Honda's Motocompacto is a folding electric scooter designed to complement Acura's upcoming ZDX electric car (and current combustion car line). It is a "free micromobility solution" that fits into those difficult transport spaces where the car does not fit: the last mile between the train station and the office, large areas with large parking lots and people again. But most importantly, the Honda Motocompacto is fun, both to ride and to switch between its scooter and pocket models. Between 1981 and 1983, Honda sold the Motocompo "bike" as a factory accessory that fit into the trunk of its hatchbacks, such as the City subcompact or the Taa kei sedan. This motorized scooter has a 49 cc two stroke engine producing 2.5 horsepower and has the distinction of being the smallest vehicle ever built by Honda. The uniqueness of its design and the rarity of Motocompo outside of Japan has earned it cult status among enthusiasts over the years.
And when Honda has experimented with folding scooters and bike concepts like car concepts, the Motocompacto was the first to replace the Motocompo in production. The front Motocompacto motor is a small 490-watt electric motor that converts the power of the 6.8 Ah battery into about 11.8 pound-feet of torque. Its top speed is around 15 mph, and its maximum range is about 12 miles. Honda's electric bike has two riding modes: Mode 1 requires a manual start to go before the motor kicks in at around 1 mph, while Mode 2 goes off the throttle from a stop. The Motocompacto can be plugged into a standard 110-volt wall outlet with the included AC adapter and charged in about 3.5 hours. In addition to the accelerator and brake pedals, the Motocompacto's handlebars also include an LCD screen that displays battery level, speed and riding status information. Electric cars also have headlights, rear brake lights and bells. A top speed of 15 mph doesn't sound like much on paper, but it looks like a great video from my perch atop a goofy plastic box on wheels. In fact, it's faster and better than running 12 miles. There's no suspension, so the ride is a little rough on uneven pavement, but the steering is fine enough to make it easy to avoid big bumps. Stopping power is provided by a single rear brake which seems strong enough for the Motocompacto's low speed.
This front-wheel-drive, rear-suspension setup is the opposite of what years of riding bikes have taught me that it takes some getting used to. But if you've ridden an electric scooter, like the ones Lime charges, the Motocompacto should be familiar. For some drivers, the driving conditions will be even better. After a fun ride, the best feature of the Motocompacto is that it folds up easily and compactly. The four to five step process is surprisingly quick, once you get to know the process, it leaves you with a compact package (21.1 x 29.2 x 3.7 inches) in hand. At about 40 pounds, the Motocompacto weighs less than half the 99-pound Motocompo it respects, but it's not exactly light. I can easily lift it over my head, but I prefer it to carry me wherever possible rather than the other way around. The flat white stone of the folded Motocompacto provides a beautiful open bed for organizing it and Honda expects smart riders to stick to it all, like how we arrange the lid of our laptop. And of course, the automaker plans to provide a full range of parts and accessories - including helmets, backpacks, stickers and more - to customize the next electric scooter. I can see myself throwing the Motocompacto in my trunk to do a day of work around town without having to constantly look for a place to park and park my car. One can ride this mobility scooter to and from the train station or bus station for a less sweaty commute. Motocompacto has a coil, but it folds easily and is compact enough that you can take it to the office, restaurant, grocery store, or bar, making it more safer than a bike. My only complaint is that its compact and foldable nature leaves little space for loading. The Motocompacto switch leaves a small breadbox-like space in front of the saddle where you can stash a jacket, but no space for wine baskets or panniers. This means that you will need a backpack for larger loads. Just make sure you and your vehicle don't exceed the 253-pound electric weight limit. Returning the Honda Motocompacto at the end of my afternoon presentation, I knew I had to give myself one as soon as possible. The electric car will be available to order online or through Acura and Honda dealers for $995 later this year, only when it's folded up and stored under the tree for the holidays.
Cnet
