Piaggio Hybrids: Vespa LX50 HyS and Piaggio X8 HyS
April 12, 2006
Our report yesterday of “two prototypes” of Piaggio hybrids should have read “Prototypes of two hybrid models:” the Vespa LX50 HyS and PiaggioX8 125 HyS:
Vespa LX50 HyS photos
Piaggio X8 125 HyS photos
VESPA LX50 HyS | X8 125 4-stroke HyS | |
Combustion Engine Single cylinder Piaggio Hi-Per 50cc, 4 stroke, 2 valve | Combustion Engine Single cylinder Piaggio Leader 125cc, 4 stroke, 4 valve | |
Electric Motor Functions as an electric motor as well as a generator, power 1 kW | Electric Motor Functions as an electric motor as well as a generator, power 2.5 kW | |
Distance range Up to 20 km (at 25 km/h) | Distance range Up to 20 km (at 35 km/h) | |
Batteries 2 standard 12V, 26Ah batteries for a total of 24V, 26Ah | Batteries 3 standard 12V, 26Ah batteries for a total of 36V, 26Ah | |
Battery charger Included in the electronics, allows the traction battery to be charged while running or by plugging into a 220V socket | ||
Engine control Drive-by-wire: the electronics interpret and manage rider̢۪s demands based on the state of the system | ||
Acceleration Acceleration time reduced by approx. 10% | ||
Energy recovery System recovers battery power during deceleration and braking | ||
Consumption and costs Reduction of at least 20%. Using electrical recharge, consumption and running costs are half those of a traditional vehicle |
So the electrical system is a suppliment to the regular gas engine, giving about “20%” improvement in mileage? That’s not very impressive. What is the “distance range,” the total range of the bike with gas/electric or the electric range after gas is totally run out and it’s strictly electric? I’d hope the latter because that range and those speeds are shit.
It seems that Piaggio’s modern engines are not very fuel efficient in general (I’ve seen 45-60mpg quoted for the ET2 50 and ET4 150), they’re always comparing them to cars, where of course they’ll look good, but compared to some other scooters, they seem unimpressive. A 50cc scooter should be getting 70-100+ mpg unless it’s tuned for performance. The PGO 150 that I rode at 70-75 mph wide-open throttle for hours was getting at least 70mpg.
All this for a 20% increase in overall efficiency? From a scooter that Piaggio optimistically claims 75 mpg now (at 37 mph) that brings efficiency up to 90 mpg (if you can keep riding at 37 mph). Did they make their estimation on the bike at stock weight or with the additional tonnage of the Hybrid system. There are no shortage of 125cc bikes out there that get 90 mpg (even going faster than 37 mph).
From Insight to Prius and everything in between, the added cost of the Hybrid systems and increased costs in repair / parts in the long run will not save you money over the similar vehicle without the hybrid systems.
I predict an expensive, heavy, slow, scooter that will cost tons to repair, be a nightmare to work on and will cost you double your lifetime fuel costs the first time you have to replace those 3 giant batteries.
Skip this awkward, in-between phase and let’s jump straight to hydrogen fuel cell technology. Hybrids will be the Betamax of the future.
Phil
POC
I have doubts about the long term relavance or savings of hybrids like the Prius. Everyone ignores what the environmental production and disposal costs will be. This could be an even bigger problem with higher number of small units (like scooters) than fewer large units (like cars) in these emission free zones. I see all this being swept under the rug even more that vehicle companies make more money off of financing their product than from the product themselves. The end result of gov’t funded disposal will just be another form of corporate welfare. i’m rambling now…
Phil, your “not that cost effective” argument could be extended to scooters in general.Brooke (and others) have posted here (and elsewhere) about the “real savings” of owning a scooter, let alone a hybrid.
I still laugh that people think electricity doesn’t pollute (it just pollutes out in the suburbs somewhere) or use expendable fuels. Sure there’s solar and wind and hydro, but what percentage of the country’s electric supply comes from alternative energy sources?
Brooke, I’d really like you to do a proper study about the myth that scooters make economic and ecological sense, but the results would be too heartbreaking to read, i imagine.