The iconic Italian Piaggio Vespa scooter company will go green and all electric when it launches the Vespa Elettrica in Milan in November 2018.
The new Vespa – which means wasp in Italian – has evolved from the single model motor scooter first manufactured by Piaggio in 1946.
Vespas are famed for their painted, pressed steel unibodies which combine cowling for the engine, a flat floorboard and a prominent front fairing.
Piaggio sold 2,500 Vespas in 1947, more than 10,000 in 1948, 20,000 in 1949, and more than 60,000 in 1950.
Audrey Hepburn’s Vespa sales boost
Things really took off however In 1952 when Audrey Hepburn side-saddled Gregory Peck’s Vespa in the film Roman Holiday. The Hollywood marketing coup allegedly resulted in more than 100,000 sales.
John Wayne, Marlon Brando, Dean Martin and Charlton Heston were all depicted riding Vespas in the late 50s boosting the bike’s street cred even more.
On the back of this new found fame the scooter morphed from a cheap and convenient form of transport to something of a fashion statement
The brand oozes cool and is as popular today as it has ever been. The new Electtrica brings it right up to date blending “connectivity and silence, personalisation and accessibility, respect for the environment and style”.
Vespa Elettrica out-powers traditional 50cc scooters
The Vespa Elettrica out-powers a traditional 50cc scooter especially in terms of acceleration and hill starts.
The vibration-free Elettrica has a maximum range of 100 km, thanks to the lithium ion battery and efficient kinetic energy recovery system, which recharges during deceleration.
To recharge the battery the rider plugs into a normal electric wall socket or into a dedicated auto recharging point. A complete recharge normally takes 4 hours.
Vespa Elettrica will set you back £5,600
The Vespa Elettrica will cost in the region of £5,600. With a relatively low cost and exceptionally low running costs it is only logical that the insurance costs for your electric scooter are also kept to a minimum. That’s why you should contact the experts at Bikesure for a customised quote to match your very individual needs.
