Velocifero Tennis-E: A Scooter That Thinks It's Retro, But It's Shockingly Electric
I've been around the automotive block more times than a GPS with commitment issues. From roaring engines to the subtle hum of electric motors, I thought I've seen it all. Clearly I was wrong. Say hello to the Velocifero Tennis-E, a contraption that's part-time throwback, full-time electric.
This Italian two-wheeler takes the word 'retro' seriously, like it’s auditioning for a role in a vintage movie. The Tennis-E, born from the loins of Italian designer Alessandro Tartarini, looks like something your grandfather would ride if he had a sudden urge to save the planet quietly. It's an electric scooter, so yes, it saves the planet - just don't expect it to shout about it.
Hang on a minute… An electric scooter from a company named Velocifero? What's next, a slow cheetah? But hey, let's not judge a scooter by its name. It might surprise us, or not.
Picture this: A minimalist exterior, a body-colored front apron, and wheel covers that look like they've just stepped out of a time machine set to the '60s. Retro is the name of the game here. But fear not, modern folks, there are nods to the present – a dual-optic headlight and full-LED DRLs. Safety first, even if you're cruising with the ghosts of scooters past.
Under the hood - or rather, under the seat - we find a permanent magnet motor with the charm of a silent library. Three kilowatts of nominal output, five kilowatts at its peak (roughly 6.7 horsepower), giving it the oomph of a 125cc gas-powered scooter. But here's the secret - 175 Nm (129.5 pound-feet) of torque. It’s like giving grandma a shot of espresso. The Tennis-E offers ride modes, including Eco, Comfort, and Sport. Sport mode on a retro scooter? I'm intrigued.
How about the batteries? Two removable lithium-ion packs, each weighing in at 10 kilograms (about the weight of your Aunt Ethel's casserole dish). Charge time? Four hours. Range? 80 kilometers (50 miles) on both packs. You can choose to go lightweight on shorter trips and run just one battery. It's like the 'choose your adventure' of electric scooters.
As for speed, hold onto your fedora – 85 kilometers per hour (53 miles per hour). It won't break any land-speed records, but hey, it's quicker than your neighbor's lawnmower.
And now, the million-dollar question: when and how much? Well, the Italian stallions at Velocifero are keeping their cards close to their leather-clad chests. Expected to hit European streets in March 2024, the Tennis-E's price tag remains shrouded in mystery, like a magician's final trick. Abracadabra, anyone?
The Velocifero Tennis-E is like the James Bond of scooters – suave, stylish, and maybe hiding a few surprises. It embraces its retro charm while giving a cheeky nod to the electric future. So, if you fancy a trip down memory lane with a side of green consciousness, keep an eye out for the Tennis-E. Who knows, it might just be the scooter that makes electric feel, dare I say it, groovy.
