Piaggio Ape E City

In the commercial-grade 3-wheeler market, numerous players are offering cutting-edge mobility solutions tailored to reduce carbon footprint and improve business performance. Among them, Piaggio and its Ape E City range of electric 3-wheelers are standout solutions crafted to improve business profitability and fleet performance. 

The Piaggio Ape E City is an eco-friendly lithium-ion battery-packed electric auto-rickshaw boasting a powerful electric powertrain suitable for efficient fleet operations. Featuring robust aggregates without complexity, complemented by top-class elements required for improving comfort, the Ape E City is an ideal solution for effective fleet performance management.

Offering a vibration-free powertrain while being equipped with an advanced electronic control unit (ECU) the Ape E City offers exceptional performance, a necessity for fleet owners and operators to drive in higher revenue. With lower maintenance costs thanks to no clutch, engine and gear-related expenses, the Ape E City is perfect for profitability.

Provided in swappable and fixed battery configurations, the Ape E City is perfect for first-time buyers looking for a cost-effective, maintenance free and efficient electric 3-wheeler, that comes with appreciable after-sales service and network necessary for sound operation in urban and semi-urban driving environments.

Piaggio Ape E City Performance

The Piaggio Ape E City is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack. The fixed battery variant includes a 51.2 V battery, while the swappable battery variant has a 48 V battery. Both variants, with 7.5 kWh and 4.5 kWh battery capacities respectively, generate 7.29 hp of power and 29 Nm of torque.

Despite this, the fixed battery variant's powertrain is equipped with a PT gearbox, whereas the swappable battery variant's powertrain is coupled to a constant mesh 2-stage reduction with an integrated differential gearbox. This configuration enables the fixed battery variant to achieve a typical driving range of 110 km, while the swappable battery variant offers a 68 km driving range per swap.

Piaggio Ape E City Specifications

The Piaggio Ape E City, featuring a gross vehicle weight of 689 kg (swappable) and 713 kg (fixed), offers ample cabin space with dimensions measuring 2700 mm in length, 1370 mm in width and 1725 mm in height. Accommodating up to four occupants (including the driver) comfortably, it effortlessly blends efficiency with practicality.

Piaggio Ape E City Features

The Piaggio Ape E City stands out as a sustainable and highly utilitarian electric auto-rickshaw, boasting a range of useful and modern features. These include multiple drive modes, telematics, comfortable dual-tone cushioned seats, passenger doors, an informative digital instrument cluster, and a hill-hold assist.

Piaggio Ape E City Rival

The Ape E City is a highly utilitarian e-rickshaw built to enhance last-mile mobility needs. Key rivals of this electric 3-wheeler include the Mahindra Treo, Kinetic Safar Smart and Baxy Pro, among others. 

Overview

Piaggio Ape E City falls under the L5M - Auto category which denotes passenger carrier auto rickshaws. This electric 3-wheeler has a driver plus 3 passengers seating capacity, which makes it suitable for transporting people in urban, semi-urban, and rural geographies effortlessly. It facilitates last-mile connectivity with sustainable mobility and zero emissions. 

Engineered with advanced lithium-ion battery technology, the Ape E City provides an electric mobility solution for a pollution-free future. Since the electric three-wheeler has no clutch and no gear, the model maintains zero noise and vibration during the ride. Piaggio, with this model, offers a 3-year free maintenance and warranty of 36 months or 1 lakh km.   

Exterior

The Piaggio Ape E City is crafted with attractive graphics to enhance its aesthetics. With a wheelbase of 1920 mm, it sports an overall length of 1370 mm, an overall length of 2700 mm, and an overall height of 1725 mm. It has a ground clearance of 200 mm to ensure smooth travel even in rugged terrain. 

Boasting robust body panels and a sturdy load body structure, this electric auto-rickshaw has 689 kg GVW (gross vehicle weight) and a kerb weight of 389 kg. Available in light blue body colours, it is designed with a soft top roof panel. Outfitted with 8-inch diameter wheels on 4-inch wide tyres, it provides road traction for acceleration, braking, and cornering.  

Interior

The Ape E City auto-rickshaw has a dual-tone interior with an ergonomic cabin and handle-bar-type steering. Inside the cabin, the electric auto also hosts a plethora of features to improve comfort and driver performance. Its cabin enables the operator to switch the vehicle on boost mode and hill-hold assist. 

It is engineered with several driver productivity-oriented features and vehicle performance enablers such as a full digital cluster, black cushioned seats with backrests, a mobile charging port, and maintenance-free electricals. These contribute to the vehicle’s popularity among operators in India.

Performance

The Ape E City from Piaggio is powered by a 48-volt lithium-ion battery with a 4.5 kWh battery capacity, producing 7.25 hp at 3500 rpm and 29 Nm. It is fitted with a swappable battery which has its own advantages including zero maintenance, no battery replacement cost, and an anti-theft GPS-enabled battery.

Its electric powertrain integrates a waterproof motor and automatic gearbox with a constant mesh 2-stage reduction system to improve transmission efficiency. The Ape E City features hydraulic telescopic shock absorbers at both front and rear ends. However, the front suspension comes with a helical compression spring and dampener and the rear suspension is equipped with rubber compression springs and a dampener to ensure a jerk-free journey. 

With the advanced lithium-ion swappable battery, the Ape E City auto delivers a certified range of 68 km per swap. It has a gradeability of 19 percent to enable it to travel over steeper gradients and hilly regions. The auto-rickshaw ensures the passengers' movement at a top speed of 45 kmph.  

Safety

The Ape E City from Piaggio is incorporated with hydraulically actuated drum brakes to apply effective braking force. Its blue vision headlights help to enhance the visibility on the road, especially at night driving. It has a wide windscreen with a heavy-duty wiper and perfectly positioned side mirrors to increase the rear view on the road. 

Verdict

The Ape E City from Piaggio is ideal for last-mile or short-distance transportation operations because of its ergonomic interior design, robust body, many performance-oriented features, and efficient powertrains. For operators looking to improve profitability and business operations, this is one of the great options available in the electric auto rickshaw market.