When it comes to electric mobility, the focus is often on environmental or technological aspects. However, one of the most concrete factors that influence the daily choices of users concerns the real cost of using means of transport.

The case of the Ciao Piaggio, one of the most popular mopeds in the history of Italian mobility, offers an interesting opportunity for analysis. Today this vehicle can be used both in its original endothermic configuration and in the version transformed into an e-bike through an electric retrofit.

But how much does it really cost to use these two versions in the urban context?

To answer this question, we developed a comparative analysis based on verifiable technical data, considering an average urban cycle and a five-year period of use.

The reference mileage

According to official statistics published by ISTAT on the mileage of road vehicles in Italy, motorcycles and mopeds travel an average of about 2,300 kilometers per year.

Taking this value as a reference, the analysis considers a total distance of:

11,500 km over five years.

This is a realistic figure for the urban use of a light moped: short trips, home-work journeys and discontinuous use throughout the year.

The consumption of the endothermic Ciao

The Piaggio Ciao is historically known for its low fuel consumption. Technical sources indicate values between 32 and 45 km/l, depending on the conditions of use.

For this analysis, a prudential value of the following has been adopted:

40 km/l in real urban cycle

This means that to travel 100 km the engine requires approximately:

2.5 liters of gasoline

To this consumption must be added the oil necessary for the mixture at 2%, equal to approximately:

0.05 litres per 100 km

Considering an average petrol price of €1.85/litre and an average oil cost per mixture of €12/litre, the total energy cost of the endothermic version is approximately equal to:

€5.23 per 100 km.

The energy consumption of the Ciao transformed into an e-bike

In the case of the Ciao transformed into an e-bike, energy consumption depends directly on the range that can be obtained with a single charge.

Considering a battery capacity of about 720 Wh and a real urban range of about 30 km, the energy consumption is around:

2.4 kWh per 100 km

However, a conservative value has been adopted for the purposes of this analysis, assuming a range of 25 km per charging cycle.

In this scenario, energy consumption becomes:

2.88 kWh per 100 km

With an average cost of domestic electricity of €0.28/kWh, the cost of charging is approximately €0.28:

€0.81 per 100 km.

Battery life and autonomy

In real urban use, a battery can guarantee an average of about 30 km of travel per charging cycle, naturally varying according to the weight of the driver, the profile of the route and the driving style.

However, the conservative value of 25 km per cycle was used for this analysis to obtain a conservative estimate of energy consumption and overall battery life.

Considering an average life of between 800 and 1000 charging cycles, the theoretical battery mileage is between:

20,000 and 25,000 km

This value is significantly higher than the 11,500 km considered in the analysis period. For this reason, battery replacement was not included in the operating costs over the five years.

Management costs in the urban cycle

In addition to energy consumption, it is necessary to consider the main operating items that characterize the two versions of the vehicle.

In the case of the endothermic Ciao, in addition to fuel and mixed oil, some typical expenses of traditional mopeds come into play: insurance, property tax and ordinary mechanical maintenance.

The electric version, on the other hand, has a much simpler mechanical structure. The motor is integrated into the rear wheel hub and does not require external transmission systems, drastically reducing maintenance interventions.

The main cost items therefore become the consumption of electricity and the periodic replacement of the rear brake pads.

The economic comparison

Considering all expense items and an average mileage of 2,300 km per year, the overall operating cost of the two versions over the five-year period is significantly different.

The endothermic Ciao has an average annual cost of about 381 euros, which brings the total expense in the analysis period to about 1,905 euros.

In the case of the Ciao transformed into an e-bike, the annual operating costs are extremely low, equal to about 31 euros per year for electricity and minimal maintenance.

Over five years, the total operating cost of the electric version is therefore around 155 euros.

A significant difference

The comparison highlights a very significant economic difference.

In the period considered, the operating cost of the Ciao transformed into an e-bike is more than twelve times lower than the endothermic version.

This result is not only due to the different cost of energy, but above all to the greater mechanical simplicity of the electrical system, which drastically reduces the necessary maintenance.

A perspective for urban mobility

The analysis of operating costs shows that the electric retrofit of a historic vehicle such as the Ciao Piaggio is not only a technological or environmental choice, but also an economically efficient solution in the long term.

The possibility of extending the life of an existing vehicle, while reducing energy consumption and operating costs, opens up an interesting prospect for the future of urban micromobility.

In this sense, electric retrofitting is not just a technical operation, but a concrete form of innovation applied to sustainable mobility.

You may also be interested in our blog article:

Comparative Analysis of Environmental Impact: Ciao Piaggio Endothermic vs Ciao transformed into an E-Bike