Honda Spins Into Micromoblity Business with Electric Quadricycle
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
It's been 128 years since Henry Ford created the first quadricycle. Now, Honda plans to use the form of transportation in a thoroughly modern way as a last-mile, micromobility solution.
Honda's new Fastport operations is a business-to-business (B2B) business dedicated to creating micromobility solutions for the last-mile delivery industry. In America, much of that type of delivery is done by car, SUV or truck outside of urban areas. In Europe, delivery via bicycle is far more common.
The company will debut its first solution, a zero-emission, electrified quadricycle at the Eurobike exhibition in late June. The Fastport eQuad is designed for use in bike lanes.
"The Fastport team has worked tirelessly to create the Fastport eQuad, a zero-emission alternative to delivery vans that solves the challenge of last mile urban logistics by meeting the needs of urban residents expecting on-demand deliveries of packages, groceries and other items," said Jose Wyszogrod, general manager and founding member of Fastport, said in a press release.
Fastport eQuad Prototype testing in New York City.
Fastport eQuad Prototype testing in New York City.
Honda
The eQuad is powered by Honda Mobile Power Pack swappable batteries and has software-defined vehicle features, the company said. It utilizes a pedal-by-wire powertrain to have electrically enhanced movement through the streets.
Its regenerative braking system captures and reuses energy in a manner similar to how an electrified car, truck or SUV does. It also has automatic parking brakes.
Honda's eQuad was designed to prioritize rider comfort. It features a canopy with a UV coating. Buyers can opt for a ceramic tint, ventilation fan or full-frontal enclosure. Its chassis was engineered by Honda to allow the model to ride smoothly over rough surfaces.
Fastport's large and small vehicle and cargo box container sizes are tailored to meet regional customer needs. Its modular design is primed for customization depending on the need.
The large version can handle a payload of up to 650 pounds, while the small version can handle up to 320 pounds. Both versions have a maximum speed of 12 miles per hour.
Range is payload dependent. The large model will be able to go up to 23 miles at a time. The range of Fastport's small model has not yet been released.
The company plans to couple the eQuad with a Fleet-as-a-Service model that allows customers to tap into the vehicle's software-defined vehicle attributes to feed information into artificial intelligence-managed fleet software dashboards. These dashboards give real-time insights to fleet managers via cloud technology.
Discussions with major logistics and delivery companies in North America and Europe are underway with the aim of starting a pilot test program ahead of production launch.
Fastport plans to sell its last-mile solutions in North American and Europe, beginning with first-edition vehicles in late 2025. Mass production is expected to begin in the summer of 2026. U.S.-bound units will be assembled at the Honda Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
37 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Andrea Kimi Antonelli Takes Out Max Verstappen in Dramatic Austrian GP Start
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Mercedes Formula One driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli crashed into Red Bull's Max Verstappen on the opening lap of the Austrian Grand Prix. The incident was a hard knock for Verstappen, as it took both drivers out of the race. Following a late race start after Carlos Sainz's Williams FW47 caught fire, Kimi Antonelli braked late into Turn 3 and locked up his tires before crashing into Verstappen. Verstappen reacted on the team radio, saying, "I'm out. I got hit like crazy. F***ing idiots!" Antonelli appeared to apologize to Verstappen after the incident, which was a big setback for Mercedes and Red Bull. Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with a team member on the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 29, 2025 in Spielberg,... Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing talks with a team member on the grid during the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 29, 2025 in Spielberg, Austria. MoreThe crash was the second major incident of the day, after Sainz struggled to get his car going in the formation lap. The problem brought out the yellow flags before the Spaniard was able to launch the car. However, his car's brakes caught fire in the pit lane, prompting the Williams crew to swing into action. Though the fire was eventually put out, the incident led to a DNS. Speaking after the incident, Kimi Antonelli said: "I think it was a normal start, then going up to P3, I was just trying to maintain position. I didn't want to do anything because I knew there was no space in front. But then when I hit the brakes, I locked the rear, and I got caught by that, and I lost the car. "I had to first avoid the Racing Bulls, but then I just couldn't stop the car. Unfortunately, I