Piaggio Porter: New Mini-Truck with Only CNG or LPG Drive

The Italian commercial vehicle manufacturer Piaggio Commercial has now introduced the new micro-truck Porter NP6, which is available with either a combined petrol-LPG or CNG drive system and in two range versions. The bi-fuel 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine with 78 kW and 136 Nm of torque delivers 75 kW and 132 Nm in LPG mode, and 68 kW and 118 Nm in CNG mode. The vehicle always starts in petrol mode but switches completely to gas operation once the engine is warm. Manual switching is also possible. The high-pressure tanks are mounted under the longitudinal steel frame chassis in such a way that they do not impair the vehicle's buildability, according to the manufacturer. Additionally, two gear ratios are available for the double-leaf-spring rear drive axle.

The company now relies on a short-nose concept. Despite a 25-centimeter wider cabin, the chassis remains only 1.64 meters wide. With a total weight of 2.8 tons, the Porter achieves a chassis payload of 1,600 kilograms with twin tires and 1,275 kilograms with single tires, one-third more than its predecessor. The axle loads are also generous, with 1,000 kilograms on the McPherson front axle and 2,020 kilograms on the rear solid axle. Braking is controlled by ESP as standard.

The vehicle, which is conducive to various builds and starts at 4.21 meters in length, allows up to 60 percent of the area to be used for cargo in two different wheelbases and is rear-wheel driven. The long-range variant features higher payload capacity thanks to twin tires, while the lighter version with single rear tires is primarily designed for shorter distances in the city. Furthermore, the vehicle can be equipped with two power take-offs on the engine and transmission, making it suitable as a carrier for tools. Chassis, pick-up, or tipper versions are available from the factory. Whether the manufacturer will follow up the NP6 with an electric variant like the smaller Van Porter remains uncertain after the initial presentation.

What does this mean?

The original Porter was very old and derived from the 1980s Daihatsu Hijet. Therefore, a refresh was much needed - but why the Italians are still working with gasoline engines instead of electric models remains a mystery. Especially in the last-mile segment that the Porter serves.