NEW PIAGGIO PORTER NPE: THE NEW ELECTRIC DRIVE VERSION OF PIAGGIO’S COMPACT, HIGH-PERFORMANCE ‘CITY TRUCK’ IS GREENER THAN EVER

5 November 2024 - Since it was first introduced in 2021, the new generation of the Piaggio Porter has stood out for its unique qualities as a compact, lightweight, high-performance, versatile and cost-effective (TCO) commercial vehicle. Designed to excel in short-haul freight transport, it has quickly become the ideal workmate for thousands of companies, proving itself capable of meeting a wide variety of professional requirements in urban settings.
This is all thanks to the extraordinary ability of the Piaggio Porter to maximise load capacity without sacrificing compactness and agility, qualities which are increasingly in demand in congested urban contexts, while maximising safety and comfort on board. Now, the electrically driven version, the Porter NPE makes its début, together with an evolution of the entire range which includes new and even more comfortable interior fittings and a wide range of electronic safety and driver assistance equipment.
Compact and comfortable, characterised by high performance and equipped with new ADAS content and complying with the new cybersecurity regulations, the Porter NPE confirms all the qualities that have made the Porter successful and teams them up with electric drive. The New Piaggio Porter NPE offers the perfect solution for companies who want to work in an environmentally friendly way, even in the most demanding areas.

Services to serve those at work. The performance of the new Porter NPE is perfectly consistent with its use profile, taken from the experience of the Porter range: the city truck, the only cab designed and built specifically for the urban mission, strengthens its position thanks to its electric engine. The heart of the new Porter NPE is the Electric Drive Unit (EDU), a single, compact system that integrates the electric powertrain, inverter and transmission components. This solution is designed to achieve high performance and maximum efficiency, minimising weight, space and number of components, also with optimisation of electrical and cooling circuits. The resulting system guarantees the Customer high, constant and prolonged performance.
The power level (peak of 150 kW and continuous of 60 kW) of the Porter NPE is combined with an equally brilliant torque figure (peak of 330 Nm and continuous of 128 Nm), a guarantee of operation at the highest level even on steep slopes, even with a standing start.

The electric propulsion system propels the Porter NPE up to a maximum speed limited to 90 km/h, perfectly in line with the mission of the new City E-Truck. Similarly, the range of up to 255 km (a value awaiting confirmation once the type-approval cycle has been completed) is what is required of a vehicle that wants to combine pure performance values with reduced dimensions, agility and ease of use.
This performance, combined with the robust chassis, allows loads of up to 1,055 kg to be handled with ease. The rear-wheel drive, which leads to a natural and improved mass balance and high performance even in uphill driving conditions, contributes to the dynamic qualities of the Porter NPE.

Thanks to the electronic control system of the electric engine and the optimisation of the energy recovery, sailing and creeping functions (which operate in slow driving conditions, without using the accelerator, at controlled speeds of up to 8 km/h,) driving is always smooth and fatigue and stress are reduced, even in congested traffic, when drivers have to make continuous stops and starts, or when parking and manoeuvring in tight spaces.
The traction system is powered by a 42 KWH, 350-volt LFP (Lithium-Iron-Phosphate) battery which is recharged during deceleration, recovering autonomy (e-coasting function active for decelerations down to a minimum speed of 15 km/h at less than 95% battery charge). It is a high-performance unit, with a long-life cycle, extremely efficient in relation to temperature variations (guaranteed for outside temperatures of between -20° and +50°) and very safe, thanks both to the high stability of the chemistry to temperature variations and to the protected housing between the frame spars. Electronic battery status management is a further guarantee of longevity and safety. The battery is guaranteed for 8 years or 160,000 kilometres (70% minimum remaining capacity).
The battery can be recharged in either standard (AC) or fast (DC) mode and guarantees a 20% - 70% charge in 4 hours or 30 minutes respectively.
From the on-board menu, the Recharge Scheduling system makes it easy to plan the start time of the Porter NPE at 100% SOC (State of Charge), with the possibility of setting the battery pre-heating function, in the case of low temperatures, so it is always ready to go.

