Honda Unveils Incredible Electric Scooter that Folds Into a Briefcase Shape - Core77

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Ah, a Motocompo 2.0.
It seems like the world has turned away from the briefcase, and some Honda exec, still stuck in '85, said offhand, "ya know what would be really cool..." and now he gets to carry two briefcases.
I'd be more interested in something that converted into a functional rolling hard case (with storage) than this thing. This is just another thing to carry.
- Japanese business execs very much are all still living in 1985. Japan, especially its corporate culture, is infamous for being stuck in the past. This is bafflingly at odds with its outside perception of being a nation full of bleeding edge innovation. And it is... but only in some aspects.
  Japan is almost exclusively run by old men. Traditionalism is tough to budge there. A ridiculous amount of mission critical business communication in Japan still relies on fax machines. Not email. Not messenger apps. Fax machines. In 2023.
  Anyhow, even if the rest of the world has turned away from the briefcase we've just replaced it with the laptop bag anyway.
  
  I jokingly call myself a weeb because I like some Anime/manga/LN/WN and had/have an interest in their history and culture... but because of such interest in history I also know of a lot of terrible things they've done, plus how conservative and bigoted the country is. They've always been resistant ro change, and proud of it. I haven't fully kept up, but like America, they also love to hide their atrocities.
  
  I live in the US and a business asked me if I could fax them something just a couple of weeks ago. I replied "From where? 1985?"
- Especially since it is probably very heavy.
The specs seem pretty terrible to me.
- Yeah, I guess they sacrificed specs in favor of taking less space and probably lower weight.
- I think it’s beautiful in a cassette futurism kinda way.
  
  And it called my mother a very nasty name!
I just want to take this and ride it through the airport
- They probably wouldn't let you bring it in, but now I'm picturing someone leading the TSA on a chase through the airport on one of these things:
  "Sir, you're not allowed to bring th-"
  rides off
  "You'll never take my scooter!"
  
  Until you get in a high speed chase with a TSA agent on a Segway...
  
  Just make sure you take your shoes off first... and your belt, and any jewelry. It's probably best just to show up naked.
- It's now my dream to have one of these
  
  Wait, what?
  
  I don't believe you, that sounds too magical to exist...
Throw a Repsol livery on it and I’m sold
$1000 for 15mph / 12mi range. Full charge in 3.5 hours
Real low to competitors that can offer those specs on a scooter for $350.
- Yeah they fold in half. Take up same or less space than the motocompacto.
- Who has those specs for $350?
  
  I know I can get China imports where I am for around that price. For obvious reasons I ain't buying those!
  US$1k is worth it for something that comes from a manufacturer like Honda who have more to lose if your scooter bursts into flames. A vehicle like that can last 10 years, you want to have the peace of mind and safety.
That website is slow af.
- Just like the briefcase scooter.
Aye neat article, thanks
For businesses, the form factor of the scooter makes it perfect for branding
its just a billboard on wheels
- Ain't nothing wrong with that.
  For historical precedent, Honda originally devised the Super Cub -- literally the most sold vehicle in history, bar none -- with design elements in mind specifically to make it useful for Japanese noodle shops to use as a delivery vehicle. If they think hipster startups will buy this and slap their logo on the side and tootle around downtown, well, so what?