Honda Releases the New Monpal ML200 4-Wheel Scooter

Tokyo, Japan, Jan 23, 2006 - (JCN Newswire) - Honda Motor Co., Ltd. has announced the release of the new Monpal ML200, a stylish 4-wheel scooter with a comfortable ride and high maneuvering stability that delivers easy, carefree operation. The new Monpal will be available throughout Japan starting Wednesday, March 15 at specified Honda power product and motorcycle dealers that offer Monpal products(1).

With a compact overall width of just 595mm and a front fender that makes it easy to see the direction and motion of the front wheel from the driver's seat, the Monpal ML200 offers a slim, smart package with outstanding maneuverability. The specially developed suspension keeps the tires firmly in contact with the ground even over minor sidewalk gradations, to continually maintain a comfortable, stable ride. Furthermore, a high-output, brushless motor and newly developed, high-efficiency control system achieve top-class hill climbing stamina with very little speed loss on uphill slopes and 25km of continuous operation(2) on a single battery charge, along with smoother starting, stopping and handling.

The design features a slim, nimble form and distinctive U-shaped pillar design that gives firmly protected feeling to the driver. Also, for the first time in a commercial vehicle, the Monpal ML200 employs the LONG(3) visibility enhancement design developed using cerebral functioning analysis and adapted from the Honda ASV-3 advanced safety research vehicle, to ensure improved driver visibility.

1 Honda power product and motorcycle dealers certified to provide safe driving instruction for the Monpal and trained and certified in Monpal service technology 2 Deluxe Type (Standard Type: 16km) 3 LONG: Longitudinal Oriented Normative temporal Gap compensation * The Monpal ML200 is an electric wheelchair with a model designation number from the Japanese National Public Safety Commission. Users of such vehicles are regarded by law as pedestrians on public roads and therefore do not require a driver's license. Operators are required to drive on sidewalks.

Key Features

Simple operation

- Operation is simple - just press down on the drive lever to go, and release it to stop. Forward and Reverse are controlled by a switch. - A loop-shaped handle ensures steadiness on slopes and irregular surfaces, while drive levers have been added on both sides to help reduce fatigue during extended operation. - A large operating panel makes it easy to confirm at a glance the remaining battery level, recharge status, and hand brake engagement.

High driving performance and stability with a comfortable ride

- Independent front suspension with non-linear springs and floating-axle rear suspension ensure outstanding ground-holding capability on slopes and uneven terrain, for solid driving stability. The suspension is complemented with a newly developed seat with a thicker cushion and higher backrest to give the Monpal ML200 a level of riding comfort that puts it at the top of its class. - The newly developed, high-efficiency control system uses a high-output brushless motor and digital map data to deliver the optimum amount of torque for the angle of incline and vehicle speed. This results in superior hill-climbing stamina with a minimal drop in speed and smoother starting, stopping and handling, while also achieving 25km of continuous operation(4) on a single battery charge.

Solid safety and an advanced design that offers enhanced visibility

- The stylish, advanced design features a slim, nimble form and distinctive U-shaped pillar design that gives firmly protected feeling to the driver. - The front fender makes it easy to see the direction and motion of the front wheel from the driver's seat for superior operability, while the overall width of just 595mm results in a smart-looking package with outstanding maneuverability. - Use of the LONG design concept: When a headlight or other light source is located in the center of the body it can be difficult for drivers or pedestrians to judge the distance to the vehicle. To offset this, a high-positioned tail light(5) with directional indicators and continuously illuminated LED is mounted high on the body along with two low-positioned headlights and reflectors. These combine with reflector-equipped wheel covers3 to ensure enhanced visibility. - The Monpal ML200 is equipped with various features to ensure a high level of safety and avoid mishaps. Should the operator squeeze the drive lever too tightly during an emergency stop, an emergency grip-stop function automatically stops the wheelchair. The forward-reverse switch is also equipped with an automatic reset function that resets the wheelchair to move forward upon startup. - The rotating seat(6) features a lock function that will not allow the wheelchair to be operated while the seat is in the rotated position. - Punctureless tires are employed to avoid the inconvenience of a flat tire.

Exceptional convenience

- The rotating seat(6) can be rotated to two positions at either 45o or 90o left or right, for a significant improvement in ease of getting on and off. - The turn signal switch automatically turns off the turn signal lights when the handle is returned to the center position.

1. Honda power product and motorcycle dealers certified to provide safe driving instruction for the Monpal and trained and certified in Monpal service technology 2. Deluxe Type (Standard Type: 16km) 3. LONG: Longitudinal Oriented Normative temporal Gap compensation 4. Standard Type: 16km 5. Standard Type employs a rear reflector 6. Deluxe Type * The Monpal ML200 is an electric wheelchair with a model designation number from the Japanese National Public Safety Commission. Users of such vehicles are regarded by law as pedestrians on public roads and therefore do not require a driver's license. Operators are required to drive on sidewalks.