2019–2024 · Scooter · Buyer's Guide
Vespa Soul, Zero Emissions
The Elettrica answers one question: can the steel-bodied Vespa go electric and still feel like a Vespa? It can. The classic monocoque steel chassis stays. A brushless motor sits at the wheel, and the lithium battery pack is mounted low in the frame. The numbers are modest: 5 hp and a 30 mph (48 km/h) top speed put it in the city-scooter bracket, well short of highway use. In return you get a premium, zero-emission scooter with a TFT display, smartphone connectivity, ride modes, a USB charging port and LED lighting. Style comes first and running costs second. Speed is a distant third.
In town it's easy. It weighs 287 lb (130 kg), the seat is 31.1 in (790 mm) high, and the controls don't need a learning curve. It suits the rider who lives inside the city limits, parks on the street and wants something beautiful that costs little to run. There are real caveats. The throttle can suddenly stop responding, and you have to power-cycle the scooter to get it back. Range drops noticeably after 9 to 12 months, and cold weather slows charging and drains the battery while it's parked. There's no ABS either. Buy it for the city and have a dealer check its software and brakes first. Then it makes sense.
Spec sheets don't ride bikes, but they set the baseline.
| Power | 5 hp (3.5 kW) |
|---|---|
| Engine | Electric |
| Final drive | Direct drive |
| Front tire | 110/70-12 |
| Rear tire | 120/70-11 |
| Wheelbase | 53.1 in (1350 mm) |
| Seat height | 31.1 in (790 mm) |
| Wet weight | 287 lb (130 kg) |
| Top speed | 30 mph (48 km/h) |
Equipment check
Connectivity
Lighting
This section isn't about my own ride. It comes from years of listening: paddock conversations, chats with owners, club-night talk, and the emails and messages riders send me directly. On the Elettrica, that talk falls into a clear pattern. Owners love how it moves and how it's built at walking pace, and they get frustrated once the road opens up or the bill arrives.
The praise riders repeat most is about slow-speed agility. Owners consistently describe it as light and flickable, and they say it gives them the confidence to filter and pull tight U-turns. Build quality comes up again and again too: the body and the plastics feel upmarket, and owners say the finish matches what they paid. Some riders also mention the seat. It's wide and cushy, and low enough that most of them get both feet flat at a stop. That counts in town.
The two loudest complaints carry equal weight. The first is top speed. Riders consistently say that even in Power mode it can't keep up safely with traffic on faster roads, and they feel exposed out there. The second is price. Owners repeatedly point out that it costs roughly twice as much as a gas Vespa Sprint 50, and they call it a hard sell for the young moped crowd it's aimed at. That one stings.
Below those two, individual owners raise a few smaller points. One is the throttle: the first quarter-turn does almost nothing, then the power arrives abruptly, which makes slow-speed control harder than it should be. Once past that dead spot, another owner says Power mode pulls cleanly and quietly. Some find the switches light and cheap, with chrome-look plastic around them that undercuts the rest of the cockpit. One rider says the front brake lacks bite and needs a firm pull. Another says the suspension is jarring enough over bumps and speed humps that they end up in an awkward squat to cope. These are single voices, not a chorus.
Sudden loss of throttle while riding
Some owners report the scooter suddenly ceasing to accelerate without warning, requiring a power cycle to restore function.
Sticky front brake caliper causing resistance and noise
Some owners report the front brake caliper sticking, causing wheel resistance, squeaking noise, and vibration at low speeds. Often resolved by cleaning or brake inspection.
Battery range degradation after 9-12 months
Owners report noticeable drop-offs in range after about 9-12 months of typical city use, especially when parked in cooler temperatures or charged frequently without full discharge.
Intermittent electrical glitches on TFT display
Riders have experienced flickering instrument displays, brief infotainment resets, and warning lights without fault codes. These often resolve with software updates or connector reseating.
Slow charging and charge loss in cold temperatures
Some owners report that the battery charges slowly and can lose charge when parked in cooler environments, potentially reducing usable range in winter months.
Where this Vespa Elettrica pulls ahead of — or falls behind — its rivals on the numbers, and the typical bike in its class on character.
Power
Wet weight
Top speed
Seat height
Forget spec-sheet bragging. Here's who the Elettrica is actually built for.
For short hops, tight parking and low running costs, it's right on target: quiet, light and easy in traffic. Just keep your commute on city streets, because 30 mph (48 km/h) is the ceiling.
Made for New York City · Austin · Los Angeles
You'll love the design and the electric tech for the city part of your week. For ridge roads, be honest with yourself: 5 hp and 30 mph (48 km/h) won't get you there. It's a city scooter.
Made for Bay Area Ridge Roads · San Francisco / Bay Area · Skyline Boulevard / Alice's Restaurant
If this one isn't quite the fit, these are the bikes worth riding back-to-back against it.
