Innovation, Research and Development
The Piaggio Group carries out its own research in 5 centres located in Italy, Spain, India and China; the centres employ over 700 technicians.  The organisation of the research function is underpinned by a recognition of the importance of synergy, flexibility and brand custodianship.

The pursuit of excellence in the Piaggio Group is based on anticipating client needs, creating products which are technically, stylistically and functionally innovative, and using research to achieve a better quality of life.  These are also the key elements in maintaining its leadership position in the market.

Research and Development at Piaggio is thus clearly focused in two main areas: the ongoing search to create better performing and more environmentally friendly engines, and the constant improvement of vehicle safety and functionality.

Our range of engines
Engine design and production involve a great deal of technology and require highly specialised resources. 

The Piaggio Group has at its disposal an engine research division which is unique in the whole of Europe and has the capacity to deal with an unparalleled breadth of petrol, diesel or natural gas driven engines for mopeds, scooters, motorcycles or light transport vehicles, ranging in size from 50cc to 1200cc, either 2 or 4 stroke with one or more cylinders, and with manual or automatic transmission systems.

Through a suite of unique and well defined brands, the Group’s product range satisfies the needs of a vast clientele.  Whilst the mono and dual cylinder range of scooter motors between 50cc and 850cc constitutes the common basis for this product category across the brands (Piaggio, Aprilia, Vespa, Gilera, Derby), motorbike engines are much more diversified, in line with the markedly different characters of the various brands.  Thus the typical monocylindrical Derbi engines, Motoguzzi’s twin cylinder tranverse engines with universal joints and Aprilia’s high performance longitudinal 60 or 90 degree V.

Engine Research
Engine research is principally focused on the quest for high performance and also on respect for the environment.  High performance means meeting the requirements of an ever more demanding clientele: low consumption, low maintenance costs, reduced engine noise, improved driving pleasure, clockwork functioning and reliability.  Care for the environment obviously means ensuring conformity to the ever more stringent laws governing gas emissions, but there is more to it: new fuel systems, alternative fuels and innovative engines are the areas in which Piaggio engine research is focused as it seeks solutions for the future.

Topics of research thus include improving engine efficiency, reducing internal friction, optimising internal fluid dynamics, introducing direct (Purejet) and indirect (Master and Quasar) electronic injection systems, and exhaust systems with 3 way catalytic converters and Lambda probes.

Other fuels under research include GPL, methane and diesel injection.

The future today
Piaggio Engine Research is focused on an ambitious medium term project: the hybrid HyS (Hybrid Scooter).  A Hybrid HyS is a twin engined vehicle which combines the advantages of petrol engines with those of electric engines. 

It is common knowledge that whilst internal combustion engines have elevated levels of endurance and power in a cruising situation, their acceleration capacity from a standstill is unimpressive.  On the other hand, the Achilles Heel of the emission-free electric engines is the short duration of their battery charge.  Although they are not particularly fast on the open road, they develop maximum torque from standstill without any lag and without clutch and gears.

Hence the HyS: a vehicle with two hearts which accelerates combining the power of both engines, thermal and electric, and is able to attain the same velocity on the open road as a standard petrol engine. It has no emissions in limited traffic areas where it functions as an electric, and it has the added advantage of being able to recharge its batteries while in motion.

Vehicle innovation and safety
As regards vehicles, the Group’s R&D activities mainly revolve around proposing new solutions which improve clients’ quality of life.  As with engines, the product range is very wide, from mopeds to light delivery vehicles, from small-engined motor cycles to super sports versions and racing vehicles, and both on and off road bikes as well as little scooters and touring bikes.

Two-wheel vehicles are the answer to mobility for the European citizen and contribute to traffic decongestion while guaranteeing an adequate level of safety and comfort.  As such Piaggio is strongly committed to ongoing improvement of safety systems (braking systems, suspension, electronic control of vehicle dynamics) and to the search for new architectural solutions by means of aerodynamic and ergonomic analysis.

Piaggio R&D has recently proposed completely innovative formulas such as the revolutionary undulating Three-wheel vehicles which constitute a milestone for increased active safety in urban mobility.

The presence in the group of brands such as Aprilia, Derbi and Moto Guzzi guarantees the commitment of Piaggio R&D not only in the high performance sector where our products are at the cutting edge of technology, but as regards the traditional vehicles which evoke a strong emotional response.

The future tomorrow
Piaggio is actively researching in high tech fields such as the design and development of vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cells; this technology promises the most for “Zero Emission” with a high level of autonomy.  Piaggio has participated successfully in various projects in this area and has produced Europe’s first fully functional scooter using the X9 model; the search continues………

Optimising the production process
In an ever more competitive environment, optimising costs and time-to-market is an important strategy for maintaining and increasing leadership in the market for 2 wheel vehicles.  Group R&D departments avail themselves of structures capable of ensuring continuous improvement in the product development process through simultaneous engineering: 200 CAD and CAE seats for 3D modelling of vehicle components and assemblies, and for structural, fluid dynamic and multibody analysis, all of which allow the identification of potential problems and their solutions in the early phases of the process.  In addition there are mechanical, electrical and technical laboratories, echo chambers for acoustic tests and test benches for engines and finished vehicles.

R&D: External collaboration
Piaggio has ties with an international network of the world’s most advanced academic and private research centres and laboratories.  Through consultation as well as sponsored research projects and doctoral theses, cooperation is particularly strong between the company and the University research centres at Pisa, Florence, Perugia, Bologna and Graz, as well as the Milan Polytech and Fiat.