Piaggio's Electric Bike Project debuted last year at EICMA, and it looks like it received a warm welcome. Things are getting even better as the Italian energy giant Enel picked the new pedelec model and will sell i to its customers through a special program.
The Piaggio pedelec is not the first electric two-wheeler to be sold to Enel customers. At least two other electric bicycles are part of the offer, with the UMB-1 Urban Move Your Life model offered with a plan that includes 18 zero-interest €100 ($109) monthly installments.
Piaggio's new bike will follow the same pattern, but neither the manufacturer nor Enel have announced a price for the two-wheeler. The only thing that is known about the offer is that the bike will arrive in a personalized livery, with shades of green on either white or black background.
A pedelec that can offer up to 120 km of assistance
Piaggio equipped its electric bike with a 250W motor that is centered around the pedal axle, adding to both mass centralization and aesthetics. Apparently, a 350W version will also be available soon. Stopping power comes from top-notch hydraulic brakes using dual 180mm rotors in the front and a single 160mm in the rear.
Power comes from a 400Wh lithium-ion battery, which is capable, according to Piaggio, of providing between 60 and 120 km (37 - 74 miles) of assistance, depending on the road conditions. The battery is watertight and sealed inside a stylish package that also incorporates a GPS tracker and a GSM communicator.
This bike is both electric and smart, as it conveys plenty of information to both the display and a smartphone. Data includes theft alarm, tracking, battery status, remaining range and more. Navigation and route planning are also on the menu for this pedelec, while the power of the pedal assistance can be set according to each rider's physical condition or preference.
Everything is seamlessly integrated in the Piaggio Multimedia Platform (PMP). An onboard USB connector can be used for charging your phone and for updating the bike software, as needed.
We will be back with more news as Piaggio's Electric Bike Project grows bigger, reaching both online and traditional stores.
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