Piaggio's Vespa is perhaps the best known scooter in the world, with a decades-old history of transporting riders through narrow city streets, but the brand is embracing the future with the Vespa Elettrica. Previously put forward in concept form, Piaggio has officially announced the upcoming release of the fully electric scooter, with a Spring 2018 launch date.
Aside from the obvious environmental benefits of an electric scooter over a gas-powered one, Piaggio is excited about a potentially overlooked aspect of the Vespa Elettrica. The scooter runs nearly silently, eliminating the insectile razzing of the traditional scooter. This promises to make densely populated urban streets quieter and thus more livable.
There are two models of the Elettrica: the standard is fully electric, while the Elettrica X has a hybrid gas engine to double its range to 200 kilometers.
Graceful Electric Scooters
Piaggio's Vespa Elettrica is Set for Distribution in Spring 2018
Trend Themes
1. Electric Vehicle Adoption - The release of the Vespa Elettrica signals the growing trend of electric vehicles and disruptive innovation opportunities for companies working in this space.
2. Smart Urban Transportation - The Vespa Elettrica's nearly silent operation highlights the trend towards smart, sustainable transportation in densely populated urban areas, creating opportunities for companies creating similar solutions.
3. Hybrid Vehicle Technology - The hybrid gas engine option for the Vespa Elettrica X highlights the trend towards developing hybrid electric vehicles and potentially new innovation opportunities for companies looking to expand in this space.
Industry Implications
1. Electric Vehicle Manufacturing - The release of the Vespa Elettrica presents an opportunity for companies to innovate and capitalize on the growing demand for electric transportation.
2. Smart City Technology - The Vespa Elettrica's potential impact on urban noise pollution highlights the opportunity for companies to develop sustainable, smart city technology solutions.
3. Transportation and Logistics - The trend towards hybrid electric vehicles presents an opportunity for companies within the transportation and logistics industry to develop and integrate sustainable transportation solutions.