Lightfoot Smile MachineOne thing's for sure: The Lightfoot Smile Machine doesn't look like anything else. Yes, there's lockable onboard storage.If you're looking for an EV short-range mobility machine, and you really want people to talk to you, then it looks like the Lightfoot Smile Machine might be right up your street. However, if you're a committed introvert, I'm going to guess that this machine may not be for you.One look at its unique design will probably tell you exactly why. Love it or hate it, there's nothing else quite like it. And so it's pretty much guaranteed to generate spontaneous conversation wherever you go.But hey, at least that means it's more likely that people will actually see you out on the road, right? Right. At least, in theory. Sometimes, it seems like some drivers on the road wouldn't see you if you were on fire, and I say this only half-jokingly, from lived experience. But I digress.lightfoot-full-side-profile-rightPhoto by: LightfootEs CargoConquer The Urban Jungle In Style With Monty's New E-Cargo BikesCheck Out Gocycle's Sleek And Sporty CX Cargo E-BikeNow, as you may already have clocked, the two most visible external surfaces of the Lightfoot Smile Machine are, in fact, two 120 W solar panels. They're covered in what Lightfoot describes as a "high-impact laminate," so they can absorb the sun's rays whether you're moving or parked, yet hopefully not suffer scuff damage from everyday life.There are two brushless DC hub motors incorporated into the design of the Smile Machine, offering claimed peak torque of 80 newton meters per wheel (about 59 lb-ft). Top speed is claimed to be just under 20 mph, which allows it to be categorized and operable without a license as an e-scooter. Different jurisdictions will have different rules about age restrictions and helmet requirements, so be sure to familiarize yourself with those if the Smile Machine appeals to you.You can plug the Smile Machine in to charge at a regular power outlet, and it'll reach full capacity that way in about four hours. Claimed range on a full charge is about 37 miles, but as with any EV, that claimed range will be dependent on a number of factors. In this video, Adam Savage takes the Smile Machine out on San Francisco streets, for example; if you're unfamiliar, it's a very hilly city. The Smile Machine does have regen braking, but hills are of course just one factor that can contribute to or detract from any EV's real-world range, particularly if there are headwinds involved.Additionally, Lightfoot claims that the solar panels can generate up to 18 additional miles of range by passively absorbing the sun's rays over the course of a day. Clearly, while you're riding, you (and your passenger, if you have one) will be partly obstructing the solar panels. But while you're parked somewhere, as long as you're out in the open and there's sunlight, you should at least be refilling your battery a little bit while the bike is stationary.It's classed as a cargo scooter, and there is a locking storage compartment located inside this little guy (seriously, it weighs 141 pounds). How big a compartment are we talking? Try 45 liters, and it looks like this.Photo by: LightfootWatch the video to get a better relational view of how big this storage compartment is; it looks as though you could fit a backpack with a laptop inside, as long as neither is terribly gigantic. Lightfoot says it's weatherproof (with an IP 67 rating), as well as lockable. From its lightweight appearance (Savage is able to pick it up out of the packaging unassisted in this video), it seems reasonable that a determined thief or thieves could throw this in the back of their truck without too much trouble. But then again, isn't that pretty much every bike?Right now, the Lightfoot startup has fully funded the first batch of Smile Machines themselves, opting to not rely on outside investment (which kind of sets them apart in this era). The first batch of Smile Machines will have the blue and orange colorway you see in the photos and in this video, and consists of a run of 100 bikes.The launch price is US $4,495, for a unique EV cargo scooter designed in California and built in Taiwan. You can put down a deposit of US $100 for one of these if you want, which Lightfoot says is fully refundable at any time. The company also says that additional colorways will be available in the future, with first pick going to anyone who's placed a reservation but hasn't received a Smile Machine from the first batch.For someone with very specific needs, the Smile Machine could make an interesting (rolling suit)case. What do you think of this design, and would you ride one? Sound off in the comments below.Source: Lightfoot
