Electric Classic Scooters
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 มิ.ย. 2024
- In this weeks episode we look at some classic Vespa Scooters that have been converted to electric by a company called Retrospective Scooters. They also convert Lambretta scooters too. As well as a tour around the scooters and the conversion we get to take them for a spin around the block.
The silver one is a 1959 large frame Vespa with a 48V system.
The blue one is a 70's small frame Vespa with a 72V system.
If you're interested in buying one of these finished scooters please contact us via sales@electricclassiccars.co.uk to discuss options.
If you're interested in getting your own classic Vespa or Lambretta scooter converted to electric or buying a conversion kit, contact Niall down at Retrospective Scooters.
www.retrospectivescooters.com - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
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What a great way to bring back old vehicles, they’ve got a new lease of life.
That 59 Vespa looks suspiciously modern, just fabulous!
I was in Beijing a few years ago at a night market. Unlike most asian markets there was almost no motor noise. All the little 3 and 2 wheel vehicles were electric. Thanks for the vid. Jim Bell (Australia)
China makes insane progress
In the mid 90's drove the blue small frame Vespa to work daily. In India it was marketed by Piaggio as the Vespa PL 170. It had the split seats with the driver seat incorporating a spring mechanism for a comfortable ride.
Very reliable plus was easy on the pocket.
Smaller port hole under the driver seat mean't accessing the carburettor and spark plug a task.
I’m surprised how confident and natural you are on the Vespa if that’s your first time! I’ve seen riders with many years under their belts far wobblier than that on the road! 😂
That is simply glorious! I'd even put aside my pedal bike for one of these babies!
You were having way too much fun! And who needs speed when it's oozing so much style. I want one!!!!
This is what we need more of motorcycle EV conversions and EV conversion kits ;) great work
Richard you really are amazing! Only after seeing a couple of other “electric converters” I realized how knowledgeable you really are and how you also come across as a person with honesty and integrity.
You just got to wear a heavier jacket on car wow! Love that defender!!!
Thank you for your kind words. ❤️👍
Love the retro vesper conversion.
So many old bikes and scooters that could be rebirthed with either hub motor or belt drive as engine parts are like chickens lips to find.
Now need to look at this in Aus.
Amp hours don't mean squat dood. Need Kilowatt hours. I take it back. You gave the voltages too. All cool.
My wife and I always look forward to getting to watch this channel.
The *BEST* channel here on TH-cam!
Wow, thank you!
That’s great to hear 👍👍😀
5:11 sounds unreal. it just moves without noise. this is the sound or noise of vehicles of the future.
Hugely informative video, thank you. Niall, (Retrospective), is ahead of his time in offering electric conversions and kits.
A bit of background on the original Vespa S/F, and L/F scooters. They, (with their 8" and 10" wheels), were only designed for town use. Once out of town, (original 2 stroke models up to 200cc), you will not have the power to keep up with traffic, particularly on dual carriageways. I guess the electric converted models are the same. The small frame scooter was designed for teenagers, who, (back in the '60s, were lightly built). Fast forward to the 2020s, and I think most people sitting on the small frame would find it too small for their body weight. The L/F scooter can carry a 75kg adult easily. You won't feel cramped.
I just want to mention a point about safety. Many motorcyclists will tell you that having a loud exhaust means that other road users and pedestrians are aware of your presence.
From your video, the electric conversions are almost silent. Will you get pedestrians steeping off the pavement in front of you? A point to consider.
Know where you are coming from have had a moped scooter for 2 years now, silent riding and the silly grin is so infectious.. sure the plug pirate would enjoy them too .Keep smiling everyone
Thanks for this one Richard. Keep these videos coming. Great bumping into you and Tim tonight at Langstone Tech park at Havant at the Tesla superchargers, really enjoyed the chat. Take care and look forward to the next video. More engineering please. :)
Great to meet you too. More engineering in the videos - noted. 😁👍👍👍
Great to meet you too. Plenty more tech on the way. 👍👍😀
Great to see such classic scooters getting the ev treatment. I wonder how the small frame Vespa performed in comparison; love to know Tim's assessment. 👍
You and Tim really inspire confidence in those of us who want to 'go electric.'
