Showcased at the 2017 EICMA show in Milan, the Vespa Elettrica is Piaggio’s first bite into the electric bandwagon. Although Piaggio took its own time to offer an electric vehicle, it is late by no means, and fresh information tells us that the Piaggio Group plans to begin the production of the Vespa Elettrica electric scooter from September.

The Electtrica is the electric version of Vespa's Primavera scooter with a lithium-ion battery and a 4kW motor that is guaranteed to get you 62 miles on a single charge. The first vehicles can be booked only online starting from the beginning of October.

The long-awaited electric scooter will be made by Piaggio at their Pontedera plant in the province of Pisa, the same one where Vespa first rolled off the line in the spring of 1946. The Electtrica can be pre-booked at dedicated websites with financing options made available for customers. Sales will begin in Europe to then be extended to the United States and Asia starting in early 2019.

In combustion engine terms, the Electtrica is powered to fare better than the 50cc scooters while being all nice to the environment and it does it in total silence. Especially with the instant peak torque that starts at zero rpm. The lithium-ion battery power unit is capable of delivering a continuous power of 2 kW and a peak power of 4 kW and takes just 4 hours for a full recharge. The scooter also benefits from motorsport tech known as KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) that recharges the battery while decelerating.

The Electtrica is also high on electronic packaging with remote key, LED surround lights, USB charger, Ride-by-Wire and two riding modes for you to choose from. And the best part of it all, it gets a Reverse mode as well. How cool is that?

The dashboard sees a 4.3" color TFT display which along with giving you a myriad of information, can connect to your smartphone via the dedicated Vespa Elettrica App. This means you can access calls, music, navigation and get all your notifications right on the dash just like what KYMCO did.

Talking about maintenance, there isn't any. Since the battery-motor combination is a straightforward phenomenon, there are hardly any moving parts. This means no friction, and no wear and tear. And with the battery efficiency rated to 1000 full charge cycles, one can use the Electtrica for 30,000 to 40,000 miles before you might have to replace the battery or the motor. Now that is some bargain.

Vespa is also adding a hybrid 'X' version to the Electtrica. It will carry an onboard petrol-powered generator to double the range of the scooter by recharging the batteries on the fly. The Vespa Electtrica can always be customizable with seven color options and seat trims. You also get a special Bluetooth Jet helmet with the scooter's livery you chose.