THE ITALIAN CLASSIC GOES FULL ELETTRIC
The name Vespa is surely one of the most iconic in the history of motorised two-wheel transportation.
The brand was first patented in 1946, by the Piaggio company of Pontedera, in Tuscany, Italy. The firm had been founded by Rinaldo Piaggio in Genoa in 1884 and produced a range of products.
After the Second World War, his sons Enrico and Armando wanted to be part of rebuilding post-war Italy, and focused on personal mobility.
Engineer Corradino D’Ascanio came up with a motorbike with bodywork which fully enclosed the drivetrain.
He mounted the 98cc engine next to the rear wheel and employed direct drive from the transmission.
It had a unit spar frame, with stress-bearing outer panels, meaning it could have a step-through design.
Which brings us to the Elettrica, the first model to embrace battery power.
The example I am testing here is the 45km/h or 50cc equivalent version – there is a 70km/h bike too.
Looks wise, it’s spot-on – sleek and uncluttered with a classic Vespa silhouette. On board, it feels slim and light with a low seat height. The colour TFT dash speedo is clear and easy to understand, although the battery gauge and info are a bit small.
Power is instantaneous as you twist the grip, and whizzing up to the maximum 30mph is smooth and super quick. This scoot has a low centre of gravity due to the under-seat battery and wheel-mounted motor. That, plus the steel frame, decent suspension and 12in wheels, combine to provide smooth handling.
At just 130kg it’s super manoeuvrable and easy to flick around in the traffic, and the front disc and rear drum brakes do a perfectly acceptable job.
The maximum range is just over 60 miles, but depending on how you ride and in which of the two modes, a more realistic figure is about 50. But that’s enough for the use this scooter is intended for.
The 4.2kWh battery takes around four hours to fully charge, there is enough room under the seat for an open-face helmet, plus there is an optional topbox.
Six grand is a lot for a 50cc-equivalent scooter, but your running and maintenance costs are tiny – and the Elettrica looks super cool.