Nice Ride, I ride a EV PushBike, mine is 750 watt Bafang Mid Drive, with 52V 17.5 A.H Battery, works well on road with Disc Brakes, but I prefer acceleration sometimes to avoid troubles with Traffic, which the Bafang provides, a charge last about a week of going to shops, excursions etc, but the Old School Italian "Cafe" Scooter you are riding looks very cool !!, 1 thing I miss is Storage, & what I would miss on Vespa would be Pedals to keep fit. So I also have same conditional, any idiot can use them, as demonstrated by me, however while catching Flies is a issue here in Australia, Knowing when to hit the brakes, when a Magpie swoops at you, So they prang into back of your helmet once, so they learn to bugger off, is more important...
What a classic, from NSW,Australia 🇦🇺👍😎👍
Oh my god this is brilliant. I once imported a "totally restored!" and "vintage" Vespa from Vietnam (I know, I know . . .) and it was a total piece of fake junk. Once as I sat at a traffic light, in neutral, it lurched into gear and raced forward, throwing me off and hitting the car in front of me. It was hateful and evil. And even the authentic old Vespas still have to mix oil with the gas, which is a pain, but ELECTRIFYING IT: brilliant. I'll miss the sputtering espresso-maker noises of the engine, though.
Watching this put a big grin on my face 😁 very well done conversion, looks neat!
Glad you like it!
Electric makes so much sense for scooters. I think the only downside is they're so quiet you will hear everything rattling in your storage if you're not careful.
Especially for mopeds/50cc equivalents, it's unlikely you're really going to be doing any real distance in one, and quite likely that they'd be in city areas (decided on an electric moped myself as I have a car licence, and haven't really needed to go large distances or on faster roads).
Love the idea that you are selling these. Hopefully you extend this to the final product that the customers of your car kits produce as well
So much more civilised than the original petrol powered early originals. The brakes are better too.
"If i lived in the city i don't think i'd have a car.. i'd have one of these".. 😮 Until you get caught in a deluge of rain😂😂😂 cool bikes, they're great for dry day spins...❤❤❤
Funny enough, I generally don't mind the rain too much, for the most part I'm dressed such that I don't get wet (though I'm lucky in that I only need to commute, rather than work all day outside in the rain!)
Beautiful Veicolo Elettrico Spa conversions. Using the spare tire location for the removable batteries is a clever solution.
That was great, but why in the world didn’t we get some footage of Tim on the other scooter for comparison?
How to turn an adult into a giggling boy in seconds: riding one of these Vespas 😂😂😂
Super Cool!
I was a mod in the 60's ..My favourite scooter was my Vespa SS 180 (top speed just over 60 mph)...the only trouble is I wouldn't want an electric scooter that can't go as fast as 60 mph ...because that's the speed that ensures I can keep in with the flow of traffic. I always felt much safer keeping with the flow of traffic and not having everything overtaking me.
You’re a braver man than me doing 60 on a scooter. 😆😉👍
@@ElectricClassicCars I would bet if you had driven that one for a week you would have started wishing it went a bit faster...lol...although for sure in town traffic it's more than enough.
No problem getting an electric scooter (conversion) to do over 60mph with a huge amount of torque the acceleration is amazing too. 8kw hub motor at 72v or preferably 120v would definitely out perform the standard brakes and suspension so would need some upgrades. My classic Vespas used to hit 90mph + but they were heavily modified on the inside despite looking original on outside. I have a 12kw hub motor that may end up in a Vespas 😵💫
Well from what Moggy was saying I think the one he was riding is legally classified as a moped which are legally limited to 45 kph. It would have been interesting to see the blue one have a run. I suspect that would be set up as a light motorcycle, as that would permit new riders to use it.
60 in towns and cities!
Even with having a BMW CE 04 (20/42hp), I want to take a ride with this 72V Vespa!
I really would have loved to see Tim's experience with the higher powered blue Vespa...
He had a lot of fun. So much so it’s probably best it wasn’t filmed . 🤣🤣😉👍
Officially you need to indicate with your arms.
Safety first 🤗
Nice scooters.
I'd love to have one as well!
I have a Vespa GTS300 and couldn't bring myself around to converting it, I would miss the engine noise so much.
You done well mate for a first scooter ride. Think I have the same jacket from Next, but never wear it bike riding.
