For many folks, Vespa isn’t just a scooter—it’s a lifestyle. Since 1946, these Italian icons have been turning heads, from stylish city riders to hardcore two-stroke fanatics. They're nothing short of a cultural icon and status symbol.
But if you hang around the Vespa scene long enough, you’ll notice that there are two main camps: Those who love the latest tech, and those who swear by the old-school charm of carbureted, oil-burning, smoke-belching classics.
What if there was a third option, though? This is where Retrokit enters the picture.
Developed by an Italian company called Motoveloci, Retrokit is an electric conversion kit for Vespas. It swaps out a classic Vespa’s internal-combustion engine for a clean, silent, and modern electric motor.
Of course, it does all this without messing with the classic looks. And that means no cutting, no welding, no irreversible mods. So technically, you could revert back to good old fashioned dinosaur juice later, should your heart long for it.
The kit works with classic steel-frame Vespas, and comprises a 2.3 kWh lithium-ion battery and a seven-kilowatt (around 9.4 horsepower) motor. What’s interesting is that the kit doesn’t just electrify your scooter; it gives it some extra modern touches, too. For starters, you get three riding modes—Eco, Drive, and Sport. The kit even features regenerative braking.
Real-world performance is pretty similar to what you’d get from Vespa’s modern-day 125cc scoots, with a top speed of around 80 kilometers per hour (50 miles per hour). And when time comes to charge the battery, it takes around four hours for a full charge.
But why would anyone do this? It’s clearly sacrilege, isn’t it?
Well, the answer’s pretty simple, really. And that’s because the future is now.
Two-stroke engines are fun, soulful, and sound great. But they’re also smoky, noisy, and whether you like it or not, quickly becoming a thing of the past. So, instead of junking the classic bikes completely, why not prolong their service life by giving them a modern makeover? In this case, Retrokit lets Vespa lovers keep their rides on the road without worrying about bans or rising fuel costs. It’s about future-proofing while still keeping their classic style intact.
But let’s be real—purists are probably foaming at the mouth reading this. For them, a Vespa without the smell of premix and that signature “ring-ding-ding” soundtrack is just…wrong. And hey, fair enough. But for those who love the vintage look but want a quieter, cleaner ride, and perhaps set a trend in the process, too, Retrokit might just be a game-changer.
At the end of the day, Retrokit gives Vespa riders another option. Love two-strokes? Keep them for as long as you’re allowed to. Prefer modern tech? Vespa’s got you covered with all of its latest models and fancy special-editions. Want the best of both worlds? Now, there’s a way, and you won’t need to say goodbye to your trusty PX, either.
Whatever the case may be, one thing’s for sure: more options are always a good thing.
Sources: Retrokit, Design Boom
