“Wot no petrol..!”
Converting your classic Vespa to electric… this may well be considered blasphemy in some VVC circles! However, the thought increasingly occurs that our beloved classic scooters, may in the not too distant future, find themselves outlawed - victims of government emissions targets forced upon us by a warming planet and temperatures, which undeniably, are heating up year on year…
The subject is never far from the daily global news, what with freak weather conditions that are becoming more regular than irregular, while vehicle manufacturers are working overtime to get their electric, petrol alternatives on to the market. I saw Audi’s TV advertisement a month ago and earlier this week, Volkswagen’s ID. HUB electric vehicle range was aired. What does this all mean for owners of classic petrol scooters? I wonder if the classic vehicle industry would ever really be cut loose but even so; I wouldn’t be surprised to find we may face further restrictions when it comes to riding our classic petrol scooters - more than current legislation such as London’s ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone), which already affects Vespa PX owners.
Whatever your opinions and whether you find the concept impossible to countenance, PROJECT:E designed by London based Retrospective Scooters, is a viable alternative that is already available. The next issue of the JOURNAL (No.81), will feature a detailed overview (plus photos of Retrospective’s latest Vespa conversion) and considers a future we may one day have no other option than to get on board with…!
PROJECT:E scooter, March 2018 - photo by Paul Hart
PROJECT:E scooter, March 2018 - photo by Paul Hart
I was asked to photograph the above ‘lifestyle’ shots of Retrospective’s electric Vespa, prior to its release back in March 2018, the full album I took can be viewed here.
The below video is just a weak excuse to air one of my fave songs from the early ‘80s, OMD’s ‘Electricity’ and aptly was part of the ‘electronic’ genre kicked off by Kraftwerk..
If you have any views on this subject, let’s hear them? You can email me at vespamore@hotmail.co.uk - Paul Hart.