If you happen to’re sufficiently old to recollect the unique Nineteen Eighties Honda Motocompo micro-motorcycle – or are like me and have loved studying about it since – then as we speak’s announcement from Honda will include all kinds of heat, fuzzy emotions of nostalgia, both earned or realized. The long-awaited non secular successor to the Motocompo has simply been unveiled, and this time it’s gone electrical. Meet the Honda Motocompacto.

The unique 1983 Honda Motocompo was a tiny little gasoline-powered motorbike designed to slot in the trunk of small automotive and provides drivers a technique to prolong their attain right into a metropolis.

As an alternative of driving all the best way in, homeowners may park on the outskirts of a metropolis, come out their tiny motorbike from their trunk, unfold it into one thing that was kind of snug to sit down on, then trip anyplace within the metropolis.

If you happen to’re pondering that an oil-leaking, gasoline-burning motorbike isn’t an amazing factor to maintain within the trunk of a automotive, then you definitely’re proper.

That’s most likely why the little bike was discontinued after solely two years.

It’s additionally possible why when Honda introduced the outdated concept again to life as we speak, they did it with an electrical drivetrain as an alternative. Which in case you’re an Electrek reader, most likely gained’t come as a whole shock. We lined Honda’s trademarking of the Motocompacto identify final 12 months and surmised that this was the possible consequence.

Simply don’t anticipate peak efficiency from the Honda Motocompacto. In truth, you’d be well-advised to not get your hopes up for even average efficiency. The tiny little folding scooter has a good tinier drivetrain. The entrance wheel motor measures 490W and the highest pace is a mere 15 mph (25 km/h).

The battery is listed as “6.8Ah,” although it’s unimaginable to find out the precise battery capability with none data on the system voltage. With both a 24V or 36V battery, that might imply a measly capability of simply 163 or 245 Wh, respectively.

Honda does give us an estimate vary, although the “as much as 12 miles” (20 km) isn’t very promising. However then once more, that is an urban-centric bike and few folks commute additional than 12 miles within the coronary heart of a metropolis. A 110V charger can recharge that battery in 3.5 hours and there’s even room to retailer the charger on board, simply in case you need to recharge within the workplace below your desk.

As Honda described it, “Motocompacto is ideal for getting round cityscapes and school campuses. It was designed with rider consolation and comfort in thoughts with a comfortable seat, safe grip foot pegs, on-board storage, a digital speedometer, a cost gauge, and a snug carry deal with. A intelligent telephone app permits riders to regulate their private settings, together with lighting and trip modes, by way of Bluetooth.”

The Honda Motocompacto takes a lot of the identical folding inspiration from the unique Motocompo, together with handlebars and seat that drop down into the physique. With the folding footpegs, the little scooter is a mere 3.7 inches extensive (9.4 cm) when totally stowed. In truth, it folds up right into a package deal barely bigger than a briefcase, measuring simply 29 inches (73 cm) lengthy and 21 inches (54 cm) excessive.

Happily the Motocompacto’s weight 41.3 lb. (18.7 kg) is just below half the load of the unique Nineteen Eighties Motocompo, so it ought to be a lot simpler to truly slide out of your hatchback.

It seems that Honda plans to promote the Motocompacto together with a few of its electrical automobiles, in response to Jane Nakagawa, vice chairman of the R&D Enterprise Unit at American Honda Motor Co., Inc.:

Motocompacto is uniquely Honda – a enjoyable, revolutionary and surprising aspect of our bigger electrification technique. Offered along with our new all-electric SUVs, Motocompacto helps our purpose of carbon neutrality by serving to clients with end-to-end zero-emissions transport.

In follow although, it’s possible that few homeowners will really deal with it like a dinghy for his or her automotive in the identical method that the unique Motocompo was used. As an alternative, it’s possible that the Motocompacto will stand by itself as a part of Honda’s small but rising electrical scooter and motorbike lineup.

The bike sounds prefer it was designed as a main automobile, as defined by Nick Ziraldo, venture lead and design engineering unit chief at Honda Improvement and Manufacturing of America:

Motocompacto is straightforward to make use of and enjoyable to trip, however was additionally designed with security, sturdiness, and safety in thoughts. It makes use of a sturdy heat-treated aluminum body and wheels, vibrant LED headlight and taillight, aspect reflectors, and a welded metal lock loop on the kickstand that’s appropriate with most bike locks.

Now the one query is whether or not or not it should promote. Priced at US $995, gross sales will start completely on-line and at Honda and Acura car sellers in November.

Electrek’s Take

I’m about as pro-micromobility as anybody on the web, however I’ll inform you proper now that the best factor concerning the Honda Motocompacto is merely the truth that it exists. If you happen to really have a look at specs and pricing, there’s not an excessive amount of to get labored up about.

Positive, Honda’s engineers can pull a muscle patting themselves on the again all day for bringing again the Motocompo, which is a extremely cool feat. However a thousand bucks for a briefcase with wheels? That’s a troublesome promote.

The unique Motocompo was so unbelievable as a result of it was the one factor prefer it – there simply weren’t some other tiny motorbikes that might slot in a trunk. As of late there are actually a thousand totally different electrical scooters and mini e-bikes that may fold up to slot in a trunk and fulfill the identical position as this factor. So finally, meaning the one differentiator right here is the design. And it IS a legitimately cool design. In truth, it seems superior. The origami sport is robust with this one. However I’d nonetheless slightly trip a JackRabbit or a folding stand-up scooter if I’m searching for a severe micromobility for city use. They’d slot in a automotive trunk simply as effectively and would really give higher efficiency in addition to bang-for-your buck.

However even after saying all that, I’m nonetheless going to be tempted to purchase considered one of these only for “kicks and jiggles” as my non-native-English-speaking spouse likes to say. It wouldn’t even be the primary bizarre little folding e-bike factor I’ve purchased this month.