Right Lane Cruiser
07-08-2009, 08:05 AM
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/European_Union_Flag.jpg The hybrid technology is a strategic investment for the company, which could be used in different vehicles and whose benefits will pay off over time. (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124695035091204451.html)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Piaggio_MP3_Hybrid_Bike.jpgLuca Casiraghi - WSJ (http://online.wsj.com) - July 7, 2009
Odd looking... will it catch on over here? --Ed.
MILAN -- Europe's largest scooter maker by sales, Piaggio SpA, will launch the first-ever hybrid electric-and-petrol scooter on Tuesday, joining the race to manufacture fuel-saving vehicles of all kinds.
The Italian-based company, which controls 25% of the European scooter market, launches the three-wheeler in Rome Tuesday, to be rolled out across Europe by August. The company plans to sell the vehicle in the U.S. by 2010, taking advantage of 10% tax credit for plug-in motorcycles, beginning in January 2010.
The move makes Piaggio the first company to sell a hybrid scooter, but experts say it may be only a matter of time before its bigger rivals, Honda Motor Co. and Yamaha Motor Co come up with their own -- they've already presented prototypes of both hybrids and electric scooters. That could create stiff competition in the U.S., still a key vehicle market, but a small scooter market, where Piaggio is mostly famous for its Vespa.
"Piaggio has a head start over its competitors, but they may soon close the technology gap, as the hybrid scooter market is new," said Matt Mattila, hybrid engines expert at... http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124695035091204451.html
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Piaggio_MP3_Hybrid_Bike.jpgLuca Casiraghi - WSJ (http://online.wsj.com) - July 7, 2009
Odd looking... will it catch on over here? --Ed.
MILAN -- Europe's largest scooter maker by sales, Piaggio SpA, will launch the first-ever hybrid electric-and-petrol scooter on Tuesday, joining the race to manufacture fuel-saving vehicles of all kinds.
The Italian-based company, which controls 25% of the European scooter market, launches the three-wheeler in Rome Tuesday, to be rolled out across Europe by August. The company plans to sell the vehicle in the U.S. by 2010, taking advantage of 10% tax credit for plug-in motorcycles, beginning in January 2010.
The move makes Piaggio the first company to sell a hybrid scooter, but experts say it may be only a matter of time before its bigger rivals, Honda Motor Co. and Yamaha Motor Co come up with their own -- they've already presented prototypes of both hybrids and electric scooters. That could create stiff competition in the U.S., still a key vehicle market, but a small scooter market, where Piaggio is mostly famous for its Vespa.
"Piaggio has a head start over its competitors, but they may soon close the technology gap, as the hybrid scooter market is new," said Matt Mattila, hybrid engines expert at... http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124695035091204451.html