First American-Designed Honda EV Costs Under $1,000 And Is The Size Of A Briefcase

The new Honda Motocompacto has been revealed, an e-scooter the size of a briefcase with quirky looks and compact packaging. We love it, although it's not quite as cool as Mazda's suitcase car from 1991.

This all-new scooter, which resembles a suitcase if it were made by Apple, is a successor to the original Motocompo, sold between 1981 and 1983. The OG Motocompo was also a foldable scooter based on the Honda Monkey. It had a 49cc air-cooled two-stroke single-cylinder engine, suitable for a top speed of 19 mph.

But back to the 2024 Motocompacto, which is powered by a permanent magnet electric motor producing a lofty 490 W (0.66 horsepower, baby!). To put that into perspective, the Motocompacto only has 0.21% of the Honda Civic Type R's power output, but it can still reach 15 mph and drive up to 12 miles on a charge.

It's easy to mock Honda's drive-on briefcase, but it's the perfect solution for congested cities like LA and New York. The battery capacity is just 6.8 Ah, which is tiny compared to the 102-kWh lithium-ion battery found in the recently unveiled Acura ZDX. Because it's so small, it can be charged using a standard household socket and only takes 3.5 hours to recharge.

As you've probably guessed, you can take the Motocompacto anywhere. When you arrive at the office, you fold it up and drag it around. Dragging it along might become tiresome after a while because it weighs 41.3 pounds. That's like dragging an average six-year-old behind you, except the Honda won't complain and dig its heels in.

In its folded state, it's 29.2 inches long, 21.1 inches high, and a mere 3.7 inches wide, but unfurls into a ready-to-ride state in which it's 38.1 inches long, 35 inches tall, and 17.2 inches wide. The seat height is 24.5 inches, giving you a perfect view of the sidewalk ahead.

"Motocompacto is uniquely Honda - a fun, innovative, and unexpected facet of our larger electrification strategy," said Jane Nakagawa, vice president of the R&D Business Unit at American Honda Motor Co. "Sold in conjunction with our new all-electric SUVs, Motocompacto supports our goal of carbon neutrality by helping customers with end-to-end zero-emissions transport."

The Motocompacto was designed and developed by Honda's engineers in Ohio and California, leading to 32 patents. The stackable design means you can even load it in the trunk of your Honda Prologue, Honda's first volume American EV, or take it on public transport.

Standard equipment includes a comfy seat, secure foot pegs, on-board storage, a digital speedometer and charge gauge, and a phone app that adjusts lighting and ride modes.

The Motocompacto will go on sale at Honda and Acura dealerships and an official online store in November. It has an MSRP of just $995, slightly more than Bugatti charges for its official electric scooter. Still, it's much less than the Dragonfly Hyperscooter unveiled a year ago.