Have you guys ever converted a Bond Bug ? Or a bubble car ??? Would the scooter power train be enough for these vehicles ??……. Id love the size and cost of a scooter, but with a roof 😊
Yep. We converted a BMW Isetta bubble car a few years back. It was great. 👍
Instant like❤
I live in the USA. Imagine my pain and disappointment when you said that this company was in London.
They ship a lot of kits to the US. 👍
A Vespa this age with an electric engine - this is very hard to get my head around! A Vespa smells like two stroke - two stroke was my fist bike an I still like the smell a lot. It reminds me of my wilder days a long time ago. And you can not change the spark plug every time it does not want to start...!🤣🤣🤣
Y'all are the best EV mod & classic upgrade to modern car & van flippers on YT.
I admire your business. Please consider a episode around a 4 cylinder ICE & EV hybrid, with regen braking, conversion for the hesitant to leave ICE crowd.
Your channel has made leaps & bounds for EV credibilty. Please pull the middle of the road to the EV "dark side" (: Fun channel nod from Texas.
Great fun. 😄
Fantastic!
Cheers guys
It's always a bit disturbing at first when you Britts start driving on the wrong side... Yes I said that. I've driven in the UK a few times when going there on vacation and renting a car is a good way of reminding you to drive on the left side. I remember that the first time I grabbed the window crank on the door the first time I tried to shift gear. Driving in London was relatively simple. There's so many cars on the road that it's pretty obvious which side to drive on. Out in the country on small roads a bit off where there's hours between the times you see a car it's not quite as obvious and I remember the passengers calling for me to keep to the left at least once. Then there's the roads that turn out to be more of a pair of wheel tracks over the fields. A friend was driving when we saw a cop car meeting us on the road a far bit away. Well it turned out that we met them at a sharp left hand (for us) turn around a hill, so she saw them as we were turning. Well both stepped on the brakes and turned to avoid crashing. Only our driver did as she was trained and turned right while the police turned left as he should. The cars stopped with a few CM between the bumpers and we got to have a nice talk to a pair of police men who wondered why she turned that way.
We had a good time and never got involved in any real accident, actually the constant feeling I had to remember to look the "wrong" way probably made us concentrate more on the driving than when driving at home.
Still, it's kind of hard to switch to left hand driving. Where I live we switched from driving on the left to driving on the right in 1967. It was not something people liked and had there been a vote on it the day it happened most would have voted to keep left -hand traffic. But even though there were a lot of people screaming about how dangerous it would be there were very few accidents, actually fewer then before the switch. Somethings were however not that good. In the capital we had a for the times very advanced multi level turnabout with lots of tunnels and way to many signs. Switching this to right hand traffic was not a good thing. Suddenly the turns got even harder to understand and forty years later I still occasionally ended up going the wrong way. But when you looked at it and how it would be to drive if we were using left hand driving then things were a lot more sane. Now the last few years they've destroyed the old construction and built a modern traffic solution. I haven't driven it but it looks a lot simpler, and it's built for right-hand traffic this time.
Given the status of most countries using right-hand traffic I think it was a good idea to switch back in 1967. Sure it was a big deal at the time, but waiting would only have made it more expensive, and importation of cars is so much easier when you don't have to buy cars with the driver on the right side.
Hey Richard. Awesome. I want one. 👍
Done real nice 👍🏼
omg, just when I turned a blind eye to the Porsches, the Testarossa even, you come after our beloved two strokes! Have you no shame!
He should get these on the stand at one of the UK based ‘Everything Electric’ shows. Those are apparently well attended.
They have attended the Farnborough Show, I rode a converted Lambretta there.
I love it!, I would love to see something similar but focused on performance for those lads they put noisy exhaust on their scooters and show them that with electric they would be faster. I'm so tyred of noise tbh!
The only things missing from these scooters are 48 mirrors and a fishtail parka! 😁
And a load of spot lights. 😎👌
Three to four professional cyclists at full sprint make 4kw. It is enough to accelerate a scooter nicely :)
Need a lot more headlamps and loads of mirrors and definitely the bigger battery if I’m gonna get down to Brighton, especially with me bird on the back.
The condition of the roads are the same as in Australia!
