Piaggio speeds ahead with hybrid scooter

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.

Sign of more to come? Piaggio's MP3 hybrid scooter.

(Credit: Piaggio)

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.

[bsmithtwz]

I bought a scooter last year shortly before gas went into the stratosphere. I bought it for many reasons; it saved money on gas and it was inexpensive compared to getting a new (or used) car with better gas mileage.

I could almost 5 of the scooters I bought for the price of this MP3. I like the idea of a hybrid scooter but forking out 12K for what would take years to makeup the ROI, then it would be time to get a new one. You might as well get a Harley if you are going to spend that kind of money.

I'm not certain but I believe gas scooters pollute more than a car (maybe someone can confirm this) so going green is great for the environment. Maybe this will get others to create smaller models (125cc or 150cc) that would be in the $3,000 range or less. I just think that in today's economy, people are not going to shell out this kind of money on a limited means of transportation, especially when you can find one elsewhere for under $1,000.

[kylegas]

I'm not saying that things is ugly, but... wait, yes I am. That this ugly.

[jemiller0]

What makes you think a scooter is more polluting than a car? My dad has a scooter along the lines of a Vespa, but, a different brand and he gets nearly 100 MPG with it. I don't see what the point of having a hybrid scooter is. The mileage for a normal one is already excellent. If I were them, I would build a straight up battery electric scooter instead.

[HeavyJim]

Whats the point? So rich people, celebs, etc can have the cool factor. It doesn't have a thing to do with enviro crap.