I’m Obsessed With Honda’s Weird New Electric Scooter

• Honda launched a rectangular electric scooter that costs $995. 
• It’s a throwback to the Motocompo, a foldable Honda scooter from the 1980s that fit in a trunk. 
• The Motocompacto goes 15 mph and has a range of 12 miles, Honda says. 

Who says electric vehicles are too pricey for average Americans? Honda just revealed one that costs only $995.

No, the Motocompacto is not a car. It’s a quirky, little electric scooter for bopping around town or a college campus. And I’m obsessed.

I mean, what’s not to love?

The Motocompacto is shaped like a cute, rideable suitcase. It maxes out at 15 mph and has a range of 12 miles, Honda says. It even comes with an adorable acceleration claim of zero to 15 mph in seven seconds. It offers onboard storage for its charging cord and other stuff one might bring along for a ride.

Better yet, it’s the spiritual successor to one of Honda’s coolest vehicles of all time, the 1980s Motocompo. That was a tiny, folding motorcycle that fit into the trunk of a hatchback. The idea was for buyers to park somewhere convenient, scoot around town on the Motocompo, and drive home.

Similarly, the Motocompacto’s handlebars, seat, and rear wheel can collapse inward, turning the scooter into its own carrying case. Honda says the compact, rectangular shape should make the scooter easier to stow away in a vehicle or on public transportation.

It comes with a carrying handle, but at 41.3 pounds it won’t exactly be an easy one-handed lift.

When you think about it, the combo of an electric scooter and an electric vehicle makes a lot of sense — since you could theoretically charge the smaller device off of the larger vehicle’s battery pack.

Several carmakers sell EVs with power outlets in them. Rivian, a startup that makes electric pickups and SUVs, includes a wireless speaker and flashlight that stay charged using dedicated docks. That could work for scooters too.

Honda clearly thinks the funky, throwback scooter will strike a chord beyond the transportation-nerd demographic. It plans to offer a line of Motocompacto-branded accessories, including backpacks, helmets, and apparel.

So fans like me can rep the Motocompacto everywhere we go — whether we’re zipping around via electric briefcase or not.