Piaggio developed the three-wheeled Ape Calessino scooter to navigate
through Italy’s ravaged streets following World War II. The model was reimagined
as part of a 999-unit limited edition sale in 2007 with a retail price of $13,000
USD. Piaggio has sold more than two million units of the Ape line in the past
six decades and produces 600,000 vehicles per year under its various vehicle
labels. The Italian scooter company is following the production of its MP3
hybrid scooter with an all-electric version of the Ape Calessino.
A
direct injection diesel engine powers the standard Ape Calessino. Piaggio’s drive system for the Ape Calessino Electric Lithium includes a 222-volt lithium-ion pack
and an 18kW electric motor. The battery pack is projected to last 800 recharge
cycles (37,000 miles) with an average life of 15 years.
The
Ape Calessino Electric Lithium is slated to perform along the same lines as the
standard model without the billowing tailpipe emissions. The scooter should
reach a maximum speed of 31 miles per hour for neighborhood travel. Piaggio
states that the Ape Calessino Electric Lithium should travel about 47 miles per
charge. The new scooter will be able to recharge its batteries within four hours
using a 220-volt outlet.
Piaggio is limiting production of the Ape Calessino Electric Lithium to
100 units over the next year. The automaker will price each unit at $28,000 USD
and restrict sales to the Italian market. Each unit preserves the original
blue/cream color while eliminating the scooter’s greenhouse emissions. Piaggio
is also utilizing a special paint treatment on the Ape Calessino Electric
Lithium to protect the body from corrosion.
The limited production run of the Ape Calessino Electric Lithium is
an intelligent move by Piaggio. The scooter company has offered limited runs of
classic models and specialty vehicles through labels like Vespa with
overwhelming customer response. As the special edition Ape Calessino sells out
quickly, Piaggio is likely to move to larger production runs to keep up with
demand. The Ape Calessino Electric Lithium will become popular in Europe and
gain traction in Tokyo, Beijing and other Asian cities where road space is at a
premium. We can only hope that this new model lives up to the hype so that North
American consumers are exposed to these space-saving vehicles.