hit Max. I feel sorry towards the team and him, of course." Kimi Antonelli confirmed that he apologized to Max for the incident. He said: "Well I just apologized straight away. I recognized it was a fault of me and I just felt sorry because I ended my race, but I ended his as well." Addressing the incident, Verstappen said: "I mean, we had a good start. That was a nice improvement from the last two races, where I was not particularly happy with the start. But yeah, then in Turn 3 the race was over. "Of course, at that point, I didn't know what happened, but we had quite a bit of damage on the car, and it turned off. So yeah, I guess unlucky a little bit yesterday in qualifying and unlucky today in the race. But if you look at the weekend, we were not where we wanted to be in terms of pace, and we have to try and analyze that and hopefully have a little bit more of a positive weekend next week." The Dutchman was asked what he said to Kimi Antonelli after the crash. He answered: "I just asked what happened, because he was the only guy there with me with his wheel hanging off. So I was like, maybe - well, I'm pretty sure he hit me. "Then of course I saw the footage once I came back, and it happens. Every driver has made a mistake like that in their careers. And Kimi is a very big talent, so he learns from that—and that's all fine." He added: "Yeah, of course it's not what you want. At the end of the day, I'm probably the most disappointed about it. But that's racing, you know. We've had a lot of great moments here, so maybe we got a little bit spoiled with that as well. Sometimes that's the case."
Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Jeff Bezos' Venice Wedding Was Relatively Cheap
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Jeff Bezos' multimillion dollar wedding to Lauren Sanchez in Venice was relatively him. The cost of the nuptials on Friday was estimated between $47 million and $56 million, according to Reuters, citing Luca Zaia, president of the Veneto region where the Italian city of canals is based. And while this sum may appear lavish to any ordinary American, it amounted to just 0.0193-0.0230 percent of the Amazon founder's estimated $244 billion net worth, as recorded by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The average and median net worth of an American family is $1,063,700 and $192,900 respectively, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Federal Reserve. This means Bezos' wedding was financially similar to an average American spending less than $250 on their wedding—about the cost of a family dinner or a new pair of sneakers. To put that percentage into further context, Newsweek analyzed what similarly proportioned wedding spending would look like for Americans in professions such as construction, nursing and law. Lauren Sanchez Bezos, left, and Jeff Bezos depart from the Aman hotel during wedding celebrations on June 28, 2025, in Venice, Italy. Lauren Sanchez Bezos, left, and Jeff Bezos depart from the Aman hotel during wedding celebrations on June 28, 2025, in Venice, Italy. Luca Bruno/AP Photo Why It Matters Bezos is currently the third richest person in the world, after Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. The comparatively negligible impact of the billionaire's wedding bill on his total wealth highlights the vast and growing gap between the world's richest individuals and the average American worker. Half of regular Americans anticipate going into debt to pay for their weddings, according to a survey earlier this month by U.S. News. What To Know Newsweek used ChatGPT to help calculate the dollar amount U.S. workers in several professions would need to spend on a wedding to match the same fraction of net worth as Bezos did. Breaking Down the Proportions A construction worker, whose average net worth is approximately $60,000, would only spend between $11.58 and $13.80 on their wedding, as that amount is 0.0193 percent to 0.0230 percent of their net worth. This is roughly the equivalent of two small lattes from Starbucks. Nurses, whose average net worth was calculated to be approximately $125,000, could spend between $24.13 and $28.75 on their wedding. This is less than the cost of two bacon cheeseburgers from Five Guys. According to the AI, journalists have a lower net worth than nurses, with just $100,000 as their total net worth, meaning they have even less to spend on their weddings if sticking to Bezos' budget ratio. Journalists could spend between $19.30 and $23 on a nuptial celebration—about as much as one fancy cocktail in New York City. Teachers have a slightly higher budget of $38.60 to $46 based on an estimated $200,000 net worth. Meanwhile, the average American lawyer can afford to splash out, with $96.50 to $115 on their wedding, if sticking to spending a maximum of 0.0230 percent of their estimated $500,000 net worth. How Net Worth Estimates Were Calculated The AI constructed the approximate net worth figures from publicly available U.S. salary data, industry wage reports and national wealth surveys. For construction workers, median annual wages of $46,050 