Gas prices might be low again but that's no reason not to conserve. Vespas are smaller, more efficient, cheaper to operate and look pretty darn nice. From the world of Vespas, here's one recreated from wood, the new greener Vespa, and revisiting the Recycled Vespa Lamp from 2007,
Vespas: The Lamp; From Wood; and Now More Green
Whether you consider it an icon for foreign films or as a green way to get around, there are plenty of greenies who love the Vespa. While I'm fortunate enough to be biking distance from work, if that ever changes a Vespa would be on my list of purchases.
Starting in 2001, all Vespas sold in America have come with a four-stroke engine (these burn much cleaner than the two-stroke engines used in many other engines around the world). The new 2009 Vespa S 50 has a max speed of 39 mph and a reported 70 to 80 mpg! Add that to the compact size (7 Vespas can fit neatly into one full-size car parking space) and you've got a little form of transportation.
The 2009 Vespa is even greener than before, having shed weight and improved mechanical efficiency.
Less green on the inside but potentially more on the outside, Carlos Alberto, a Portuguese woodworker has created a Vespa from wood. The mechanical parts are all original (and thus metal), but the exterior shell is beautifully crafted wood. See the individual parts and steps here.
And when your love for Vespas needs a place inside, here is a Lamp created from recycled Vespa parts from Lamponi's Lamps. This lamp was originally posted about back in 2007.
References:
Carols Alberto Carpintaria via MakeZine.
More information about the new 2009 Vespa.
Comments (4)
Top Tours
- Nancy's Mid-Century Swanky
- Katy and Tighe's Cozy Island Cottage
- Green Home Tour: Erica Tanov's Secondhand Beauty
- Matthew and Emma's Eco Environment
- Donna & Riley's Zero Energy Idea House
Top Posts
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
a question for vespa owners: do you ride them in the winter? in the snow?
view foodefafa's profile
When I lived in Oslo, I rode mine in the winter. If the streets were clear of ice that was all that mattered. Usually temps rose enough to melt the snow and ice and then fell below freezing so the streets were clear. It was just really really cold! I knew some people who switched to spiked tires. I didn't do that.
view wally's profile
I got one last summer, but i got a Stella (they're made in the same factory that used to make Vespa's in the 70s, so they're brand new but look more vintage than the new vespas... plus they're cheaper!).
I think they're absolutely great, and wanted to comment on how environmentally friendly they are. Even with the older 2-stroke engines they much better than cars. You will often hear that 2-strokes are big polluters which is true, to a degree. They don't have catalytic converters, which means that they release more pollution PER GALLON than a car. That being said, at 70-80 mpg vs a car's 20-30mpg, they release a lot LESS pollution PER MILE than cars, which in the end is the most important measure. You drive miles, not gallons.
As for riding in the winter, there are definitely people who do it (even here in chilly NYC). I think it depends on how much extra gear you're willing to invest in/put up with to keep warm out there in the cold.
view mh330's profile
I own a Vespa 150cc and live in SoCal and the answer is yes, I've been riding it all year long. I was in Europe recently, rainy, stormy weather and I saw women in skirts scooting all around town. $3-4 in gas fills up the tank. 60-70mpg is what i've been averaging. It's fantastic, instead of road rage, I look forward to my daily commute.
view foodiegirl's profile