to do that.” He says that the first couple of production runs should prove that people like the Lightfoot and allow the company to study how people are using it.
Part of that involves servicing, and Griffith says the company wants to establish a service infrastructure as it expands. However, he points out that the Lightfoot uses common off-the-shelf components that should make repairs easy for most mom-and-pop bike shops (after removing the solar panels).
More evidence that the Lightfoot isn’t built for New York City? If you’re facing a slew of cloudy days, the only other way to charge it is by plugging it directly into an outlet. You cannot remove the battery. Also, the 137-pound vehicle is designed to be parked outside, meaning you’ll need access to a power source that can reach the sidewalk or your patio. I’m lucky enough to have a secure backyard space with an outlet, so I was able to top it up despite the cloudy conditions.