As gas prices rise, so it seems do the sales of gas-misers like scooters and small-bore motorcycles. Larger, more powerful and therefore more expensive motorcycles are doing the opposite, dropping in sales like the pickups and SUVs of the automotive realm, though surely for different reasons. Many of the pricier luxury items like that chromed-out Harley V-Twin you've lusted over for years are taking a back seat to keeping the Family Truckster filled up with gas, or even being replaced with a scooter. In fact, so far this year, scooter sales have risen an astounding 66 percent over the same period last year. Every manufacturer, from Piaggio and Vespa with their relatively small city-scoots to bigger machines like the Burgman from Suzuki, has reported double-digit gains. Instead of being ridden solely for the enjoyment of the rider, these machines are making the shorter trips and errand-runs that big SUVs were making not that long ago.

[Source: CNN Money]

We usually know Piaggio for its scooters and the great MP3 three-wheeled scooter, but it also builds a "microvan" based on the Daihatsu Hijet kei-car sized van. The vehicle, which is quite common for garden services in big European cities, uses a 660 cc engine. But there's an electric version as well, which is sold for use in city centers, as well as in Israel. Now the Piaggio Porter electric is also available in the UK, left hand driver notwithstanding, where it's exempt from the Congestion Charge in Central London. The Porter use long life Lead-Gel batteries that offer a range of approximately 80 miles (depending on terrain and driving style) and recharging is either with a standard 8 hour charge through a 13 amp socket or a faster 2 hour charge using 3 phase supply. It's available in 6 body styles: Panel Van, MPV, Pick Up, Big Deck, Tipper and Chassis Cab. Across the range, payload capacities range from 440kg for the electric MPV to 560kg for the electric Big Deck.

[Source: Piaggio UK]

It's taken one month for Dr. Bernard "Buddy" Rosenbaum, 71, and Bob Chase,72, to ride two Piaggio MP3 scooters from San Francisco to New York City along the Lincoln Highway. When the duo finally arrived in Times Square, they were greeted by media, friends, family and Piaggio representatives, including its U.S. Operations president, Paolo Timoni. The event not only showed that there are no age boundaries, but also that summer road trips can still be taken even during these days of $4+/gal.

[Source: No Age Limit]

Photo: Times of India

Over the years, the Pope has been driven around in quite a few different vehicles, which most people refer to as the 'Popemobile.' The last time the Pope visited the United States, for instance, his ride was a modified Mercedes-Benz M Class SUV which had been specially modified to accommodate his needs. In fact, Mercedes-Benz has a long history of creating vehicles specially for the Pope, and now Piaggio has joined in as well. Piaggio's contribution, though, features just three wheels and is made from the rickshaw platform which is popular in India, where the vehicle was created.

According to Ravi Chopra from Piaggio's Indian subsidiary, "These vehicles were given a complete look and feel of a Popemobile by putting a white coloured hood, white tyres, seat upholstery, and white body paint. The insignia on the doors is specially handcrafted. The entire vehicle was given a complete unique decor to suit the aura of His Holiness." Piaggio hopes that Pope Benedict XVI can find a use for the vehicle at the Vatican, perhaps when touring the gardens.

[Source: Times of India]

Earlier this month, we learned about the "No Age Limit" adventure of Bob and Buddy, two old scooter riders who wanted to see the America of the Lincoln Highway using Piaggio MP3 scooters. The Lincoln Highway was the first transcontinental highway in the U.S. and was conceived and completed in the early part of the last century. While the road is historic, Piaggio is using more up-to-date technology to provide web visitors to check in on the two men.

Daily updates can be seen on this website, which now includes a slick Google Earth feature that shows today's location for the seventy-something riders. There are also a lot of pictures updated to a Google PhotoMap and there is a Google ProgressMap that gives multiple updates throughout the day - just in case you wanted to head out and ride along with them perhaps. If constant web-based updates aren't your thing, then feel free to wait for the PBS documentary on the Highway to Harley riders, which will feature Bob and Buddy.

