What are those rectangular shaped scooters seen on test tracks in the Rose Bowl parking lot?
They are called Motocompactos, designed to replace the gas-guzzling ones powered by internal combustion engines that were used during past Rose Parades.
Made by Honda, the new battery-electric scooters are zero-emission scooters. They will be ridden by more than 100 volunteers who will guide the floats along the 5.2-mile route of the 2025 Rose Parade on Jan. 1.
Volunteers are receiving training and demonstration rides to get ready for parade day, said Jennifer Symington, assistant vice president of marketing for America Honda in an emailed response.
Symington said they were tested during last year’s parade. So far, she said riders find them easy to ride and they enable them to zip around the parade route with ease.
Also, unlike the e-scooters seen on the streets in Los Angeles County for rental, these are sturdier.
“Importantly, Motocompacto is a sitting scooter, so it’s easier and safer to ride than stand up style e-scooters,” she said. Their unusual design appears like a box with a straight steering handle, pedals and seat popping out.
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The e-scooter has a maximum speed of 15 mph. It has a range of 12 miles. The scooter is powered by a battery and comes with a portable charger that plugs into a household 110 volt outlet. A full charge takes 3.5 hours.
They will be charged at the Tournament of Roses House before the parade begins, Symington said.
“Making scooters safe is a real art form,” said Mark Duvall, who spent 21 years with the Electric Power Research Institute in Palo Alto. He said some companies ban the street scooters available for rental because people fall off hurt themselves.
He said Honda’s engineers built motorcycles before the company made automobiles, so they have a wealth of expertise in two-wheeled vehicles. He hadn’t heard of the Motocompacto. “I would be pretty excited to see one of those,” he said…
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