September 22, 2025
Why is there actually no electric Ape?
Why on earth is there actually no electric APE? A question that is certainly on the lips of many retro fans and APE lovers. Because yes, the Italian cult three-wheeler simply looks great and adds a touch of sunshine, summer and lightness to even the coldest winter day.
But it also rattles quite loudly and emits a stinking cloud of exhaust fumes. And that doesn't go down too well. Neither with local residents nor with market visitors or event organizers. Especially not when it comes to performances in exhibition halls. Unfortunately, this means that the APE has to stay outside. Too bad APE!
But has no one really tried to get an electric APE rolling? Yes, there have been one or two attempts. Who has tried what and what has come out of it? Let's take a closer look now.
1) The manufacturer - series production of the "APE E-City" for the Indian market
There's one thing you can no longer say about the APE manufacturer Piaggio since 2019: that it hasn't made ANY effort at all to electrify its cult vehicle. Because it has. But not in Europe. While the APE still only rattles around with a combustion engine in this country, an electric model of the retro bee, the "E-APE City", has been rolling off the production line in Baramati (India) for years. In series production.
So it works. At least in India.
Why is the manufacturer still hesitating to launch a similar model in Europe? Well, perhaps it's because Europeans are so fixated on cars and politicians have criminally neglected light vehicles.
In India, on the other hand, tricycles and scooters are among the most popular means of transportation. The Indian government is well aware of this and is providing generous subsidies to ensure that not only the well-heeled but also low-income earners can afford a small, climate-friendly electric vehicle.
So perhaps it is not ONLY due to a lack of enthusiasm on the part of the manufacturer that there is no European e-APE so far, but also to a lack of incentives from politicians and a lack of awareness of the climate power of small electric cars.
Who knows...
2) The start-up - Biliti Electric brings the GMW Taskmann to Europe
What works in India can also work in Europe. That's probably what the U.S. company Biliti Electric thought when it decided to bring the "GMW Taskmann" to Europe.
The e-tricycle is manufactured in India by contract manufacturer Gayam Motor Works and looks very similar to the Italian APE. The 2.70 meter long and 1.28 meter wide lightweight vehicle is primarily intended for couriers and parcel deliverers. It can carry up to 300 kilograms and has a range of up to 80 kilometers. If the battery is empty, it can either be recharged in 3.5 hours or replaced in a matter of minutes.
It remains to be seen whether the little cargo bike can build up a sufficiently large fan base in Europe. In any case, the subsidiary GMW Europe has already launched sales in the Portuguese capital Lisbon. If things go well, the Taskmann will also be produced in Portugal and launched on other European markets.
It is therefore quite possible that the little courier car will soon be coming to Germany.
3) The enthusiasts and hobbyists - electric conversions, restorations & superstructures for beautiful new APENs
Then there are the full-blooded APE fans who do everything they can to power up their Italo bee. Regardless of whether it's a cherished vintage model or a brand new APE that shines and sparkles all over.
In both cases, there are professionals who have set themselves the task of making the beloved retro vehicles electrically fit and visually afloat. While some take a more pragmatic approach to the APE and concentrate on equipping it with an electric drive, other providers go one step further.
They look after rust-ridden examples just as much as new APEs that have just arrived from Italy. They restore, refurbish, rebuild, paint and wrap them according to the customer's wishes, and if you want, you can even have an electric motor installed in your APE. For example, to make room for a cooling compressor. Something that many people seem to want since the popular APE Gelatini showed how it's done :)
4) ARI Motors - ARI 345 Retro, the simply different electric APE
Well, and then there's something completely new ... Something that has three wheels and creates a summer feeling and a buying mood wherever it appears.
So just in case you:
- think that 75 years of waiting is long enough
- and you would rather have a brand new sparkling car than a restored tinkered APE.
Then, and only then, THIS is for you: the new ARI 345 Retro with closed cabin!!!
The three-wheeled cargo moped looks just as chic and cute as a classic APE, but rides like a modern scooter and can be loaded like a real van.
And it's all 100% electric.
Hooray!
Finally, there is now an electric alternative to the Piaggio APE. And one that can be individually configured and customized. And from the factory!
You won't believe it until you see it with your own eyes?