Like all its brothers in the Porter family, the new NPE is designed, developed and built to be the best in short-haul freight transport. The design and technological solutions adopted consider the experience accumulated by Piaggio Commercial in over seventy years of history and experience in the service of light transport.
The Porter NPE is the highest expression of this technical expertise and represents the perfect solution to the most diverse professional needs that have to deal with limitations and difficulties imposed by congested urban environments governed by increasingly strict regulations.
The entire design of the Porter NPE is aimed at ensuring high standards of comfort and safety. In this respect, the active safety systems (ADAS) are second to none, just like the passive safety aspects, with compliance with the most up-to-date crash tests and protected battery placement. Porter NPE also meets the requirements of the most recent stringent regulations on cyber security and cyber-attacks.

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Porter NPE features the latest and most advanced safety systems, in line with European regulation GSR 661/2009/EC.

• Automatic Emergency Braking System (AEB). Using a front camera, this system can detect potential collisions, provides a frontal collision warning, automatically brakes to avoid the impact and, where necessary, reduces its severity. Automatic braking, which is applied by the ESC system, is preceded by an acoustic warning.
  The system has already been type-approved with the advanced function (required from 2026) which also allows the recognition of pedestrians or cyclists (from 8 km/h).
• Emergency Lane-Keeping System (ELKS). This important function can prevent unintentional lane changes and all the dangerous consequences associated with these. The system uses a front camera and relies on the capacity of the software to read road markings. The lane-keeping system features an acoustic alarm.
• Intelligent Speed Assistance System (ISA). This system automatically recognises speed limit signs and warns the driver when these limits are exceeded: an intelligent function that uses the front camera to prevent one of the most dangerous traffic offences.
• Driver Attention Warning System (DDAW). This system uses a camera which monitors the posture and facial movements of the drive, and can alert the driver to tiredness, possible fatigue or even drowsiness. It works with the ELKS system to prevent accidents.
• Parking Collision Warning (PCW). Using ultrasonic sensors installed on the rear bumper, this system can detect obstacles in the area around the vehicle, facilitating manoeuvres in tight spaces and while reversing.
• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Thanks to the system sensors, this function detects the pressure in each tyre. Possible anomalies attributable to incorrect tyre pressure are then signalled to the driver.
• Acoustic Pedestrian Warning System (AVAS). At low speeds a sound warns pedestrians and cyclists of the proximity of the moving vehicle.
• Mechanical Immobilizer (EPL). When P mode is selected, the system operates the mechanical transmission lock, preventing unintentional vehicle movement.
• Electronic Parking Brake (EPB). This represents a big step forwards in terms of safety as the brake is activated electrically at the touch of a button, and is therefore less prone to mechanical wear. The new system introduces a number of new features on the Porter such as Autoapply, (automatic application of the parking brake when the engine is switched off) and Driveaway (automatic deactivation of the brake when the accelerator is depressed).
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC). This is one of the most widely-used and important electronic driver assistance functions. It prevents skidding by stabilising the vehicle in the most diverse, and potentially dangerous, driving conditions. The system intervenes by exerting braking pressure on one or more wheels or by adjusting the torque delivered.
• Trailer Sway Mitigation (TSM). This system reduces the potential for excessive swaying of the trailer when braking, steering or due to crosswinds.
• Hydraulic Brake Assist (HBA). If the system detects that the pressure exerted on the brake pedal is not sufficient to avoid an impact, it independently generates maximum braking power.
• Traction Control (TCS). It detects a difference in speed between the drive wheels and applies braking force to the wheel rotating at higher speed, thereby guaranteeing vehicle traction even on roads with low grip.
• Active Roll-Over Prevention (ARP). The sensors alert the system if they detect an imminent roll-over situation. An automatic braking force, selectively applied to the wheels, brings the vehicle back to a stable condition.
• E-Call. An automatic call alerts roadside assistance in the event of an accident. This function is active throughout Europe.

Porter NPE, the ideal size. The Piaggio Porter NPE has been designed to maximise load capacity without sacrificing compactness and agility, qualities which are increasingly in demand in congested urban settings. The width of the comfortable cab is 1640 mm, this is at least 500 mm less than the average dimensions for light commercial vehicles. the use of a compact, semi-advanced cab also let us optimise spaces to the advantage of maximising cargo. All of this translates into a record size/cargo capacity ratio: In its most compact version, the Piaggio Porter NPE, like the entire Porter NP6 family, has a footprint of only 6.9 m², with a chassis load capacity of up to 1,055 kg.