[Source: Piaggio Group USA]

Click above for more images of the Piaggio MP3 400 and 500

Two seventy-something year old men will soon be embarking on a 3,400 mile trip across the U.S. on the famed Lincoln Highway. The trip for Bob Chase and Bernard "Buddy" Rosenbaum will start on June 13 at San Francisco's Lincoln Park and hit fourteen different states before they end on July 14 at the Lincoln Highway's eastern end-point in New York City's Times Square. The vehicle of choice for the journey is the Piaggio MP3 500, which we recently tested in New York and found to be extremely competent. The projected fuel mileage for the trip is about 55 miles per gallon. Just so long as they obey the speed limit most of the way and don't test the ninety-plus mile per hour top speed too often, they should have little problem hitting that figure. In addition to the excellent fuel mileage, this scooter was chosen for its stability and excellent handling. We certainly wish the duo the best on their trip and look forward to following their travels.

Sebastian is joined by Jeremy for AutoblogGreen Podcast #23, since Sam was hanging out with Bob Lutz and his Vectrix scooter when we recorded. Jeremy recounts his experience with Piaggio MP3 scooters on a ride from New York to Connecticut, and we move on to talk about the limited Prius supply as of late. We also touch on some developments at GM: the impending doom that may befall Hummer, and the coming of the Volt, which GM wants to build in Detroit. We go on for a while about hybrids and EVs for a while before wrapping up. Thanks for listening, we'll see you soon!

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Click above for high-res gallery of the Piaggio MP3 400 and 500

While we were in New York testing out the latest versions of the Piaggio MP3, we got a chance to sit down with some of the men behind the three-wheeled machine. Our first question was when we might see the hybrid version of the revolutionary leaning machine. While the official date is still shrouded in mystery, we were assured that it is coming, maybe even before the end of the year. Bloomberg is reporting, though, that there could be hybrid Piaggios with an even higher wheel count, as the Italian scooter giant is said to be working on a hybrid four-wheeler.

Not unlike domestic manufacturers based in the U.S., Piaggio is facing an ever-diminishing market share in its home country. Emerging markets, though, are proving to be a boon for both the automotive and motorcycle markets. As companies battle it out to win over consumers, fuel efficiency is going to become an increasingly hot commodity.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Click above for high-res gallery of the Piaggio MP3 400 and 500

Piaggio's unique MP3 scooter, with its two wheels in front and one in back, has been turning heads since its introduction as a 250cc model a few years ago. After getting the chance to ride the latest 400cc and 500cc versions, we can confirm that it still causes its fair share of rubber-neckers. As automotive drivers, we wondered if Piaggio's entry into the growing maxi-scooter segment could be a viable car alternative for some consumers, and as motorcycle riders, we wondered how those two-front wheels would feel as we chucked it into some bendy-roads. We found all we wanted to know and more after two days worth of driving through both downtown New York City and the surrounding rural roadways all the way into Connecticut. Read on past the jump to see what we thought.

Click on the image to enlarge

When Piaggio is mentioned on these pages, it's usually in reference to one of their scooters, but they also offer a range of utilitarian four-wheeled vehicles. The newest addition to their range is an electric delivery vehicle which features a refrigeration unit that is also electrically powered, making for a completely emissions free vehicle. The Porter Electric features two sets of batteries, both of which are charged at the same time from either a standard outlet or quick-charged through a three-phase power supply. The emissions-free status qualifies the vehicle as exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty charges along with Congestion Charging in London.

Along with their new Porter Electric, Piaggio will be introducing a new small truck to the UK market called the Truk. Featuring a small 500cc diesel engine, the Truk is expected to be priced rather attractively and have very low emissions and high fuel mileage.

Both press releases are posted after the break for your reading enjoyment.

Italy is a bastion for cool old scooter finds, as classic manufacturers such as Piaggio, Vespa and Lambretta were born and bred there. These classic scooters include striking and beautiful design aesthetics as well as solid construction methods. Also in their favor are decades of sentimental value, which is hard to put a price on. Unfortunately, most of these scooters also have a dark side, and it has to do with emissions. While they are quite thrifty when it comes to fuel consumption, the vast majority of the older scooters on Italian roadways are powered by 2-stroke engines, which emit much more harmful pollutants than newer 4-stroke models. Also, when many of those scooters were manufactured, emissions laws did not yet exist, meaning there is nothing in between the combustion chamber and exhaust pipe than a straight tube ... catalytic what? To help alleviate some of these pollution generators, the Italian government has decided to offer a 300 Euro bonus to trade in your old scooter for a new model. The hope is that pollution levels will decrease as the older fleet of scooters currently on the road is replaced with a new, cleaner one. Scooter fans the world over collectively shed a tear.

