Piaggio 1: Electric scooter available for rent from €58/month

The small Piaggio 1 scooter now offers a leasing option similar to a Lease Buyback Agreement (LOA) for its base model, starting at €58.05 per month. Is it worth it?

Electric scooters are now numerous on the market, but they remain quite expensive, especially for young riders. Piaggio has considered this clientele by providing an more attractive financing solution than traditional purchasing on its recent « 1 », but beware of the final price.

The Piaggio 1 available in 3 equivalent 50/125 models

The Piaggio 1 was launched in autumn 2021 and is available in 3 models. With a classic style mimicking its thermal cousins, it emphasizes practicality with a compartment that can hold a jet helmet, and a flat floorboard. The basic version equivalent to 50cc features an electric motor of 1.2 kW, with a 1.4 kWh battery that can take it up to 55 km in eco mode (43 km in normal mode).

The Piaggio 1+ has a larger battery, increasing the weight to 90 kg (+5), but capable of reaching 100 km per charge. More powerful with 2 kW, or 3 kW at peak, the Active is the equivalent of 125 cc. It offers a maximum range of 85 km but can reach a top speed of 60 km/h.

Only the 2.3 kWh batteries from the 1+ model weigh 15 kg, compared to 10 kg for the 1.4 kWh capacity. Piaggio guarantees a capacity of 70% after 800 recharge cycles. This equates to a lifespan of about 8 years, based on 2-3 recharges per week.

ecological bonus of €575, compared to only €100 for the others.

A lease from €58.05/month, is it worth it?

The new offering is a LOA plan launched on February 1, 2022. It is €58.05/month for the basic Piaggio 1, over a period of 48 months, with the first major payment including a €100 refund via the ecological bonus.

The total over 48 months is €2,828, while purchasing outright costs €404.85, totaling €3,233.20. This makes it €534 more expensive than buying outright, an investment that shouldn’t be overlooked. With insurance included, the monthly payment is €61.01. The total paid after 4 years amounts to €3,375.28.

Note that the Piaggio 1 LOA offer is valid until March 31, 2022.

A future with interchangeable batteries?

The scooter is not yet equipped with what will be the technology of tomorrow’s two-wheelers. But Piaggio is part of the new Swappable Batteries Motorcycle Consortium (SBMC), along with Honda, KTM, and Yamaha.

These four manufacturers of electric scooters and motorcycles are developing batteries as well as an ecosystem around interchangeable batteries. In the near future, we will see the arrival of 2- and 3-wheeled electric vehicles similar to Yamaha and Gogoro in Taiwan.

On these vehicles, you just go to a station to swap your empty battery for a charged one. This operation takes less than a minute, instead of several hours recharging at home. In France, Zeway offers this service on their rental scooters, starting at €130 per month all inclusive.

Also read: Test of Cityscoot scooter rental: versatile, practical, but expensive