PIAGGIO GROUP’S NEW ELECTRIC MOBILITY TECHNOLOGY NOW APPEARS IN THE UNIQUE AND ICONIC VESPA DESIGN. THE CLEANEST TECHNOLOGY BRIMMING WITH STYLE AND ELEGANCE
CUSTOMISED, CLEAN, SILENT AND CONNECTED. ALL VESPA VALUES APPEAR IN VESPA ELETTRICA WHOSE X VERSION HAS A RANGE OF 200 KM
Vespa Elettrica is here and completes an evolutionary process that started just over 70 years ago.
Like a living organism, Vespa’s evolutionary path was set at its birth and now electrical power arrives as a natural stage in an extraordinarily logical journey. No vehicle in the world is now as in line with zero-emission propulsion as Vespa and electrical mobility has never been so fascinating, full of style and elegance.
This is because Vespa Elettrica is not an electric scooter, it is Vespa Elettrica, it is a contemporary work of art with a technological heart. It comes to life bringing the Vespa world in tow, its image and its values, its eco-friendly soul, now even more sensitive to the surrounding urban environment.
And with the adoption of Vespa’s electric technology it is even more of an icon of our time, a symbol of contemporaneity and the future.
Vespa Elettrica means easy, but natural, riding. It means total connectivity and silence, customization and accessibility, values that have always belonged to Vespa and that today find their total realization.
Absolute attention to the environment, multiple interface functions and connectivity with human beings and the environment, fully digital instrument panel, a modern and technological electric motor, perfect for city environments, combine with the classic Vespa design.
Thus, Vespa Elettrica takes shape as part of a tradition of continuous innovation, as the cutting-edge of Piaggio Group’s research into electric mobility, to respond to increasing environmental awareness with the aim of providing technological solutions for an increasingly sustainable and livable urban habitat. For a total answer to the growing demand for clean mobility, Vespa Elettrica also appears in the X version, which, combining a generator with the electric motor, doubles its range by always recharging of the batteries.
Vespa Elettrica will be wholly produced in Pontedera and will venture forth from there for worldwide distribution in 2018. It can be ordered online from Spring 2018.
The Power of Silence
The heart of Vespa Elettrica is a Power Unit capable of delivering a continuous power of 2 kW and a peak power of 4 kW: values that, combined with a torque of over 200 Nm, provide a performance superior to that of a traditional 50cc scooter, especially as regards acceleration that benefits from the typical brilliant output of electric motors. It delivers an agile and enjoyable ride on the urban routes, in total silence: Indeed, Vespa Elettrica is completely silent, helping to make cities less chaotic and more livable by also countering noise pollution.
Vespa Elettrica guarantees a maximum range of 100 km, which is not much different for urban riding, with its frequent “stop and go”. This is possible thanks to a modern lithium-ion battery and an efficient energy recovery system (KERS, Kinetic Energy Recovery System), which recharges when decelerating. Charging operations are the simplest thing imaginable: the lithium-ion battery, just like the one in modern smartphones, needs no special precautions. For charging you just need to extract the cable from the seat compartment, where the fuel cap is usually located, and attach the plug to a normal wall outlet or one of the ever-increasing number of public charging station in big cities. The time required for a full charge is 4 hours.
In further confirmation of the extreme usability of Vespa Elettrica, the engine and battery pack do not require any maintenance. The battery provides excellent efficiency for up to 1000 full charging cycles. This translates into a range of between 50,000 and 70,000 km, equivalent to approximately 10 years of use of a vehicle created for urban commuting. After the thousand cycles, the battery still has 80% of its capacity and is perfectly usable. Located under the helmet compartment, the compact battery pack does not compromise the functionality of the Vespa Elettrica seat compartment, which can hold a Jet helmet.
The Ride by Wire electronic accelerator controls the output of the Vespa Elettrica motor. By pressing the RIDING MODE button on the right-hand side of the handlebar, the rider can choose between two riding modes: ECO and Power, in addition to Reverse mode for easier handling of Vespa Elettrica while maneuvering. In ECO mode, aimed at saving energy, you obtain more battery life; speed is limited to 30 km/h and acceleration is more gradual. However, Power is the basic riding mode which exploits all the power of the engine.
Vespa Elettrica, Connected to the World
Vespa Elettrica is not just a silent, ecological and technologically advanced vehicle; It is also, and above all, connected.: The many features offered by a new version of the Vespa Multimedia Platform, the multimedia system that connects the smartphone to the vehicle, can be managed through a completely new man-machine interface incorporating a digital instrument panel with a 4.3 inch color TFT display, always easy to read thanks to the twilight sensor that adapts the background and color of the characters to the light conditions (day/night mode) and the four-levels of brightness adjustment.
The extensive information displayed is arranged in a very impressive and extremely rational graphic diagram. The center of the screen always contains the main information such as speed, selected riding modes, residual range in km and battery charge (%), while on either side there are the quality indicators of ecological riding and the level of power used. But it is using the dedicated Vespa Elettrica App on your smartphone and connecting it to the vehicle – via Bluetooth – that lets you take full advantage of the capabilities of the TFT display on which all notifications of incoming calls and messages appear, highly visible in the center.