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics informed an estimated 30-year career saving a modest percentage of income, landing at a net worth of $60,000. Nurses, with average salaries near $89,000 and consistent retirement contributions, were estimated with net worth ranging from $125,000 to $175,000. Journalists—often burdened by lower salaries and potential student debt—were projected at $100,000. Teachers, benefiting from defined-benefit pensions, could reach $200,000 or more, while lawyers, despite student loan burdens, commonly reach at least $500,000. Actual net worth can vary significantly due to factors such as debt levels, regional cost of living, career interruptions, investment returns and household dynamics. These figures should be viewed as illustrative models—not precise financial portraits of individual workers in these professions. These calculations also do not take into account the age at which people in these professions reach this level of net worth. Most weddings occur when people are younger, meaning they may not have reached their highest earning potential by the time they get married. Activists stage a protest against the Bezos wedding on the Rialto Bridge on June 28, 2025, in Venice, Italy. Activists stage a protest against the Bezos wedding on the Rialto Bridge on June 28, 2025, in Venice, Italy. Antonio Calanni/AP Photo Bezos, 61, and Sanchez, 55, both getting married for the second time, tied the knot over the weekend in Venice after a nearly two-year engagement. The wedding was met with protesters in the city who said the city should not be rented by "oligarchs," with lead protester Marta Sottoriva saying "our city has been sold to the highest bidder." City officials disagreed with Sottoriva's "No Space for Bezos" campaign, saying Bezos donated money to Venetian causes, such as restoring council homes, as part of his agreement with the city. Bezos, Sanchez and their approximately 200 celebrity guests, including Leonardo DiCaprio, several Kardashians and Oprah Winfrey, partied in Venice for several days, shutting off portions of the city from its residents. What People Are Saying Marta Sottoriva, leader of "No Space for Bezos," told The Guardian: "There's a lot of anger in the air because once again the council has enslaved itself to the logic of profit—our city has been sold to the highest bidder. Every time an event of this kind happens, the city comes to a standstill, certain areas become inaccessible and even more tourists arrive. This wedding really is the symbol of all that is wrong with Venice." Hannah Holland, writing for MSNBC, said: "This wedding—the tenor, the clothes, the cost—indicate a callous indifference toward the realities the rest of the world is facing." Usher leaves a hotel during celebrations for Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Bezos' wedding, in Venice on June 28, 2025. Usher leaves a hotel during celebrations for Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez Bezos' wedding, in Venice on June 28, 2025. Luigi Costantini/AP Photo What Happens Next The wedding industry in the U.S. continues to be a highly lucrative business, with people spending more on weddings than ever before, according to Grand View Research. However, some couples are starting to reconsider their spending, opting to save up for a home or for children instead of a wedding party.
Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Carlos Sainz Retires From Austrian GP After Car Fire
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Williams Racing driver Carlos Sainz faced a huge issue at the start of the Austrian Grand Prix formation lap, leading him to retire from the race. This comes a day after Sainz faced technical problems during qualifying that led him to start P19. The Spaniard couldn't get his FW47 going in the formation lap as he reported being unable to slot his car into first gear. The yellow flags were waved as he struggled to start his lap. Eventually, he finished the formation lap and entered the pit lane only to find his rear brakes on fire. The Williams crew put the fire out but declared on the radio that his race was over. Carlos Sainz of Spain and Williams looks on in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 26, 2025 in Spielberg, Austria. Carlos Sainz of Spain and Williams looks on in the Paddock during previews ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Austria at Red Bull Ring on June 26, 2025 in Spielberg, Sports F1's Karun Chandhok said about the incident: "That is such a deflating moment for the drivers. I had that a couple times in my career. "You do all your pre-race prep then something goes wrong. It's like a massive balloon that just goes pop, not just for Sainz but all of the engineers." With daytime temperatures soaring at the Red Bull Ring, Fernando Alonso, who starts in 11th place, reported some discomfort during the second race restart. He said: "I cannot tell you the temperature of the seat. It's maybe, I don't know, 200 degrees." The incident follows Sainz's challenges the previous day in qualifying, where he reported on the team radio that the car was "undriveable."
