I love it. It's fun. You don't buy it because it's objectively the best option, you buy it because it puts a smile on your face and you enjoy riding it.
Like the Honda Grom/Monkey motorcycles - there are much better options for the same price, but they are _fun_.
I was always envious when I saw packs of Groms passing by and looking like they were having tons of fun. Meanwhile, my bike was fun and all, but there is almost definitely this social element to Groms and the overall culture around them that is something else, and the small size of them just invites you to have fun and not take yourself too seriously. In addition to Groms just being stupid fun to ride, of course.
Disclaimer: I wasn't paid to write this, but upon re-reading it, it definitely could pass as Grom ad comms, but oh well
I'm sure you're more than intelligent enough to use the one (the user manual isn't actually out yet so I'm guessing) buttons to toggle the eight modes with a magic sequence of press and hold and hold and press, but, well, not everyone is.
For them there's an app.
Extrapolating from your preferred UX and generalizing isn't a winning strategy.
The real answer is because putting physical buttons or touchscreens on an electric vehicle is a safety risk. (Flaky Bluetooth controllers are also a risk, but a much lower one.)
Taking your phone out of your pocket is an even bigger safety risk.
And they can always lock the controls while in motion.
I think the app is preferred by the manufacturers because it's cheaper and allows them to collect a lot of data (most apps also require an "account" for no reason other than data collection)
You're not supposed to take your phone out the pocket while riding. The app is only for changing certain factory settings or for maintenance.
It's a safety risk because buttons and screens can cause water leaks and/or sparks, which you definitely do not want in any electric vehicle. (Scooters/e-bikes/EUCs don't have many moving parts, but you need to take care of the wiring very seriously.)
It looks uncomfortable. Plus it uses a cell phone app for your settings "including lighting and ride modes", which violates my "Never buy hardware that requires a cell phone app to use" rule.
There are cheaper electric scooters with comparable specs but I guess you are paying for the Honda name and the nice-looking design here. Personally I still don't like scooters due to their small wheels.
Not sure why the original article couldn't figure out the amount of energy stored in the battery (it only says the amount of charge is 6.8Ah) but an article on Car And Driver[0] says the battery is 0.24kWh. It also has other fun spec items like 0.7hp power, 12 lb-ft of torque, and seven seconds from 0 to 15mph.
I've said this elsewhere but the big unanswered question is about ongoing maintenance. How long has Honda pledged to make replacement parts like tires and brake components available? Who does servicing? I'm not sure dealerships would want to do servicing and even if they did, it would likely be pricey.
Another possible pain point I've seen mentioned is that its weight might make it troublesome to move when folded up, e.g. if you're carrying it from the street to your desk. There doesn't seem to be a way to roll it around.
Like the Honda Grom/Monkey motorcycles - there are much better options for the same price, but they are _fun_.