Piaggio debuts 141MPG plug-in "MP3 Hybrid" scooter

The NYPD may have ditched a few of their Piaggio scooters in favor of some all-electric Vectrix models a little while back, but it looks like the Italian company may be about to get back in their favor, as it has just unveiled its new MP3 Hybrid plug-in scooter that promises to get an impressive 141MPG. Apparently, the three-wheeled scooter can operate in either a full-electric mode, or one of three hybrid modes, which brings the 125 cc gasoline engine into the picture to let you do zero to sixty about five seconds. As with some other PHEVs, the scooter also makes use of regenerative breaking to help recharge the batteries, which can apparently be fully topped off in as little as three hours when plugged in at home. No word on a price just yet, but Piaggo says it "could" be on the market as soon as next year.

[Jon Nelson @ Nov 11th 2008 12:56PM]

...I want it.

[fred @ Nov 11th 2008 2:50PM]

Wait until you let your friend ride it.

That's when the DRM kicks in.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Nov 12th 2008 12:13AM]

Wait till Sony Introduces theirs, It'll be incompatible with all existing roads.

[VeganFreak @ Nov 11th 2008 12:56PM]

I'll wait for the WAV version till I get one.

[Dana @ Nov 11th 2008 1:12PM]

I just laughed out loud at my desk and not only spilled coffee all over my drawings but it actually came out my nose. Well played sir.

[phanbouy @ Nov 11th 2008 1:25PM]

that version's great. it runs on the elusive UNcompressed natural gas!

[eggothewaffle @ Nov 11th 2008 1:25PM]

OGG! Bring the OGG version!

[VeganFreak @ Nov 11th 2008 1:31PM]

HAHA, sorry about that Dana! Hope it wasn't an important paper or anything. =]

[haX0r @ Nov 11th 2008 1:31PM]

Maybe they'll make an XviD version?

[VeganFreak @ Nov 11th 2008 1:38PM]

Uhh... drawings rather. In any case hope it wasn't a vital source of immediate income. lol

[konshuss @ Nov 11th 2008 2:31PM]

i'm getting the Flac version insured by Afflac. yeah, i went there.

[phanbouy @ Nov 11th 2008 4:09PM]

egg likes ogg

[bangladeshiluv @ Nov 11th 2008 12:59PM]

please God, dont let this come to the US.

[KAIKAI @ Nov 11th 2008 1:08PM]

with that mentality
can you pay for my gas ???

[bangladeshiluv @ Nov 11th 2008 1:23PM]

gas is cheap now. drive on.

[t-o89 @ Nov 11th 2008 1:26PM]

ha ha i actually saw a guy riding one of these one my way to circuit city for their store closing sale on Wednesday although i have to say i was disappointed with the "sale" oh well

[phanbouy @ Nov 11th 2008 1:29PM]

i still wouldn't call it cheap, especially in this economy. why needlessly waste gas? who am i to judge someone on the dorkiness of their transportation? who gives a shit?

[BigD145 @ Nov 11th 2008 2:32PM]

It only dropped with the election season. Now that that's over, we'll go right back up to $4 a gallon before January.

[Gabe @ Nov 11th 2008 1:03PM]

This is an abomination and a disgrace. I don't think this even deserves to be called a scooter. Maybe it should be called the 3-wheeled Pussy-Repellant.

[phanbouy @ Nov 11th 2008 1:16PM]

i didn't know you had 3 wheels

[Gabe @ Nov 11th 2008 1:20PM]

No, but I do have 3 dicks. ;]

[rock99rock @ Nov 11th 2008 1:23PM]

i didn't know that anything ever had to be deserving enough to be called a scooter.

[kal326 @ Nov 11th 2008 1:41PM]

@Gabe
You know I wouldn't really be bragging about the 3 dicks thing. Since given your name I would assuming your a male, that's one. That just leaves two openings in which to "claim" two more. So I guess its a good thing you're typing since even with the awkwardness of sitting down to type, I'm sure its easier to understand then having you try to talk.

[Fred @ Nov 11th 2008 3:57PM]

Gabe, I realize they're all the same size but the 2 up top are called nipples.

I think this thing is kind of neat. The 500cc would fit my big fat American ass a little better, but a great idea for wusses like me to afraid of 2-wheeled conveyances.

[rock99rock @ Nov 11th 2008 1:03PM]

I am strangely attracted to this vehicle.