[Source: Forbes via 2 Stroke Buzz]

A few years ago, Bajaj stopped making their Chetak and Legend scooters, and since then there has been a dinstinct lack of any steel-bodied, manual transmission, 4-stroke scooters on the market. Genuine Scooters has begun selling their Stella scooter again after a short absence and Vespa themselves re-released 500 of the PX150 model to the American market, but both of those machines feature 2-stroke engines. Bajaj made some pretty compelling claims regarding the emissions improvement of their 4-stroke engine as compared to the original 2-stroke powerplants like those used in the Stella and PX150, so scooter riders who feel the need to ride "green" machines have been forced to scour the used market or buy a newer "twist and go" style model. There are a few rumors circulating, though, which could change all of that. The Stella scooter is made in India by a company called LML, and that same company may begin creating four-stroke, steel-bodied scooters using an as yet unnamed 4-stroke motor ranging from 125cc, 150cc and even 250cc versions.

If LML does start making 4-stroke Vespa PX clones, we can foresee a huge market for them in the States. We would love to see Genuine Scooters offer these models alongside their current range of Stella scooters, keeping the vintage designs in dealer showrooms for years to come.

[Source: 2-Stroke Buzz]

Many taxi drivers have made the switch to hybrid power because of reduced cost in fuel and for the promised environmental improvement, but as far as we know, there is only one taxi service using Piaggio MP3 scooters to lug passengers and their cargo around. The service is known as NIP Bike and is available only in Paris at this time. Whether or not the company has plans to branch out into other areas we don't know. The service might only be able to accept one passenger at a time, but the luggage capacity is pretty stout with both side cases and a 42 liter Piaggio top case available.

Tom Tom provides navigation advice to the driver, meaning that a direct route to the final destination should always be taken. The rider and passenger can speak to each other using bluetooth equipped helmets from Nolan. Would you be willing to take a taxi service on the back of a scooter?

[Source: Bikes in the Fast Lane]

Piaggio, the scooter maker best known for making Vespa, will be the first to sell electric vehicles in Isreal, in just one month. According to Ha'aretz, the electric vehicles will be Piaggio's Porter brand, small multipurpose vans (MPV) which come in five types, including models with payload tippers. The vans have 12 or 14 horsepower engines, a top speed of 36 MPH and 155-mile range on a full charge, which takes about two hours from a normal home outlet. The van will cost 120,000 Israeli Shekels ($33,018 US dollars).

Why is Paggio doing this now? Israel recently instated a "green tax" on cars hoping to develop their electric car market. A Paggio company spokesman says they have won approval "in principle" for the tax breaks on the purchase price of cars. Project Better Place and Renault were the first companies to come out in support of Israel's push for electric cars but it's open to any green car maker. I fully expect many more automakers to sign up just like they did with Thailand's government program to make green cars.

Related:

• Israel considering making electric vehicles completely tax free
• Israeli government passes "green tax" on cars
• It's official! Project Better Place, Renault signs deal to bring electric cars to Israel
• Piaggio's MP3 family grows with 500 and 400 models
• Piaggio launches a three and four-wheeled offensive, with diesel and CNG engines

[Source: Ha'aretz, Infolive.tv]

Piaggio has officially unveiled two new Maxi Scooters to add to its American three-wheeled MP3 family: the 2008 MP3 500 and MP3 400 models (those numbers describe the scooters' ccs) The Italian company has upped the engine size of these scooters for the U.S. market, something we've been keeping an eye on since last September. The previous engine size was 250 cc. Piaggio says that "the higher-displacement MP3 500 and 400 offer riders the added benefit of high-performance four-stroke engines, aggressive styling and a new level of premium safety, comfort and convenience equipment. Designed to go the distance, the newest MP3 models are uniquely suited to enjoying the diverse terrain of America's highways and byways." Not sure I'd want to drive from Maine to Oregon on one of these, but I take their point. The good news for scooter enthusiasts is that the 500 is a bit cheaper than previously rumored. It's not $10,000, but $8,899. The 400's MSRP is $8,699. For more details, check out the Piaggio release after the jump.


[Source: Piaggio]