Here is the green revolution of an all-Italian two-wheeled myth
How many lucky Vespa owners are morbidly attached to their means of transport not to leave it even to go to the bathroom? Going around on the hills of Bologna, as Cesare Cremonini sang, may be fine, but how to move freely in the historic centers of Italian cities, often barred because of pollution regulations that pierce, figuratively speaking, of course, the wheels to vintage vehicles?
The answer comes from Motoveloci, a Rimini brand that invented a Retrokit to replace the two-stroke engine mounted on classic Vespas, characteristic as its unmistakable mumbling, with an electric motor, all without upsetting the structure of the vehicle. The creators of this electric turning point are Alex Leardini, mechanical engineer, who since his adolescence loved to dirty his hands and oil, Leonardo Ubaldi, electronic engineer with a passion for mechanics, and Chiara Bizzocchi, who has put his expertise in accounting, to sell this innovative kit.
The future is green, and not even an immortal myth like the Vespa can avoid being electrified. And the same goes for the Vespas that were born with an internal combustion engine, of course. The kit replaces the entire engine block and the fuel tank, leaving, however, the original brake and wheel. The 1.5 kWh battery pack is placed under the saddle, instead of the tank, with an indicator that shows the state of charge. The petrol tap gives way to the key-operated ignition.
Since there are no additional displays to keep an eye on the travel parameters, the device is connected, via an app, to the smartphone, which connects via Bluetooth to the control unit. The kit is available for most Vespa models: 50N, 50R, 50Special, 90, 90SS, 125 Spring, 125 ET3 and all PK 50 and 125 models. The engine is made of aluminium alloy, lightweight and high performance, and develops a power of about 6kW, while the battery pack, recharges in three hours, using the normal electrical outlet at home.
As far as performance is concerned, the electric Vespa has nothing to envy to the original one. Burning acceleration, thanks to the constant torque guaranteed by the electric motor, and a speed of 45 kilometers per hour, increased to 90 by unlocking through the app. The range, of all respect, reaches about 100 kilometers. Ideal for use in the city. As for, however, the costs, Retrokit is bookable on crowdfunding platforms at a price of 2,290 euros, excluding any homologation costs necessary to circulate the vehicle on the road, of course.