Remember the cute little Honda Motocompo from the 80s designed to fit in the boot of a hatchback? The scooter is making a comeback in electric form and it’s called the Motocompacto.
In the folded configuration, the ride looks nothing more than a suitcase with wheels, measuring just 29 inches in length and 21 inches in height. Probably, the reason it was hugely popular even though it had a very short stint at the Japanese automotive production lines.
Designer: Honda
For the 21st century, the peppy commuter targeted at urban users comes with some improvements and maintains the same lightweight frame as its predecessor. To be precise, the Motocompacto weighs 41 pounds, the same class as regular bikes. That small and compact form factor comes with its set of limitations such as the measly range of 12 miles on a single charge of 3.5 hours. The silver lining though, it has a charger-ready 110V outlet, so you can plug it into any household outlet.
The ingrained idea of a Motocompo is to take it along in your car’s boot and only use it for short trips. The front-wheel drive motor of the Motocompacto delivers 490W, making the last-mile ride capable enough of climbing hills. The top speed of 15-18 mph isn’t top-notch when compared to other electric scooters, but it solves the purpose nonetheless. On the dashboard, there are two power levels, a digital speedometer and battery level indicators.
Nick Ziraldo, project lead and design engineering unit leader at Honda Development and Manufacturing of America, “Motocompacto is easy to use and fun to ride, but was also designed with safety, durability, and security in mind. It uses a robust heat-treated aluminum frame and wheels, bright LED headlight and taillight, side reflectors, and a welded steel lock loop on the kickstand that is compatible with most bike locks.”
The Motocompacto is going to be priced around $995 and will be available in November. Interested buyers can either place the order online or buy via the Honda or Acura dealerships.
