Piaggio unveiled its upcoming Vespa Elettrica at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, Italy. Piaggio say that this new scooter is a combination of retro Vespa styling and a modern electric powertrain. The Elettrica will be manufactured in Pontedera, Italy and exported internationally for sale in 2018.
At the heart of the scooter is an electric motor capable of delivering continuous power of 2kW and peak power of 4kW. Piaggio say that it will have performance superior to a traditional 50cc scooter, especially in terms of initial acceleration. The standard version of the scooter has a range of around 100km, while the X variant doubles that to around 200km. The X does this by placing a generator alongside the electric motor, doubling its range. The range extender is essentially a small four-stroke petrol engine that serves solely to charge the battery – it does not help in the propulsion of the scooter. Piaggio claims four hours for a full charge.
The Elettrica will also come equipped with a multimedia system with smartphone connectivity. This system will be able to be operated through a new colour TFT display. The Vespa Elettrica will be available in a chrome grey finish around which the customer can choose to customise details.