The driver is Heret Frasthio, a businessman who is passionate about used cars and is currently the CEO of Elders - a pioneer company in Indonesia in the field of converting used Vespa to electric cars, according to AFP.
Old life in new breath
For Frasthio and many Vespa enthusiasts, this is not just a scooter, but a classic symbol of the times. With classic curves and unique sounds that once made a very unique "match", Vespa has become a part of memories, a lifestyle. However, now in the midst of a green transition, that symbol needs to be renewed - not by removing the old, but by breathing into it a new, cleaner, and more sustainable "electric heart".
We dont want to lose that classic value, were just breathing a new life into it, Frasthio shared. Vespa is still Vespa the only thing is that it leaves no trace of dust on the road.
This idea is not a temporary trend. It comes from the very urgent problems of Southeast Asian cities - where motorbikes account for the majority of traffic and are also one of the largest sources of emissions. According to statistics from the Vespa Indonesia Club, in 2022, there will be nearly 1 million old Vespas still circulating in this country. Instead of throwing it away, Elders company offers a "revivation" solution, replacing the gasoline engine with an electric motor, keeping the design, soul and history of the car.
After being renovated, the Vespas can run 60-120km per charge, and can be upgraded to 200km. Frasthio said that his company has sold more than 1,000 electric Vespas across Indonesia, attracting both long-time car enthusiasts and young people who seek a green lifestyle while still maintaining personality.
One of the customers of Elders company is Mr. Hendra, 56 years old. He said that he drove a Vespa when he was a student. Now, when he has the conditions, he wants to "revive that feeling" - but this time it is with a greener, cleaner version. I still hear the wind wind wind through my ears, still feel younger when riding Vespa it just means there is no more thunder and smell of gasoline, he laughed.
Elders offers electric conversion of old Vespas for $1,500 to $3,900 (VND38.8 to VND101 million) - significantly cheaper than an investigator Elettrica imported from Italy for around $12,000 (VND303 million), beyond the means of most Indonesians.
Choose nostalgic or modern
However, not everyone agrees with this trend. Mr. Muhammad Husni Budiman, a 39-year-old businessman, has loved ancient Vespas since he was young and collected cars from the 1960s and 1970s. In 2021, he founded a club in Jakarta, gathering ancient Vespa enthusiasts, with hundreds of members. Although he has also tried electric Vespas, budiman's club is mainly for those who love genuine cars.
For pure antique car enthusiasts, the unique sound of a Vespa. I dont want to lose that familiar sound. That is part of the memory, Mr. Muhammad shared.
Heret Frasthio fully understood that skepticism and did not argue: We do not force anyone to change. But if you love Vespa and the environment, this is a way to make the two of you harmonious.
Vespa's transformation in Indonesia is not just a technology story. It is a manifestation of a new trend of life - where people increasingly seek to connect the past and the future, instead of separating them.
The trend of renovating electric used cars is spreading to many countries, especially in Southeast Asian countries - where motorbikes are the main means of transportation, but the pressure to reduce emissions is increasing sharply. According to some experts, the electrification of vehicles in Asian urban areas is a key factor to improve air quality. And sometimes, it is the old cars - when properly renewed - that become the "companion" of a sustainable future.
Frasthio is not only a car innovator - he is also an inspiration. He was a fashion designer, then switched to electric vehicles with a very strong philosophy: "We do not teach about environmental protection. We just make a choice that everyone can find reasonable.
That choice is gradually convincing many people. Not only the nostalgic middle-aged people like Mr. Hendra, but also the modern young generation - those who want to live green but also want to be different.
The story of the Vespa in Indonesia is like a bridge: Between the nostalgia for dust and the dream of a clean air future, between an old city and new rhythms of life. Noisy, no flashy, the Vespas carrying electric hearts quietly run through the streets - like a symbol being written in the language of green technology and sustainability.
One day, you may not hear the sound of Vespa's explosive engine anymore.But you will still recognize it - through the design, through the feeling, and through the gentleness of a car that is trying to revive in a better way.
