Modern Vespa

Hi,
Our Vespa Elettrica is not working. We have not used it in a few months so it is probably a battery issue but the display says that the battery is 100% charged. I am wondering if the display reflects the charging of the traction battery only and the issue is the ancillary battery?
Does anyone has any tips or ideas what to do? Thank you, Rahel

Bummer. Perhaps you could try to remove the battery and re-insert? easiest things first.

More details around "not working" please.

Welcome to MV.

Welcome to Modern Vespa.

I don't know the Elettrica, but maybe some of the simple things to try with a gas scooter would help: Safety interlocks, i.e. kill switch, brake lever, kickstand switch operating? "On" switch in the right position? Immobilizer working (try a different key)?

Are the headlight and/or taillights working?

Are there any lights or displays on the dashboard that might indicate a fault?

What is the ancillary battery? Can you get to it to measure its output voltage?

Welcome to MV, and good luck!

12v Lead battery under the floor is likely dead.

When the traction battery is charged to 100%, it doesn't charge the lead battery.

You've got 2 options to keep it charged. One option is to simply turn the scooter on every now and then leave it for a little bit. Press until "Ready" appears, then just leave the bike alone and it will charge the lead battery.

Option 2 is a trickle charger, as you would with a petrol Vespa.

Is your Elettrica a 30mph or 40mph version? The 30mph version has a button to "jump start" the lead battery. This is located under the seat, near to where the cable it connected to charge the bike.

And please keep us up to date on your findings.

Bill

Also, forgot to add but the petrol Primavera / Sprint has a size 7 battery (I forget the full code!). The 30mph Vespa Elettrica (and maybe the 40mph version) comes with a smaller capacity size 5 battery, and then a plastic spacer underneath.

When I needed to replace the 12v battery on my Elettrica, I removed the spacer and fit the full size battery from the Primavera / Sprint - so there's a bit extra capacity and the Vespa can be left a little longer between uses.

Last edited by JakeM on Wed, 23 Nov 2022 14:36:53 +0000; edited 1 time

45km version uses YTX-5L and the 70km version uses YTX-7L
You could take the riser block out of the 45km version and use the taller YTX-7L battery

Yes , I think the auxiliary battery is probably the first place to look at to rectify your problem . Good information provided by JakeM re battery size and charging . I don't ride throughout the winter but switch my Elettrica on every two weeks and keep the main battery at around 80% charge .

I am having the same issues.

Initially when i went to start the bike, there was no sign of life when i turned the key.

I then went and plugged the bike in. At this point the display sparked into life to show me the traction battery was fully charged.

long story short, the aux battery was dead. I've hooked up an external one just to make sure that the bike actually moves, but no joy. Now the bike turns on as it should, but, it still wont move and does not show a 'READY' light.

there is also a small yellow engine light on, in the bottom right hand corner next to the power bar. Is that normal??

Sorry for hijacking the thread, more info might help you too though.

Rory

Have answered your other thread but this is extremely similar to when I first bought my Elettrica after it had been sitting for awhile.

The correct and new 12v battery should fix everything!