Piaggio MP3 (plug-in) Hybrid: 141 mpg, 40 g CO2/km, lithium

[Toshi]

Piaggio MP3 Hybrid. formerly just a concept, now announced as a (European) production model!

Cliffs Notes:

- 3-wheeled, tilting scooter with a 125cc gasoline engine + electric assist for performance roughly comparable to a 250cc scooter such as mine but with much better mileage and lower CO2 emissions
- 141 mpg and 40 grams CO2/km with assumptions of 35% EV use, 65% hybrid mode use, and negligible electricity cost
- first production application of a plug-in hybrid with lithium-ion batteries
- can operate in several modes including EV only, parallel hybrid, and gasoline only with electric assist when additional torque is required

Photos and videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZONajvYq6HE

(sources: http://translate.google.com/transla...mp3-hybrid.html&sl=auto&tl=en&history_state0= , plus the youtube video above as well as a press release posted by Piaggio Official on their facebook page)

 

[swbluto]

Looks very nice. What MPG are you getting on your standard piaggio MP3?

 

[PhoenixOSU]

Very cool!
I personally don't think batteries are up to spec yet for our modern transportation needs, but that's just my opinion hole talking, so hybrid technology is the way to go, specially in large vehicles, would this classify as a car or motorcycle I wonder...

I can say that I want one!

 

[Toshi]

Looks very nice. What MPG are you getting on your standard piaggio MP3?

i'm getting from 60-70 mpg in the city to 50-55 on the freeway. yeah, it's lower on the freeway! a relatively large frontal area as compared to vehicle size/mass and the high Cd of scooters+riders and motorcycles+riders aren't ideal at high speeds.

 

[jag]

How is riding a three-wheeler with such a narrow track?

What happens if one front wheel runs into a pothole or over a stone/curb?

I was looking around on the internet to learn how the tilting mechanism of these tilting threewheelers work, but didn't find a good explanation.

 

[Toshi]

How is riding a three-wheeler with such a narrow track?

What happens if one front wheel runs into a pothole or over a stone/curb?

I was looking around on the internet to learn how the tilting mechanism of these tilting threewheelers work, but didn't find a good explanation.

Look on YouTube: there exist several good MP3 overview videos. It rides like a two wheeler, including leaning, which is the point. The Can Am Spyder, in contrast, doesn't lean, and isn't nearly as entertaining to ride in corners.