Italian scooter-maker Piaggio has unveiled a plug-in hybrid three-wheeler it says will get up to 141 mpg and could be on the road as early as next year.

The gas-electric version of Piaggio's funky but fun MP3 scooter uses a parallel hybrid system much like that in the Toyota Prius but advances the technology by adding an electrical cord. Although Toyota, General Motors and several other automakers are developing cars that can be charged from a wall socket, Piaggio's timeline, if met, would make it the first in the world to mass-produce a plug-in hybrid.

The MP3 Hybrid that Piaggio rolled out at the big international motorcycle expo in Milan, Italy, combines a 125-cc gasoline engine with an electric motor in an easy-to-ride three-wheeler that reportedly could do zero to 60 in around 5 seconds.



We're still trying to get ahold of the folks at Piaggio, but the electric motor powers the MP3 Hybrid at low speeds and provides the gasoline engine with additional oomph when you open 'er up – boosting acceleration by as much as 85 percent, the company says. The scooter can run in full electric or in one of three hybrid modes designed to maximize performance, maximize fuel economy or recharge the batteries quickly. Piaggio says the MP3 hybrid goes 60 kilometers on a liter of gas, which works out to about 141 mpg.

Regenerative braking helps charge the batteries, and Piaggio says the MP3 Hybrid will charge in as little as three hours when plugged into a standard wall socket.

While Piaggio hasn't said how much the MP3 Hybrid will cost or offered much in the way of specs, Wes Siler at Hell for Leather says the gas-electric combo should provide the MP3 Hybrid with the power of a 250cc gas scooter, giving it zero to 60 acceleration in the 5-second range.

Piaggio's been working on its HyS hybrid drivetrain for more than a year. It uses a four-stroke gasoline engine that runs at a near constant speed so it can be tuned for excellent fuel economy and low emissions. (Piaggio says the MP3 Hybrid emits 40 grams of carbon per kilometer; for comparison, the Prius emits 104.) The motor also charges the battery, which is located under the seat. A "fly by wire" system determines the optimal mix of gasoline and electric power depending upon rider demands. Motorcycle Consumer News says the HyS hybrid system can go about 12.5 miles on full electric power.

As for those two front wheels, they lean up to 40 degrees in turns just like a motorcycle. Piaggio, which introduced the MP3 two years ago, says the design improve traction, stability and braking to provide unparalleled (for a scooter) grip and excellent cornering capability. Having flogged a 250-cc MP3 in the Santa Cruz mountains, we can tell you it's a hoot. A plug-in version will only make it better.

Main photo courtesy International Cycle and Motorcycle Exhibition. Second photo by Piaggio.