Modern Vespa

Any truth to the rumor that Vespa is going to bring some hybrid scooters to the US?

I can't tell you how much this doesn't interest me. I already get 70 mpg and I would think that you'd lose a good amount of storage space for the big giant battery.

I'm sure I'm being a parade pisser, but how much more fuel efficiency can we hope to squeeze from it?

I'm more interested in it from an emissions perspective than fuel effeciency.

There are rumors of a hybrid - and it is an interesting idea overall - I think other manufacturers are considering it as well. Try the search function to see if there were other threads here relating to this topic and/or just 'google' it as well and I think you will find some info...

I'm not sure that it would be branded a Vespa, it is more likely that it would be a Piaggio product.

Desi B.

The HyS is reported to give 140mpg

http://www.cycleworld.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=451
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_Page.aspx?ArticleID=5505&Page=1

Regards
Harvey

www.vectrix.com

My dealer just started selling those.

The Piaggio MP3 Hybrid will be here late 2009, I have seen and touched one, very nice!

I could see a draw for a hybrid, but I don't think it's something anyone will rush out and buy. A buddy of mine is converting his 150 Tank to run on hydrogen using electrolysis. He plans on converting the water to hydrogen and use the same engine.

I would certainly consider a hybrid MP3 if it still maintained some good storage space, had some pick up and go, and still delivered decent mileage.

Something like an MP3 with the same (or better) mileage as a 250, the pickup/horsepower of a 400 and at least the same storage space as say a GTS, without weighing as much as a cow of course. Not sure if it is possible, but something like that may make me switch from the GTS to the MP3 (or maybe have an MP3 on the side ).

I'll be cool to see just how many miles per gallon they can get out of the MP3/125 Hybrid. Especially when gas goes back up to 4 or 5 bucks a gallon. I'd like to see a 250 or a 400 but I don't think that'll happen soon. From what I understand the MP3/125 will have a lot of get up and go for a small engine, with the support of the electric motor.

Do you happen to know how much they are going for ?

They used 8795 as the cost basis in their comparison.

Almost $10,000. I think it was like $9700 or something. Yeah, I'm not going that high for a scooter that can only go 35-65 miles on a charge. I enjoy that I've made my carbon footprint much smaller with my Vespa.

Your description sounds ideal, but is not what Piaggio will be releasing next year. The MP3 HyS will be a 125cc with electric assist at the clutch shaft. It will basically have the power of a 200cc. It will indeed get 140mpg (US) and will have a top speed of about 65 mph. A larger tank (3.8 us gallons I believe) will give it a range of over 400 miles. For neighborhood use, you can use only the electric motor for about 12 miles on a charge, at up to 25 mph, and use no fuel at all. It will also have an electric reverse to use while the forks are locked.

They have prototyped an LX with a similar drivetrain. They haven't announced bringing it to the US, but that would certainly be something I'd be interested in!

Let me know how that goes. Sounds like a blatant violation of the second law of thermodynamics.