Piaggio Porter NPE, the small Italian van more expensive than a Tesla!
- Published on 26/11/2025 13:18
- Modified on 26/11/2025 13:20
Manageable, quiet, sturdy: the Piaggio Porter NPE is the star of municipal services, but it comes with a high price for its electric qualities.
Highly anticipated in the compact utility segment, the Piaggio Porter NPE marks a new era for the Italian manufacturer. The iconic city truck, recognizable among thousands for decades, returns in a fully reimagined, 100% electric version—more modern, safer… and still just as clever in narrow streets.
With a wider, better-insulated cabin and finally up-to-date technological equipment, the Porter NPE retains its main advantage: compactness. Its 1,640 mm wide cabin, about 50 cm narrower than traditional light utilities, facilitates movement in dense urban centers, while its footprint of only 6.9 m² makes it as manageable as a small car.
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The Porter NPE Embraces Modernity
For the first time, the Porter features a true ADAS arsenal that meets the latest European standards: autonomous emergency braking (AEB), emergency lane keeping (ELKS), intelligent speed assistance (ISA), tire pressure monitoring, stability control, trailer sway control… and even an E-Call in case of an accident.
The other major novelty concerns the factory-built versions, available immediately at dealerships. Alongside the traditional chassis designed for modifications, three key variants are making their debut:
• Fixed platform
• Tipping platform
• Tipping platform with raised sides (600 mm)
These versions utilize a high-strength galvanized steel structure, side panels made of aluminum that open on three sides, an electro-hydraulic tipping system, and offer platforms up to 2,800 mm long and 1,620 mm wide internally.
The payloads are impressive considering its size:
• Fixed platform: 880 kg
• Tipping platform: 790 kg
• Tipping platform with high sides: 730 kg
• Chassis version: up to 1,050 kg
A Compact and Robust Electric Powertrain
At the heart of the Porter NPE is an EDU (Electric Drive Unit) combining motor, transmission, and inverter in a compact module. Peak power reaches 150 kW, or 204 horsepower!, with a continuous use of 60 kW (81.5 hp). Torque is also impressive at 342 Nm, while the maximum speed is limited to 90 km/h.
Finally, the range reaches 250 km in urban cycles, sufficient for everyday tasks before returning to the shop for an overnight charge, for example. For the battery, Piaggio opts for LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) chemistry of 42 kWh operating at 350 V, allowing 20 to 70% recharges in just 30 minutes.
Colors, Availability, and Positioning
The Porter NPE arrives immediately at the Piaggio Commercial network, available in four colors: Marble White, Amber Orange, Jade Green, and Opal Blue. Prices and complete technical specifications vary by market, but Piaggio clearly targets a professional clientele: local authorities, craftsmen, municipal services, urban logistics, and businesses seeking a compact, efficient, and customizable electric vehicle.
It remains to be seen whether, at over 50,000 euros excluding taxes (more expensive than a Tesla Model Y Long Range All-Wheel Drive!), this Piaggio NPE is not too costly to persuade its clients to avoid pollution…
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This page is translated from the original post "Piaggio Porter NPE, le petit porteur italien plus cher qu’une Tesla !" in French.
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