Hi, Richard; good show! Nice to see you again. No one ever calls you Moggy these days, right? :-)
Sometimes Moggy, sometimes Richard. 😉👍
It would transform Rome
Probably an easier sell than electric vintage motorcycle. The EV conversion I fear is more ‘Mod than Rocker’!😂
Would love one of these if they come with a sidecar and cruise at 70kmh
Oh, that looks like fun. To bad around my neck of the world people drive like they are trying to kill scooters and motorcycles... Question, did you go to a school or study under someone to learn what you do or is this all hard won knowledge?
Thanks Richard!
All self taught. Although it helps to have an electrician as a dad. 😉👍
@@ElectricClassicCars Huh.... Cool! Thanks again!
Way too much fun!
Classic Vespa's are worth serious money and I really do not see the point in devaluing them with an electric conversion. A really high mileage modern 10 -15-year-old Vespa would be a better choice. Also, because they already have all around brake discs and better comfier seat and suspension layout don't you think Richard?
Here in the US I see non running Vespa and the clones for not a lot of money, like under $2000.
That's cool!
What's rattling? "Spare tire" cover?
Key fob on the battery cover. 👍
@@ElectricClassicCars I was going to ask what that was too. Would get really annoying with our crappy road surfaces, although I guess you barely heard it with the crash helmet covering your ears?
It needs some buzzer to attract other drivers, though many of them not capable to notice roaring 150 cc Chinese monsters!
Modern petrol scooters are really quiet now, I’ve been in Zaragoza in Spain for 3 weeks and surprised at how it rare to even hear the ice scooters approaching and definitely non of the constant 2 stroke buzz of a few years ago.
@alankemp1970 Hey! I live in Zaragoza 😁😁😁
Yes, modern scooters are very silent, and it is rare to see 2 stroke ones these days over here 👍
@@deltajohnny Hola! it’s a nice city! My wife is from Zaragoza and we were visiting family, just arrived back in England.
@@alankemp1970 What a small world! 😁😁 Best regards to you and your wife from what I call "the wind city" 😅😅
Saludos,
I'd love one. But with it being so quiet, I'd have to sort out that janky knocking wheel cover.
The knocking noise was the key fob hitting the battery cover.
@@ElectricClassicCars Aah ok. I knew it sounded like the wheel cover in some form. I'd have to stick a bit of padding on under that ingnition then I think :)
IF.......I........FALL ❤
No footage of riding the 72V??? That's the motor KW?
those look like a hoot to ride around. Okay range for city only use, but the limited range and speed would be a challenge where I live in North America.
UK definitely has better, & bike friendly, civil engineering but of course they have had longer to perfect. The Roman Empire got em started. Have you tried looking for alternate routes with "avoid hwys & toll roads" in your GPS? A sleightly slower, more adventurous path might be devil in the details. Just imagine the purty lady with a little more cushion, and a lovely vibbing laugh, riding passenger. Fun!
@@idontagree9658 my commute includes a stretch of freeway as does trying to get out of my municipality - people drive like maniacs, even on my VStrom 650 it can be a bit hairy. Just need to move away from this city to somewhere a little more laid back where I might consider a second bike. My wife is not interested in bikes at all and I don’t think she’d be happy if I sought out a willing companion. 🤣
Sorry to say that 9k quid is quite expensive. a new Gogoro costs around 2.5k
Beautiful looking scooters. Few questions: how do you secure the battery to stop others from walking off with it? Older style scooters can be difficult to lock up and most folk use a large chain around the floor pan and attaching it to a lamppost etc - thing is there isn't much storage on these scoots. Maybe fit one of the Vespa style handlebar locks? A curry hook would be a useful addition and cost very little. A little LED light in those storage areas might help on dark nights. Will it charge on a normal3 pin plug? How long does it take? Can I suggest not stating battery capacity in amp hours as that doesn't say very much unless you also have voltage - a more useful/standard metric is kWh.
for the 3-pin question, there's the charger at about 3:16 for one of them, which is three-pin.
Cool❤❤
Cheers Google lol
But planners' myopic focus on cars led them to miss the rise of another equally important form of transportation that would take over China's streets: the electric scooter. In 2022, there were 350 million scooters in use in China, compared to approximately 230 million private cars.6 Jun 2023
What a strange configuration for the grey one, I mean I would never place a battery behind the wheel cos even the original tire was ugly af not to say that it reduces leg room, and a battery on one of the sides seems stupid to me cos weight distribution is even more important in a 2 wheel vehicle so if I had built it it would have a battery on each side and a third one underneath the seat (cos with 3 batteries I think the average Joe can use it in a always charge at home "mode"
Still really surprised no one has done this with the modern scooter (moped) they would sell tons!!
