The ME Scooter Drives out of Vespa’s Shadow

Few things are as identifiably Italian as the profile of a scooter. Though originating with Vespa, this profile has become such an icon that it’s hard to judge all the other manufacturers who have taken it to heart. But while many simply are trying to cash in on Vespa’s ingenuity, the team behind the ME Scooter has adapted the archetype to the 21^st century in a unique way.

It’s style is both recognizable and exceptional, a green emblem of a progressing Italian aesthetic rather than a nostalgic call back to a distant heyday.

The biggest change (and the driving factor in the ME Scooter’s design) has to be the inclusion of an electric motor, capable of a top speed of 45km/h (28mph) over a distance of 80km (50 miles) on a single charge. It’s Li-ion Samsung battery charges in around 5 hours, allowing for enough flexibility to meet almost any urban traveler’s quotidian needs. To allow the electric scooter to reach these benchmarks, the designers made weight reduction an imperative task; building the frame out of SMC (Sheet Molding Compound), which offers a range of advantages over heavier materials including being durable, corrosion resistant, and maintaining its shape despite changing weather. And while the scooter does recall the iconic profile of the Vespa, it makes it its own thanks to a more angular approach, with clearly defined geometry as opposed to the curves a typical scooter will have. The wheels and seat play a strong contrast with the frame thanks to a black and white color scheme, but the most exciting part of the design is that it’s fully customizable, with exposed screws on the frame to encourage riders to make it their own. It’s style is both recognizable and exceptional, a green emblem of a progressing Italian aesthetic rather than a nostalgic call back to a distant heyday.