Live at EICMA Piaggio has presented the hybrid USB “scooter”. USB in fact stands for Urban Sport Bike, a concept designed by Marco Lambri at Piaggio’s Pontedera Style Centre. The Piaggio USB is another step in the company’s exploration of urban motoring, and attempts to combine ecology with fun and safety in an innovative design.

Piaggio has its roots in scootering innovation, from the Vespa to the latest MP3 Hybrid and this prototype is another development on that hybrid technology. The Piaggio USB combines scooter, motorcycle and automobile technology, in an unusual design form with snug seating for the rider in an almost F1 maxi-scooter mix.

The Piaggio USB is equipped with a thermal two-stroke GDI motor and a rear wheel electric machine. It can run off either hybrid or full electric mode and has plug-in option for zero emissions riding too. Full details after the jump, and more Piaggio USB pics in the gallery.

Piaggio USB hybrid prototype

Continue reading: Piaggio USB hybrid concept at EICMA

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The Piaggio MP3 Hybrid is set to revolutionise urban motoring with this unique hybrid scooter. It was released recently and for full MP3 hybrid details and pics of the scooter, check out our original post. Here’s video for you to see the hybrid MP3 in action.

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There is plenty of excitement going on at Piaggio these days, with the release of the brand new MP3 Hybrid. Those who see themselves cruising Rome on a scooter can now also do it knowing they’re respecting the environment and going easy on the pocket. While Piaggio is talking “revolution”, this is more of an evolution on the road to economical and environmental urban motoring.

Telling figures though, are a comparison of the hybrid scooter with other vehicle options. The MP3 hybrid in electric mode has no emissions whatsoever. In combined mode, CO2 emissions are a mere 40 g/km and fuel consumption is such that you can get 60 km off just one litre of petrol. A generic fuel driven scooter produces about 90 g/km of CO2 emissions, the environmental benefits are clear.

See after the jump for the full press release from Piaggio on its new pride and joy, and see the full MP3 gallery to see the style of this innovative model. There is currently no news regarding pricing and availability, but we’re keen to see this hybrid scooting around the streets of major cities in the future.

Continue reading: Piaggio MP3 Hybrid pics and details

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According to the Solomoto30 magazine, Piaggio’s three wheeled hybrid scooter, the MP3 Hybrid, will soon be ready for production.

The hybrid scooter was presented at the 2008 Eicma show in Milan and is equipped with two engines: a four stroke, Leader series endothermic engine with fuel injection system, and an electric motor.

The engines work together to create greater performance and reduce consumption. Pricing could be set at about 10,000 euros but no official information on this or a launch date is currently available.

Continue reading: Piaggio MP3 Hybrid to be launched soon

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