Such high performance in terms of effective load capacity, which is at the top of its class, is possible thanks to an authentic truck configuration: the frame, made of high resistance boxsection steel spars, welded and integral with the cab structure, guarantees sturdiness and low weight. The MacPherson front suspension and the rigid axle rear with double leaf parabolic springs, allow a cargo capacity of 1,000 kg on the front axle and up to 1,700 kg on the rear axle.
Thanks to its rear wheel drive, the cargo weight produces grip on the drive wheels, ensuring outstanding road holding on any road surface conditions. Modern driver assistance functions also contribute to this, assisting the driver during manoeuvres and optimising vehicle performance by increasing active safety. Available in two versions with a short wheelbase of 2,650 mm and a long wheelbase of 3,070 mm, and with the strength of its chassis, the Porter NPE can be adapted to an extremely wide range of equipment and customisation options.

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On-board comfort. Porter NPE is packed with features that make life on board comfortable, enhancing the quality and functionality of the vehicle. The many features include the DAB/DAB+ touchscreen radio with Bluetooth, steering wheel controls, TFT and multi-language digital instrument panel, electrically heated and foldable rear view mirrors, electric windows, electric headlamp adjustment, fog lights, rain and twilight sensor and dual driver/passenger airbags.
We must not forget the Air Conditioning and Heater System which, because it is electrically powered, can be operated even when the engine is not running, making the Porter NPE system perfect for comfort even in cold conditions. The system is provided as standard.

The Porter NPE cab provides a safe and comfortable working environment, with an ergonomic driver's station designed to provide ample and immediate visibility, thereby facilitating driving and parking manoeuvres (e.g. rear proximity sensors, thanks to seats placed at the correct height and a compact steering wheel. In the driver's seat, the driver has the immediate feeling of having everything under control, with an intuitive and quick-reading instrument panel, the control cluster is easy to reach to the left of the steering wheel and the engine on/off button on the centre tunnel. At the centre of the dashboard there is the new centre console, which houses the radio and air conditioning controls. At the top there is a practical non-slip rubber compartment for a smartphone, with a USB charging socket. On the passenger side there is a spacious storage compartment, plus a practical glasses case on the headlamp.
Standard equipment includes driver and passenger airbags, the eCall automatic emergency call system and electrically foldable and adjustable rear view mirrors with demisting function and rear parking sensors.
Colours. Porter NPE is available in four colour schemes: Amber Orange, Marble White, Opal Blue and Jade Green.

PIAGGIO COMMERCIAL:
https://commercial.piaggio.com/en_EN/

The Piaggio Porter range is all new, even in its CombiFuel versions. Together with the new NPE electric version, the entire Porter NP6 range has been completely revamped. Three years after their launch, the CombiFuel versions also welcome the equipment and rich features of the electric model. The Porter NP6 is available in three different versions, depending on the capacity and autonomy guaranteed by the LPG or CNG system: Short Range, Short Range Optimus and Long Range, capable of both longer range and longer range. The engine is still a 1498 CC four-cylinder model, compliant with the Euro 6Ebis-FCM standards (in force until 2030). An ultra-modern, high-tech engine with a small displacement and reduced operating costs, but capable of remarkable performance with maximum power of 78 kW and maximum torque of 136 Nm at 4,500 rpm. These models, too, with their rich equipment, new interiors and multiple functions, present themselves to the market as work tools capable of guaranteeing superior comfort and ease of use in all urban environments.

The new Porter range, on all its models and versions, also represents a major evolution in terms of safety aspects, thanks to the adoption of a complete range of electronic vehicle control, driving and driver assistance equipment. This is an extremely comprehensive set of ADAS functions that make the new Porter complete for working safely and reliably, and add to the new equipment for an even higher level of comfort, and full compliance with GSR step 2 regulations (ADAS and cybersecurity), with advanced emergency braking (pedestrian and cyclist recognition) ahead of 2026.

PIAGGIO COMMERCIAL:
https://commercial.piaggio.com/en_EN/