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Driving report Piaggio MP3 Hybrid 125 (2009)
World’s first hybrid production two-wheeler
The Italian Piaggio Group is the world’s first manufacturer to build an innovative hybrid two-wheeler in series: With the MP3 Hybrid, gasoline and electric motors work in parallel, making the scooter environmentally friendly, economical and powerful.
Even the horses look astonished: in the park of the Roman Villa Borghese, they look just as confused as the two Carabinieri at their backs. A scooter drives cheekily in front of your nose through the extensive green area in the heart of Rome, which is strictly closed to normal motor vehicles. But there is nothing common about this vehicle: It is the world’s first series production hybrid two-wheeler. The MP3 Hybrid moves sound-free and smoke-free through the park at 30 km / h, powered by its electric motor and accompanied by the chirping of birds and the laughter of playing children. At the exit of the park, all you have to do is press a button, the petrol engine starts and the scooter plunges with verve into the tumult of Roman traffic. Verve is meant literally because the hybrid drive gives it a torque that conventional petrol scooters can only dream of. Very early, at 3000 tours, the maximum of at least 16 Newton meters is reached. And that makes it a real fun mobile in the hairpin bends towards Piazza del Popolo. The electric mode of this 125cc tricycle from Piaggio is nothing new in the two-wheeled world; the US scooter Vectrix, for example, moves purely electrically. What is brand new, however, is that the “Hy Tech” switch on the MP3 Hybrid allows you to choose between four different driving modes with electric and petrol engines.
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Nobody noticed: the MP3 Hybrid creeps silently through the park
With “Electric” the petrol engine is left out, the scooter runs completely silently, just like in reverse gear, which is limited to three km / h. The two hybrid modes in which both motors work in parallel are particularly interesting. With “Hybrid Power”, the electric motor is used for driving performance and drives the torque to a plus of up to 85 percent. In “Hybrid Charge”, on the other hand, the gasoline engine supplies energy to the electric motor, which acts as a generator and charges the lithium batteries under the seat. The cooperation is coordinated by the Vehicle Management System (VMS) and the electronic throttle valve control ride-by-wire, which is used here for the first time in a scooter. The VMS decides which motor contributes how much energy to the journey on the basis of various information such as the charge status of the batteries or how far the driver is opening the throttle. The system ensures that consumption and pollutant emissions are drastically reduced: For driving with 65 percent hybrid and 35 percent electric components, the Piaggio technicians calculated consumption of 1.7 liters of petrol and CO2 emissions of 40 g / km. For a conventional 125cc scooter, on the other hand, the numbers are 3.8 liters and 90 g / km.
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Hard to see from the outside: the electric motor and generator are located on the automatic clutch of the scooter on the rear wheel. Only the case is a bit big
In pure electric mode, the MP3 Hybrid can travel around 20 kilometers with full batteries. The batteries are charged in “Hybrid Charge” mode, every time you brake and take off the accelerator, or simply at a socket. The charging cable is located under the bench, a complete charging cycle takes three hours. The modern lithium batteries, which, unlike lead or nickel-cadmium accumulators, can withstand partial discharges well, should last the entire life of the scooter, according to Piaggio.
Two years ago, MOTORRAD exclusively drove several hybrid prototypes (19/2007) from the manufacturer. It is no coincidence that Piaggio chose the MP3 125cc tricycle for its series debut. On the one hand, you expect more sales opportunities (see interview on page 6), and on the other hand, given the already heavy weight of this scooter, an additional 30 kilograms for the electric motor and control electronics are hardly noticeable. What the first driving impression confirms: Only in the “Hybrid Charge” mode does the scooter seem a little more clumsy than the normal MP3, especially in tight bends. But thanks to the three wheels, you always have the load under control.
While the MP3 Hybrid will start in Italy in September, it won’t come to Germany until next spring. The price has not yet been determined, but, as always with Piaggio, should be higher than in the motherland. In Italy, the innovative part costs 9,000 euros.
Technical specifications
Engines:
Water-cooled single-cylinder four-stroke engine, one overhead camshaft, four valves, injection, electric starter, automatic centrifugal clutch, variator, wet sump lubrication, Euro 3.
Bore x stroke 57 x 48.6 mm
Cubic capacity 124 cm3
Air-cooled, brushless permanent magnet motor with lithium batteries, output 2.5 kW (3.5 HP), torque 15 Nm, charging by means of an integrated generator when driving, braking and via the power grid.
Nominal power of hybrid engine 11 kW (15 PS) at 8500 rpm
Max. Torque hybrid engine 16 Nm at 3000 rpm
Landing gear:
Tubular steel frame, two pushed short swing arms in front, drive unit swing arm with two spring struts, two disc brakes in front, ø 240 mm, disc brake in rear, ø 240 mm.
Tires 120 / 70-12; 140 / 60-14
Mass and weight:
Wheelbase 1490 mm, length / width 2140/760 mm, width, seat height 780 mm, weight with a full tank approx. 230 kg, tank capacity / reserve 12 / 1.8 liters.
Warranty two years
Color white
Price in Italy 9000 euros,
not yet known in Germany
Noticed
plus
- Technology: first hybrid scooter in series
- Environment: No emissions or noise in electric mode
- Torque noticeably increased
- consumption very low
- Charge simply at the socket
minus
- Weight approx. 230 kg with a full tank – enormous for a 125cc
- service not intuitively understandable
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