Piaggio debuts 141MPG plug-in "MP3 Hybrid" scooter
By Donald Melanson 
posted November 11th 2008 12:52PM
posted November 11th 2008 12:52PM
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.
Is there any reason why we shouldn't know the mileage of a rather hefty long-term investment that also comes with a possibly substantial running cost after purchase?
Um, would you be more inclined to buy the car if the salesman told you it featured a "mystery MPG"?
Me too, I'm only worried about he price tag.
THIS IS WICKED -- I WANT ONE TOO. Also check out the newest electric car named THE KARMA by Fisker. Might be the coolest car to come out the US in 40 years!
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/fisker-opens-new-design-center-5147.html
At 141 mpg, I would only use 5 gallons per month. I'll take it!
Iphone Killer.
I'm confused...0-60mph in 5 seconds on a 125cc engine?
My 150cc Piaggio FLy, which, I assume cuz of no battery and one less wheel, is about 200lbs lighter than this, can get to 60 in about 8 seconds. I don't see it on this thing.
and for a price, I'm guessing around $8K
I didn't know 125cc engines could even REACH 60mph. My 150cc scooter barely reaches it, and damn sure not in any 5 seconds.
Clearly the improved performance is possible because in hybrid mode both the electric and gasoline motors contribute to the acceleration.
I'm thinking the electric motor can accelerate better than a gas engine.
Piaggio quote 0 to 60m as 0 to 60 metres not 60mph
No way a 250 mp3 250cc would do it in 5 seconds
I've ridden the Fuoco
http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/road-tests/gilera-fuoco-500-ie-three-wheels-good-464664.html
which is 500cc and that wouldn't either.
If anyone has ANY doubts about the handling I can assure you it's awesome. You can lean the whole thing over and powerslide the back wheel - try that on a motorbike.
It's stupendously heavy though - and then with batteries? This beast must weigh at least 250Kg (550lb)?
And it's kind of odd looking - my wife said she'd divorce me if I got one
So, after doing the math:
60m = 197 feet
197feet / 5 second = 39.4feet per second
39.4 feet per second = 26.8mph
Sounds about on par with a 125cc engine
tell your wife i'm glad i'm not married to her =D
From the Wired article:
"The electric motor powers the MP3 Hybrid at low speeds and provides the gasoline engine with additional oomph when you open 'er up -- boosting acceleration by as much as 85 percent"
0-60mph is 5 seconds seems quite attainable to me, when factoring in the sheer amount of torque starting at 0 RPM electric motors offer.
To cover 60meters in 5s as Paul suggests would result in a speed of approximately 54mph at the 5 second mark (assuming constant acceleration).
Jon Nelson is right in suggesting that the average speed during the interval would be about 27mph, but remember that is an average, and the vehicle has a starting velocity of 0, so the vehicles final velocity is in excess of the average velocity.
Either way, it's fast.
There are a few Police advantages for this:
All electric is silent. You can get very close, unobtrusively.
For longer hauls, you can go fast with good maneuvering (three wheels).
However, the wider wheelbase (than bicycles or scooters) negates the main city advantage: cutting through traffic.
To weave between cars or ride a short stretch on a crowded sidewalk, you need a streamlined scooter body that can fit.
The Mp3 is tradeoff between stability and accessibility.
BTW, these things look totally badass, like an intellectual Harley.
If you prefer pure fatass biker babes, stick with a Motorcycle.
Unless that 'short stretch on a crowded sidewalk' is up a driveway, I look forward to you getting your idiot ass hit with a ticket or jail time.
Well, not to say that officers of the law _aren't_ idiot asses, but they're certainly less likely than the rest of us to get a ticket or jail time for running a scooter on a sidewalk (or for other infractions).
Oh - It's not wider than a bike/scooter
Check the mirror to mirror dimensions - same or less than most other bikes and scooters
yeah, I was thinking the same thing, It's really the mirrors that limit any bike's traffic maneuverability, which is why I keep one of my mirrors fairly loose so I can just swing it in and not worry about hitting some escalade's side mirror when I'm cutting him at a red light.
Very nice! How Much?!
Gahh!
'breaking' does not equal 'braking'
'there does not equal 'their' or 'they're'
'two' does not equal 'to' or 'too'
sir, this is the nonsense up with which i will not put!
I thought they're spelling of breaking was incorrect to.
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"
lolz. you need to stop picking up girls on Sunset Blvd
So, having had your comment buried once, you thought it might do better the second time around?!
If only it ran on AACs... Now I'm going to have to rip all my CDs again...
them and vetrix have to get these things in at $4999 for them to take off
10K is just to much ROI is 10 years cut it in half every college kid and nice weather city will flock to em
especially when gas will eventually go up it is inevitable
over 12Gs!
That's a lot of g's to save gas.
Getting a scooter might be a very viable option these days... with gas very expensive making short trips here and there on these would be very energy efficient and money saver. Even though the past few months has seen a significant drop in oil prices in the US of A, it still would greatly reduce emissions if everyone chooses these scooters to get around.
Now if only it wouldn't snow where I live and the road-ways not filled with pot-holes...
I want one! this thing wreaks of AWESOME!!!!!
and i hope my credit holds up
I swear to God, if this thing doesn't come with 32GB of storage, I'm going to write an angry letter to that company. A very angry letter.
The regular version of this thing is $8,000! I can only imagine that this thing is probably upwards of $10,000. Or more.
I like it,the thing is I can buy 6 more taurus's for just the price of the basic model.
kinda cool looking to me.... kinda like a jet ski with wheels
They will never make enough of these for it to be a truly green vehicle, and everything Vespa / Piaggio is overpriced (in the US, at least). Wake me when Yamaha releases a hybrid 2-stroke scooter.
Certainly easier to park without dropping.