Scooter News Hybrid MP3 Piaggio to look towards launching a hybrid version of the MP3
Allen Drysdale This story was reported in the Italian press and is courtesy of the la republica.
The President of Piaggio recently announced the desire to release a vehicle that will result in providing solutions for congested cities.
That vehicle is said to be a hybrid version of the recently released Piaggio MP3. (Not yet released in Australia)
This scooter is said to be able to solve the fear factor of people getting onto two wheels by having the safety of three as well as reducing emmissions dramatically.
My guess is that the MP3 Hybrid will use Piaggio HyS technology. Below is a short extract about Piaggio's Hybrid system.
The scooter was scheduled for release for the European at the end of July.
Technology at the turn of a switch
The Piaggio HyS uses very innovative, avant-garde technical solutions but remains incredibly easy and intuitive to use.
The rider uses all the normal controls (accelerator, brakes and additional handlebar commands) as well as a specific switch to choose one of four operating modes: standard hybrid, high-charge hybrid, low-charge hybrid and electric-only.
In the first three modes the HyS manages power output from the two engines, thermal and electric, using a drive-by-wire type system: the electronic management system (SGE) interprets the rider’s request for more torque and selects the assist ratio based on the state of the system (e.g. the level of battery charge). During deceleration and braking, the control system recovers and accumulates power that is lost on normal vehicles in the battery.
In standard hybrid mode the battery charge is maintained at optimal traction levels (batteries at 75%). In view of ‘electric-only’ use, the rider can, however, choose the high-charge hybrid function, geared to maximise the range of the electric motor (batteries at 95%).
If, on the other hand, the rider wishes to recharge the batteries by plugging them into a power outlet, he can use the low-charge hybrid mode (batteries at 20%) to obtain maximum performance with minimum consumption.
In electric-only mode, the Piaggio HyS shuts down the combustion engine and turns into a silent, zero-emission electric vehicle.
Drive-by-wire technology not only allows the control system to optimally manage the combined power output of the two engines but also ‘forces’ the thermal engine to work when it can be most efficient, thereby reducing specific consumption, with obvious advantages in terms of lower consumption and emissions.
published 10/07/2007 |