The latest company to join in with the electrification of classic scooters is Estoica Motor. They’re a Spanish start-up business with a novel reverse-engineered approach.
Luis Miguel Sánchez is the man behind the concept. He’s an engineer with a master’s degree in design. As a Vespa rider from Seville, he’s been watching two-stroke scooters being banished from many cities in Spain (more info on affected cities further down the article), so he decided to do something about it.
The project took Luis five years and started with him 3D scanning a Vespa PX, including the engine. This year, his creation is ready for a soft launch to market with 14 complete scooters being built to order.
CNC engine replacement
Some electric scooter conversions use a specially built cradle or swinging arm to replace the original engine (like the Retrospective Scooters kits we’ve featured in the past). The Estoica solution is to machine a new engine casing from aluminium, using the familiar PX layout and style, albeit modified to house the motor and its gubbins. It’s a clever solution because it means many PX parts will fit and the geometry of the scooter isn’t affected. Things like the rear shock can be upgraded with off-the-shelf replacements, brake shoes are readily available etc.
If you look at the casing from the rear, you’d not be able to tell the difference from a Piaggio unit, except for the ‘Estoica’ logo machined into it. Even the cooler for the motor has been cleverly designed to mimic the style of a standard exhaust. The biggest instant giveaway is the remodelled flywheel and cowling and the lack of a kickstart.
Interchangable
Many of the exterior engine parts are Piaggio-derived as well (selector box cover, hub back plate, hub for instance), which makes replacement easier and keeps the scooter looking like a PX should. Wheels are also PX and a spare can be used unless you opt for a second battery. If so it replaces the spare wheel. The standard battery sits under the seat. Weight distribution is said to be very similar to a PX.
Those standard PX items are not the only thing that a ‘true’ scooter fan will appreciate, this one also uses gears in the traditional way. It’s not the first electric conversion we’ve seen with gears though. Remember the ‘Crank-E we featured with Stoffi a while back? His smallframe Vespa conversion uses the bottom half of the original engine and is still geared, as is Pinasco’s Eureka. Even British scooter racer and SLUK rookie, Ben Readings built a geared electric Lambretta as part of his uni course. Ben even did a few laps on his creation during the practice session of a scooter endurance meeting in Teesside.
Three-speed manual
The Estoica version runs a three-speed manual gearbox in a similar layout to the four-speed Vespa PX. Although internally, all parts are specific to this model and are patented to avoid people copying the design. There’s also an option to have an auto seamless transmission instead if that’s what the owner prefers.
The motor
Hiding behind the flywheel cowling is a 5,000w motor (125cc equivalent, nominal 13.4hp), the motor and controller are air-cooled using the dummy exhaust. The scooter also comes with a choice of three power modes.
Under the seat, a 3240W battery replaces the fuel tank. It gives a claimed range of 60-80km and can be recharged in four hours using a 3-pin plug and the supplied charger (the charger is small enough to fit in a handbag or the glovebox).
Estoica Motor are launching the conversion with a limited run of 14 complete scooters, painted in the customer’s own colour choice. They’ll also be offering the conversion as a kit for home, or approved shop builders. All parts are removable and nothing needs to be permanently altered on the donor scooter.
Prices?
As with any vehicle where batteries are used as the replacement fuel source, it won’t come cheap. Especially when you factor in the cost of the donor PX. Interested parties can contact Estoica directly for a rundown on pricing and options by emailing them at: info@estoicaengineering.com you can also visit their website here.
Spanish cities with restrictions on 2-stroke usage
Spain is the most restrictive country in Europe when it comes to clean air zones, with some cities banning older ‘polluting’ vehicles, including two strokes. It’s worth checking the Urban Access Regulations website for up-to-date advice if you’re planning to ride through Spain. Currently, 158 cities are required to have a Low Emission Zone.
Here’s some of the Spanish cities with a stringent Low Emission Zone as of January 2025:
- Madrid: Madrid has one of the strictest low-emission zone policies in Spain. The Madrid Central zone prohibits the entry of vehicles that don’t meet Euro 3 standards or higher, which effectively bans most 2-stroke motorcycles.
- Barcelona: Similarly, Barcelona has a low-emission zone (the Zona de Bajas Emisiones – ZBE) where older, more polluting vehicles, including many 2-stroke motorcycles, are not allowed.
- Valencia: Valencia has also implemented restrictions for older vehicles with high emissions, including 2-stroke motorcycles, especially in its city center.
- Seville: Seville is another city with emission restrictions, where 2-stroke vehicles may face limited access to the central zones.
- Bilbao: Bilbao has introduced measures that restrict older vehicles, and while there may be some leniency for motorcycles, many 2-strokes are not permitted to enter the most restricted zones.
Other Cities:
- Malaga, Granada, and Zaragoza are also working on, or have already established similar policies, making it harder for older vehicles like 2-strokes to access central areas.
General Trend:
The trend across Spain is moving towards stricter emission controls, so more cities are likely to adopt low-emission zones in the future, affecting 2-stroke motorcycles. It’s estimated that many cities across Spain will have complete bans, or restrictions on older, more polluting vehicles in the coming years as part of the EU’s commitment to reducing pollution.
