You might know Piaggio from its scooters, including the iconic Vespa, but the company also makes small utility vehicles. The Piaggio Porter has been on sale for a few years with a combustion engine, but now, there’s also the all-electric Porter NPE. And it doesn’t compromise on capability… much.

The Piaggio Porter is popular for use on farms, for local distribution, and for public services such as communal Parks departments. Up until recently, the Porter NP6 offered a choice of two combustion engines: a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder, available in gasoline/LPG or gasoline/CNG.

Up to 255 km range

Now, the Porter is also available in a fully-electric version, called the NPE. It features a peak power of 150 kW (204 hp) and a continuous power of 60 kW (82 hp). That gives it a top speed of 90 kph, sufficient for most local journeys. A 42 kWh LFP battery provides up to 255 km of range according to the WLTP City cycle.

Payload of over a ton

Like the Porter NP6, the electric Porter NPE is available in two chassis lengths: 2,650 mm or 3,070 mm. The payload is nearly identical, however: 1,055 or 1,025 kg, respectively. That is quite a bit less than the NP6, which can carry up to 1,610 kilograms, but it’s still about as much as a full-size pick-up truck.

Charging takes around 4 hours at an 11 kW AC charging point, or less than 30 minutes to quick-charge from 20 to 70% capacity at a 50 kW DC charger. And customers can enjoy a quieter, vibration-free operation, lower maintenance costs, and pre-heating of the vehicle and battery while charging.

From around €46,000

The Piaggio Porter is distributed in Belgium by Beherman Group, which also distributes Farizon and Fuso Trucks. Prices start at around €46,000 excl. VAT, with an 8-year or 160,000-km warranty included.