Honda launches electric car that folds like a suitcase

Honda has just announced a compact electric vehicle called Motocompacto, expected to go on sale this coming November. The vehicle has a starting price of $995, and is inspired by the design of the Honda Motocompo model sold in 1981-1983.

The vehicle is designed for urban mobility. The Motocompacto has a top speed of 24 km/h and a range of 19 km on a single charge. The 6.8 Ah battery can be fully charged in 3.5 hours via a household outlet (110 V in the US market). The 490W motor is mounted on the front wheel.

The special feature of this electric vehicle is its ability to be folded so that it can be stacked on top of each other, carried on cars, public transport (buses, trains), helping to save parking space. The vehicle has dimensions of length x width x height (cm) of 97 x 44 x 89, when folded this size is only 74 x 9 x 54, seat height 62 cm, wheelbase 74 cm. The vehicle weighs 18.7 kg. Thus, when folded, the vehicle is only slightly larger than carry-on luggage when traveling by plane, but much thinner.

The frame is also a place to store things when in use, and a place to put the saddle and handlebars when folded. The bike has a footrest, an electronic clock, a charge indicator light and a convenient handle when folded. The bike can connect to a smartphone to customize driving modes and lighting modes.

The frame and wheels are made from heat-treated aluminum, giving the bike high durability while maintaining light weight. Honda emphasizes the bike's customizability through the body, which is left blank to encourage users to personalize the bike themselves.