[Dave @ Nov 11th 2008 1:49PM]

Me too, I'm only worried about he price tag.

[grabbydad @ Nov 11th 2008 4:12PM]

over 12Gs!
That's a lot of g's to save gas.

[rock99rock @ Nov 11th 2008 5:10PM]

@grabbydad

Your name scares me, and other unsuspecting children across the land. And other lands.

[AP @ Nov 11th 2008 1:04PM]

It looks like an extremely angry bug, but for that gas mileage, I will definitely buy one.

[Gabe @ Nov 11th 2008 1:08PM]

I'd rather get a nice motorcycle that still gets around 60mpg than having to ride around in such a disgrace.

[MarbleMind @ Nov 11th 2008 1:16PM]

An angry bug, yes... in a wheelchair.

[Gabe @ Nov 11th 2008 1:18PM]

Oh lookie here, a 95mpg motorcycle that doesn't make you look like you have mental disabilities:

http://www.kawasaki.com/ImagesMain/Products/ActionShots/68813d81-d537-4013-bae6-ef16fb3169f7.jpg

[Mike C @ Nov 11th 2008 1:43PM]

Gabe you do realize that this thing will out maneuver your motorcycle any day of the week since it has the ability to brake during a turn.

[rock99rock @ Nov 11th 2008 2:00PM]

Gabe is just upset because he thinks this is competing with his Big Wheels.

[Lowest Ranked @ Nov 11th 2008 2:13PM]

Bug? Its Frank the Bunny from Donnie Darko.

[phanbouy @ Nov 11th 2008 2:45PM]

how can you keep being so consistently wrong, Gabe?

how's some boring look-alike mini cruiser gonna help you get laid? haven't you heard that famous pick-up artist's advice to wear a funny hat? This scooter's like a funny hat.

what's the point of a 250cc cruiser? the only thing worth considering in the 250 class is a sport bike, and there's only two i know in the US: Ninja 250 and the Hayabusa. and if you're ONLY going around town, a hybrid scooter might be perfect in stop and go traffic.

[bob sakamano @ Nov 11th 2008 1:08PM]

price?!?!?!?

[Valicore @ Nov 11th 2008 1:09PM]

Oh God, 0 - 60 in five seconds in that thing? Sounds like a suicide attempt to me. As for female attraction attempts... even the ones who go for dudes in Priuses would laugh their ass off at this, I can see it now:

"Hey babe, wanna go for a ride on my hybrid-electric trike? Wait where are you going"

[Kevin @ Nov 11th 2008 1:10PM]

Oddly enough, in some cities out in California along the coast you'd be considered sexy, hip and hot by driving one of these things.

The problem however, is that I'm frequently seeing big fat asses driving these. I'm not impressed.

[BigD145 @ Nov 11th 2008 1:13PM]

Ah, yes. Users used to judge a product. So, are you a PC or Mac?

[o_mega05 @ Nov 11th 2008 1:11PM]

Wait...so does it run on MP3s? Sweeeeet!

[Steve @ Nov 11th 2008 1:11PM]

Regenerative BREAKING? After you run into something, it reassembles itself? Could come in handy.

[phanbouy @ Nov 11th 2008 1:23PM]

regen breaking's great and all, but i try to do the majority of my slowing on a Ninja 250 via engine breaking

[Gabe @ Nov 11th 2008 1:28PM]

Well, you can't really compare a Ninja 250 to this thing...Much less anything else with a higher displacement.

[csnoke @ Nov 11th 2008 1:29PM]

NINJAS ARE SWEET.

[Mike C @ Nov 11th 2008 1:43PM]

For christ's sake, its braking.

[kal326 @ Nov 11th 2008 1:47PM]

Damn Mike C beat me too it. Since if your slow down by engine breaking, going again must be a bitch.

Still I think I'll stick with 45mpg on my 750 Shadow, plus it makes a nice low rumble when it engine BRAKES.

[phanbouy @ Nov 11th 2008 1:59PM]

ha.. that's what i get for reading steve's comment above me uncritically!

but anyway, how is "going again a bitch" via engine breaking? for me it's easier because i'm not pulling the clutch in--only have to twist the throttle more to level out speed

[phanbouy @ Nov 11th 2008 2:00PM]

crap.... BRAKING.. ;P

[phanbouy @ Nov 11th 2008 2:02PM]

oh shit nevermind time to go find some caffeine