Fully charged show has covered e-scooters/mopeds in some episodes..
Try looking for Vespa Elettrica on the web.
It would be great if Tim could ride the blue scooter and explain the speed and acceleration difference the 72 volt pack makes.
There seemed to be a muffled engine sound while Richard was riding. Is there a noise generator one bike?
Nope. That’s the noise of the motor. I quite liked the noise. 👍
Great idea , but with elf and safety, wear gloves as well, brake suddenly, over the handle bars ,bare hands touch tarmac , no skin left ouch . 😊👍
Just need to sort that battery case knocking noise and your sorted.
It was the key fob hitting the battery box cover. 😉👍
Hi. Im wondering if you could tell me? Do converted electric classics require DOE of any kind?
Would carrying a different battery drain the one battery to much ?
7:14 do the 0 to 20 😀
As a scooterist it looks the part but that’s where it stops pointless cost 9k mileage and that rattle would drive me mad.
I've done a conversion, but no where near as nice. It's so quiet, but when I try to film it all you hear is wind nose and rattles. But when I ride it you hear nothing at all. I think the quiet makes the sounds that were already there more noticable. Same thing on the mower I did. After the conversion you can hear the little rattles that were always there. The motor noise just drowned them out. Guess you could always put a music system on to generate some noise.
Beautiful little machines. I didn’t like the knocking noise ? From the front suspension
It was the key fob hitting the battery box cover. My fault totally. Didn’t even notice it with the helmet on. 👍
It sounded a little like a 2cycle motor popping. 🙂
👋👍
Hi Hi Hi Hiii... sounds like an old witch. 🎃
In our city on the North Sea coast of Germany, you can rent an electric Vespa via app.
No noisy 2 stroke engine
Exactly, wheres the fun?
Knock knock knock over every bump. I bet Retrospective Scooters wish they'd properly road tested that before handing it over.
Totally my fault. The key fob was swinging and knocking on the battery cover.
What is the price of moter insurance for the bikes ? When I buit a converted honda 90 into electric I was told the insurance would be over £1009 pounds for the equivelent 50cc in power.
Not noticed any difference with insurance with any of the motorcycles I’ve converted, most were way more powerful than the ice being replaced in reality but on paper the power output is less. Get the V5 changed and the appropriate MOT etc and all normal.
When we converted the Royal Enfield to electric I can’t remember any major increase in insurance premiums.
I’m not into twist & goes or electric power..
I’ll stick to my geared 2 stroke Lambrettas there’s nothing like the smell of 2 stroke & the beautiful noise that they omit ..
£9k? I could buy myself a rough original SX200 for that lol
I cover many miles on mine even did the IOW a couple of years back..343 miles in total, so unless I had a mobile power station following me it would be a nightmare, plus rallying would be out of the question as many sites don’t provide power points.
Someone needs to come up with a synthetic fuel for scooters..that would be more acceptable to the masses…
Having ridden a few Vespas in my time, the idea of not having the noisy, smelly and slow engine, along with ditching the twist gears gets rid of the main downsides of these scooters for me... perfect.
Hello guys Cracking EVespa's
Shouldn't the lights be on all the time? You're asking for trouble if noone can see or hear you on that thing, especially in UK cloud grey.
What keeps
rattling ?
The key fob was hitting the battery cover. I didn’t hear it with my helmet on.
But are they legal? - They are not EAPCs (no pedals assist).
Lots of fun, but a bit rattley
That’s my fault, it was the key fob hitting the battery cover. 😆👍
@@ElectricClassicCars Ah, good to know.
Hi Hi Hi😅😎😎
What next environmental rockers ..???🛵🛵🏍🏍🚔🚔🤪
Where is your Parka Richard!? th-cam.com/video/H2h1MY70uag/w-d-xo.htmlsi=rbvd_Ifw37FdHq3P
I ride a Vespa and have done for years, this is completely depressing.
A gasoline two stroke will never polute as much as the acquisition of the materials needed for that battery do. It's a stupid idea
Pollute*
And what's your evidence for this? Is it just a guess?
These are great and each one gets a noisy, stinky 2 stroke off the road.