# Solar-Powered Urban Scooters Otherlab Brings Solar Charging And Two-Person Riding To An Electric S By Ellen Smith | Written with AI assistance | Published 2026-10-08 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/solar-powered-scooters References: [wired](https://www.wired.com/story/lightfoot-scooter-first-ride)  Otherlab’s Lightfoot gives city riders a scooter that can pull power from the sun while carrying a passenger. The boxy electric scooter has two side-mounted [solar panels](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/toyota-ftme) and a [bench seat](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scooter-platform), turning short hops into something closer to a rolling mini-pod than a standard two-wheeler. It tops out at 20 miles per hour and is claimed to travel 37 miles on a charge, which makes it more than a novelty ride. The internal storage compartment adds a practical place for a backpack or groceries, so errands do not have to ride on your shoulders or handlebars. For shoppers, this means a [commuter scooter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bee-electric-scooter) that leans into self-charging convenience without piling on app clutter or extra screens. It also nudges the category toward simpler machines that feel ready for bike-lane life, not just another gadget to manage. Image Credit: Julian Chokkattu ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 7.4/10 - Popularity: 70% | Activity: 53% | Freshness: 99% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Gadgets](https://www.trendhunter.com/gadgets) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Solar-assisted Micromobility:** Integrated solar panels create opportunities for electric scooters and compact vehicles to extend range while reducing dependence on plug-in charging infrastructure. - **Passenger-friendly Scooters:** Two-person seating shifts micromobility beyond solo commuting, opening space for shared short-distance travel formats in dense urban environments. - **Utility-first Urban Rides:** Built-in storage and simplified controls signal demand for practical city vehicles that support errands, commuting, and everyday mobility without added digital complexity. ### Who This Affects Most - **Electric Mobility:** Solar-enabled light vehicles introduce new product categories between e-bikes and scooters, expanding how manufacturers compete on convenience, range, and usability. - **Urban Transportation:** Compact passenger-capable scooters fit emerging bike-lane infrastructure, creating potential for cities to diversify low-speed transit options. - **Clean Energy:** Vehicle-integrated solar charging links renewable power directly to daily transportation, encouraging new business models around self-sustaining mobility products. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Backpack-Sized Folding Scooters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blizwheel-f05.md) - [Accessible Power Electric Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fiido-t3-max.md) - [Modern Foldable Commuter Scooters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vtov-1000.md) - [Solar-Powered Ev Prototypes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/orange-17-luminetta.md) - [Ultra-Modern Urbanite Electric Scooters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/zero-ls1.md) - [Solar-Powered Sleek Bikes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-solaris.md) - [Solar-Powered Ev Coupes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/deep-orange-17.md) - [Lightweight Solar EVs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/aptera-1.md)