The system also allows you to use the keys on the handlebars to answer calls and to use the smartphone’s voice commands to make calls or play music by activating a playlist. To fully enjoy all these features, easily managed through the handy joystick MODE on the right control block, Vespa Elettrica offers as an accessory a special dedicated Jet helmet with integrated internal earphones and Bluetooth intercom.
The strong ability to connect to the outside world is not limited, of course, to the various Infotainment functions. Once connected to the Vespa Elettrica, your smartphone uses its dedicated App to function as an exceptional source of useful information about the state of the vehicle. One of them uses the Vespa Elettrica GPS/GSM geo-localization module, which is therefore always remotely localizable.
Vespa Elettrica X: a Range of up to 200 km
Vespa Elettrica is also available in the X version, with a range of up to 200 km thanks to its petrol driven generator that, depending on riding style, saves battery charge. To make room for the generator and its fuel tank (3 liters), Vespa Elettrica X uses a smaller battery pack that, with the generator off, provides a range of up to 50 km. The generator adds another 150 km to the range, bringing it up to 200 km, a figure that also makes Vespa Elettrica suitable for out of town riding.
The generator kicks in automatically, when the battery charge level falls below a certain threshold or can be manually entered by the rider selecting Extender mode.
Vespa Elettrica is Always Unique and Customizable
Vespa Elettrica maintains is designed with the same unmistakable lines that have made Vespa a worldwide icon of style and elegance and have won the hearts of entire generations of young people.
The body shapes, strictly in steel as in the Vespa tradition, are emphasized by an exclusive dedicated livery: Vespa Elettrica comes in a special chrome grey finish with metallic reflections, around which the customer can choose to tailor many distinctive details. The profile that runs along the entire perimeter of the shield, the “necktie” fingers, the border of the wheel rims, the profile of the “Vespa” nameplate and the seat trim are in fact available in seven color variants: Azzurro Elettrico (standard on Vespa Elettrica), Rame (standard on Vespa Elettrica X), Cromo, Giallo Lampo, Verde Boreale, Nero Profondo and Nero Fumo. A further personal touch comes from the possibility of adding a special label to the leg shield back plate with your own name. Plus, in line with the concept of customized “total look”, there is a special Jet helmet exclusively for Vespa Elettrica, in the vehicle livery and finishes, all in the color chosen by the customer. This helmet stands out not only for style but also technological content, integrating Bluetooth earphones to use the smartphone and listen to music through the Vespa Multimedia Platform.
The new front headlight with LED technology and a revised rear light give a distinct and distinct personality to Vespa Elettrica, which adopts generous 12″ front and 11″ rear aluminum alloy rims. A seat made of a new material provides greater comfort for rider and passenger and better ergonomics. The remote-control key integrates the Bike Finder functions (remote direction indicators) and the opening of the seat compartment, while the inside of the compartment in the leg shield back plate contains a USB socket for charging smartphones or other mobile devices.
All the Vespa Accessories
As with every Vespa, the Vespa Elettrica offers a full range of accessories: The dedicated top box, completely painted in the same color as the vehicle and enriched by the chromed Vespa badge, can hold a full-face helmet. The top box can be finished with a backrest, covered in the same material as the seat. The chromed base on which the top box is mounted can also be used as a carrier. An extra touch of elegance is provided by the seat and backrest made of genuine Italian leather, subjected to a special protective treatment for a high level of quality over time.
The highest protection is provided by a windshield made of high quality anti-splinter methacrylate, customized with the Vespa logo; the stanchions are made with a chrome finish in line with the other aesthetic details. Vespa Elettrica can also be equipped with a top fairing – available both transparent and smoked – that elegantly rounds off the front design of the vehicle.
For Vespa Elettrica, front and rear chrome luggage racks are also available, among Vespa’s most classic accessories. The front side and rear chrome mudguards elegantly finish the vehicle and protect the bodywork.
The accessory line also includes the special Vespa Elettrica hi-tech Jet helmet, customizable to match the vehicle’s color, combining style and the utmost practicality, integrating Bluetooth earphones to maximize the potential of the Vespa Multimedia Platform. Combined with the helmet, the goggles sport mirrored lenses derived from the world of skiing and other new finishes.
Another novelty is the original LED backlit backpack with removable inner pocket for the top box and back protector with integrated helmet pocket. Equipped with a special notebook compartment and a power bank for charging mobile devices, the backpack is also available in an innovative reflective fabric referencing Vespa Elettrica’s typical chrome grey color.
The Vespa Elettrica accessory line is also enriched by the convenient side-stand – in black-painted steel – which makes it easier to park, a weather-resistant cover and an indoor “big logo” one, both equipped with comfortable openings to accommodate any accessories, and a non-slip rubber mat.
An electronic alarm is available for Vespa Elettrica as is a mechanical saddle and wheel lock and a line of customized security devices. The essential mittens and leg covers are practical and fast to fit, made of thermal material offering excellent weather protection. The leg cover of the Vespa Elettrica carries the Vespa logo in metal and provides maximum stability even at high speeds. The saddle cover and anti-theft device are integrated in the accessory.
the perfect element for an electric motor