Piaggio Speeds Ahead with Hybrid Scooter

(CNET)  This story was written by CNET's Martin LaMonica.

Italy's Piaggio wants to clean up the image of scooters.

The company, which makes several lines of scooters, on Tuesday introduced a hybrid version of its three-wheeled MP3 scooter, which it claims is the first hybrid scooter.

The MP3 Hybrid improves mileage and reduces carbon emissions by 50 percent, according to the company. It should also reduce other air pollutants, which has led some European cities to keep scooters and other vehicles out of certain areas.

The company, which sells the iconic Vespa brand, plans to make the hybrid available in Europe by August for about $12,500 and in the U.S. by 2010, according to an article in The Wall Street Journal.

The MP3 Hybrid costs more than the gasoline MP3 scooters, which range from about $7,100 to $9,000 in the U.S. But the company is investing in the hybrid power train with an eye toward using the technology in other models, as Toyota has done with the power train in the Prius.

The hybrid MP3 operates as a typical hybrid car, optimizing fuel efficiency by using the gasoline engine and stored energy in its lithium ion batteries. When the vehicle decelerates and brakes, it charges the battery.

A driver can choose an all-electric mode for short trips and can view both the gas tank reserves and the amount of battery charge remaining from the dash.

In the U.S., purchases of hybrid and all-electric scooters, such as the Vectrix, qualify for a 10 percent tax rebate.
By Martin LaMonica

[iam4honesty]

I searched around a little and found manufacturer's specs. They claim 60 kilometers per litre. If I did the math correctly sounds like 141 miles per gallon. Any help here?

[rf35]

It's kinda cute. Drop the price and I'd consider it.

[erichsh]

This is the kind of "car" that will be coming out of GM soon. Why not call it the Obamabile or the Gorevette?

[justsane-2009]

i would love to try one out, but they are awfully pricey. i would think that the two wheels in front instead of in back might be safer...

[fedupredneck]

Actually just the opposite. I wathched a test drive video I found on the net. It actually handles real good. I'd buy one in a heartbeat if it was a little cheaper. I feel just like Snerdguy on this one.

[Snerdguy]

If a new hybrid scooter costs as much as a good used car,(possibly even a cheap new car) guess which one I'm going to buy......

[Henri_Rochard]

I like to try one of the Piaggio three-wheelers. All of the road tests I've read have been very positive.

They're a little too spendy, though, to get past my financial advisor, i.e., wife person.

And SHE'S the one who rides a Ducati !!!

[ToolMangler1]

Make it ma two wheeler and I might be interested. Just not interested in dying yet, (three wheelers will kill you ten times faster than two wheels.)