Modern Vespa

http://www.scooter-station.com/Piaggio-MP3-Hybrid.html

Sorry it's in French!

http://www.themotorreport.com.au/36573/piaggio-mp3-hybrid-scooter-launched-in-europe/

Don't think the 30kph speed on electric power is a selling point. Might work if your commute is stop and go, not so well on the freeways.

But it is a start.

I still like my gas powered MP3. And I cannot complain about the fuel consumption - anywhere from 59 to 65 mpg - mostly dependent upon weather conditions here in Central Florida.

EJ

There was something posted before that the 100% electric is for entering areas that do not allow internal combustion engines, apparently some of these in Europe.

Additional report on the hybrid release.
http://evworld.com/article.cfm?storyid=1724

Edit: Also if you can't get enough of the MP3, check out http://www.piaggiomp3.com/new/main.html
especially the Hybrid video.

If you select MP3 on the web page it only shows 125 and 400 CC options, no 250.

Did they ever sort out the storage compromise on this model? The last piccy that I saw, the storage compartment was full of batteries, so much so you couldn't get a pair of gloves in, let alone a helmet.

I can imagine this model would be good for city commuters that dont necessarily have far to travel - the kind of places you see these G-Whizz cars popping up.

too slow for me and no storage.....

The link below is a different article..but thank you google translate...here's the English version of the OP's link...

First contact with the Prius scooters
Essai Piaggio MP3 Hybrid Test Piaggio MP3 Hybrid
Mots-clefs de l'article : Piaggio MP3 - Piaggio-Vespa - Scooter à 3 roues - Scooter urbain Keywords from the article: Piaggio MP3 - Piaggio-Vespa - Scooter with 3 wheels - Scooter Urban
Pierre angulaire de la stratégie scooter du groupe Piaggio pour les années à venir, le MP3 Hybrid a été lancé officiellement hier. Cornerstone of the strategy group Piaggio scooters for years to come, MP3 Hybrid was officially launched yesterday. Scooter-station était à Rome. Scooter-station was in Rome. Premières impressions à chaud ! First impressions hot!
Millésime : >2009 Vintage:> 2009
mardi 7 juillet 2009 Tuesday, 7 July 2009
125 cm3 125 cm3 legende
Commentaires Save as PDF impression envoyer l'article par mail Comment on Article 0 réaction 0 reaction

Avec les MP3, Piaggio a trouvé l'outil idéal pour fixer l'attention médiatique. With MP3, Piaggio has found the perfect tool to secure the media attention. Un an après l'arrivée fracassante des LT 250 et 400, le dernier né de la famille des scooters à trois roues joue la carte de l'innovation écologique. One year after the arrival of LT-breaking 250 and 400, the newest member of the family of three-wheeled scooter is the map of environmental innovation. Le premier groupe de deux roues européen nous a présenté son interprétation du véhicule urbain hybride grand public : le MP3 Hybrid. The first group of two European wheel has presented its interpretation of the hybrid vehicle urban public: MP3 Hybrid. Cette évolution du MP3 125 ie se double d'un moteur électrique alimenté par des batteries lithium-ion. This evolution of the MP3 125 ie is coupled with an electric motor powered by lithium-ion batteries. 2 moteurs, 3 possibilités et beaucoup de rumeurs. 2 engines, 3 opportunities and many rumors. Premières infos guidon en main ! First hand info handlebars!

Piaggio MP3 Hybrid
De la théorie à la pratique From theory to practice

Avant de prendre la route pour une poignée de kilomètres, les ingénieurs italiens nous font un rapide exposé technique. Before taking the road for a few kilometers, the Italian engineers we have a quick technical explanation. En résumé, l'Hybrid c'est 3,5 ch de plus mais surtout un 1,5 daN.m de couple disponible dès 0 km/h. In summary, the Hybrid is 3.5 hp more but a 1.5 daN.m torque available from 0 km / h. Le MP3 "vert" est alourdi par 15 kilos de batteries Li-Ion et autant de composants électroniques. MP3 "green" is burdened by 15 pounds of Li-Ion batteries and an equal number of electronic components. Malgré ses presque 240 kg, les accélérations seraient pourtant équivalentes à celles d'un MP3 LT 250 cm3. Despite its nearly 240 kg, the acceleration would be equivalent to those yet an MP3 LT 250 cm3. En combinant propulsion électrique et thermique, l'Hybrid se montre effectivement nettement plus vif que le MP3 125 ie Il faut environ 5 secondes au plus écolo des Piaggio pour passer de 0 à 50 km/h. By combining electric and thermal propulsion, the Hybrid is actually much sharper than the MP3 125 ie It takes about 5 seconds or less of green Piaggio from 0 to 50 km / h. Il se rapproche donc plutôt des meilleurs scooters GT 125. It is, therefore instead of the best scooters GT 125. Quoi qu'il en soit, le manque de vigueur au démarrage a disparu. Nevertheless, the lack of effect at the start is gone. Comme tous les moteurs électriques, celui du MP3 Hybrid brille plus par son couple à bas régime que par sa puissance à haute vitesse. Like all electric motors, the MP3 Hybrid shines more torque at low rpm than its power at high speed. De fait, l'Hybrid ne serait pas beaucoup plus véloce que la version 125 injection. Indeed, the Hybrid is not much faster than the 125 injection. A vérifier lors de l'essai complet, en France. A check in the full test in France. L'Hybrid ne vient donc pas concurrencer le 250 sur ce point. The Hybrid does not therefore compete with the 250 on this point. Pas plus que sur le prix : son tarif devrait en faire le plus onéreux des MP3 ! Not more than the price: the price should be the most expensive MP3! Il se rattrapera par sa consommation de carburant. It will catch up by fuel consumption. Théoriquement, en utilisant 2/3 de mode hybride (thermique & électrique) et 1/3 de mode électrique pur, il ne faudrait que 1,7 L d'essence pour 100 km (soit 40 g de CO2 / km contre 90 g/km pour un 125 thermique standard). Theoretically, using 2 / 3 hybrid (thermal and electric) and 1 / 3 of pure electric mode, it would be only 1.7 L of gasoline per 100 km (40 g CO2 / km against 90 g / 125 km for a thermal standard).

