Updated with new URL for Veken Scooters

While we patiently (or not so patiently...) await the arrival of hybrid scooters from Piaggio, a Chinese firm has stepped up to the plate and beaten the Italians to the punch. Veken USA has created what it refers to as the VK-M50, and we hope it eventually gets a better name. It's the technology we are most interested in, and the 49cc gasoline engine coupled to a 500 Watt motor certainly delivers with up to an estimated 220 miles per gallon. The 36 volts of juice are provided by a lithium polymer battery that is good for up to 18 miles per hour, at which time the small gas engine kicks in to power the machine up to speeds of near 40 miles per hour and charges the battery. Obviously, this setup would return its highest fuel efficiency at lower speeds, but even at their top speeds, most 50cc scooter return excellent fuel mileage. The VK-50 has a suggested price of $2,799.

The company's website can be found here, but the specifications for the hybrid scooter have since been revised. We've had a look at the latest copy of their brochure, which is available in the pictures below.


[Source: Veken USA]

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]

Regular readers of our site are probably aware that I am personally a fan of two-wheeled travel. In a previous post about the upcoming hybrid scooters from Piaggio and their Vespa brand, I suggested that a leaning three-wheeler like the MP3 would be great if it were completely battery powered, or even used a hybrid system, had a removable or stowable canvas roof and a windshield with wipers. BMW made a two-wheeled scooter with a standard engine which had the roof and windshield covered. Safety tests showed great improvements in their design.

I guess that I'm not the only person out there who dreams of their perfect scooter design. Massimo Barcella has shared his own thoughts on the subject, and, like me, he favors a covered scooter with three wheels. Take a look at his ideas and read over his (translated from Italian) notes on what he would like to see. His concept vehicle is branded as a Fiat... I'd prefer to stick with a scooter manufacturer like Piaggio or Vespa myself.

Related:

• More on Piaggio's hybrid scooters, with pictures
• Piaggio still working on hybrid scooters, tests hybrid engine in MP3

[Source: Massimo Barcella / Cyberscooter]

We've been anxiously awaiting more news and especially an estimated arrival date for Piaggio's hybrid scooters, which include scooters from the Vespa brand as well. Perhaps Piaggio was reading our last post on the subject, because we've noticed more and more news on the HyS (hybrid scooter) models. Now, we can share a few pictures with you as well. Best of all, Cycle World is saying that they have been told by Piaggio that the MP3 HyS will be in production by the end of 2008! Although Piaggio has been testing a version of the MP3 hybrid which sports a 250cc engine, the production model is expected to use the 125 instead. However, that is not all bad, because the electric motor adds up to 85 percent better acceleration and possibly a bit more on the top end too, at least we hope. There is a cool switch on the dash of the scooter which allows for more economic travel or for more performance. Currently, three 12-volt lead acid batteries are being used, but lithium ion batteries are being tested as we speak.

Also of note is the 50cc version of this powertrain, which is installed in the Vespa LX model. This beast gets only 24 volts of power, but can still perform like its 125cc larger sibling. Best of all, the machine can return up to 142 mpg while emitting only 40 grams of CO2 per kilometer. The 50cc model can travel at 15 mph for 12 miles on electric power alone while the larger 125cc version can do 25 mph for 12 miles on battery power.

This is great news for anyone (like me) who's been waiting to purchase one of these vehicles. Waiting until the end of 2008 could prove to be a challenge!

Go past the break for more pictures.

[Source: Piaggio and Cycle World]

When the Moon is in the Seventh House
And Jupiter aligns with Mars
Then peace will guide the planets
And love will steer the stars

This is the dawning of the Age of... the hybrid scooter? Maybe. Piaggio has been stringing us along with this idea for too long. Now, they go and install the system in their ultra-cool new leaning three-wheeled scooter, the MP3. I wonder how the hybrid MP3 would compete with the rumored all-electric Vectrix version of the MP3.

While we are dreaming, let me remind you of the BMW C1 scooter, which I've never actually seen close-up. That scooter featured a roof with a real windshield and was supposed to be found safe in crash testing. I would love to see that idea picked back up by a major manufacturer, like Piaggio. Combine the windshield and a sliding canvas roof with the MP3 front end... and power it with the Vectrix electric system. Am I asking for too much here? Is there anybody else out there that would jump on that if it were priced around $10,000 or so? Count me in!

[Source: 2 Stroke Buzz]