Piaggio MP3 Hybrid
3h00 pour refaire le plein d'électricité 3:00 to replenish your power

En mode 100% électrique, le MP3 Hybrid ne dépassera pas 35 km/h, et les 20 km d'autonomie avancés par Piaggio dépendront de la topographie. From 100% electric, MP3 Hybrid not exceed 35 km / h and 20 km of autonomy made by Piaggio depend on the topography. En effet, au cours de notre courte prise en main aux abords vallonnés de la Villa Borghese à Rome, 8 km ont suffi pour vider la batterie à 50%. Indeed, during our brief tutorial on the edge of the undulating Villa Borghese in Rome, 8 km were sufficient to drain the battery to 50%. Mais les performances n'ont pas baissé. But the performance did not decline. Optez alors pour le mode "hybrid recharge", 2,6 kW de puissance motrice pour recharger la batterie. Then opt for the "hybrid recharge", 2.6 kW of power to recharge the battery. En contrepartie, les accélérations perdent nettement de leur vigueur. In return, acceleration lose much of their force. Mais ces charges partielles augmentent d'autant la durée de vie de l'élément. But these partial charges are increasing all the life of the item. Sur le secteur, il faudra 3h00 pour refaire le plein d'électricité. On the sector, it will take 3:00 to make full power. Enfin, cerise sur le gâteau, le moteur électrique peut tourner dans les deux sens. Finally, icing on the cake, the electric motor can rotate in both directions. Comme la Honda Goldwing, le MP3 Hybrid dispose donc d'une marche arrière (vitesse de recul maximum de 3 km/h). As the Honda Goldwing, MP3 Hybrid gets a running back (speed of decline up to 3 km / h). Une aide précieuse pour se garer qui fera des jaloux chez les propriétaires de MP3 LT. A valuable aid to park will be jealous that among owners of MP3 LT.

Points forts, limites... Strengths, limits ... Le MP3 Hybrid peut-il devenir la Prius du scooter ? Hybrid MP3 may become the Prius scooter? Réponse dans notre prochain essai sur les hauteurs de Rome. Answer in our next test in the hills of Rome. Restez connectés ! Stay connected!

Well, not quite English - you should have left the French text out completely... interleaving English with French makes it incredibly hard to read.

As for the Hybrid, I guess they need to start somewhere. This is far from adequate for my uses, but if they didn't take the step in the first place, then nothing would ever be improved upon and refined to something that is more mass market.

Even if this is a failure, it will be a success - simply by the very notion that it is paving the way for the advancement of the technology.

Steveo- If you check out the link I posted http://www.piaggiomp3.com/new/main.html and check out the pics of the hybrid you will see that the batteries are located under the saddle but the rear trunk is still there and "offers plenty of space for a flip-up helmet".

And as far as speed, etc. This is the equivalent of the 250, which has worked quite well for many people, around the world. Which is why, as Fuzzy pointed out, they have dropped the 250 from the model line. Your right, gotta keep it under 720km / 447miles (based on fuel tank capacity 12 litres and consumption of 60km/l from the specs).
Luckily my commute is just under that.

much of this is in the (french) posts above, but here's the post i had prepared:


Piaggio MP3 Hybrid. formerly just a concept, now announced as a (European) production model!

Cliffs Notes:

- 3-wheeled, tilting scooter with a 125cc gasoline engine + electric assist for performance roughly comparable to a 250cc scooter such as mine but with much better mileage and lower CO2 emissions
- 141 mpg and 40 grams CO2/km with assumptions of 35% EV use, 65% hybrid mode use, and negligible electricity cost
- first production application of a plug-in hybrid with lithium-ion batteries
- can operate in several modes including EV only, parallel hybrid, and gasoline only with electric assist when additional torque is required

Photos and videos:







http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZONajvYq6HE

(sources: http://translate.google.com/translate?prev=hp&hl=en&js=y&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.scooter-system.fr%2Fnews%2F953-piaggio-mp3-hybrid.html&sl=auto&tl=en&history_state0= , plus the youtube video above as well as a press release posted by Piaggio Official on their facebook page)

Everything you would like to know about the hybrid and then some.

Videos, 3D gallery, photos. Specs. You name it.

http://www.piaggiomp3.com/new/main.html


Oh and did I mention the hybrid has a reverse mode? Yeah, just put it in reverse and back into your parking spot.

Oh sorry, link was already posted. My bad.