Wayel: From the energy self-sufficient factory to the first solar-powered moped

Wayel, a company of the Termal group, was founded in 2007 to interpret light and urban electric mobility. In 2008 the first product was presented: OneCity, an electric bike that completely broke with the models on the market: the first e-bike with a cardan transmission instead of the traditional chain and a small removable lithium battery. Designed and designed in Italy, assembled in China.

Today in 2013 a new totally green industrial experience is starting which is based on two pillars:
– Relocate the current production, now in Shanghai, of electric bikes and mopeds to Italy by establishing the innovative start-up FIVE (Fabbrica Italiana Veicoli Elettrici) and produce in the new energy self-sufficient industrial plant.
– Start production of Solingo, the first solar-powered moped developed in collaboration with Rinnova scrl, a research company owned by the University of Bologna.

FIVE – Italian electric vehicle factory. Some numbers.

FIVE acquires Wayel's experience and starts construction of the industrial plant in Bologna with a surface area of ​​7.100 mXNUMX. A ZEB (Zero Energy Building) and anti-seismic building, the first project capable of combining energy efficiency, industrial production and environmental sustainability.
FIVE will be an energetically pulsating building. The double photovoltaic system with thin film technology on the roof is capable of producing 257.000 kWh per year, sufficient energy not only to guarantee lighting and living comfort, but also for its own industrial production. A surplus of 17.000 kWh per year is even expected which, pending future uses, will be fed into the grid.
The objectives are to produce at a low energy rate, but at a high environmental rate. The factory will have a full production capacity of 35.000 electric vehicles per year, equal to 3,5% of the European market, and will guarantee work for a total of 39 people.

SOLINGO – The first solar powered moped

The sun will "illuminate" Solingo, the first electric moped capable of using solar energy as a power source. The photovoltaic panel installed on the rear top box provides energy for restarts and the constant recharging of the reserve battery to never remain "stranded".
Equipped with a very high autonomy (115 km in its maximum configuration), the product was created in collaboration with Rinnova scrl, a research company owned by the University of Bologna after three years of research and development. Solingo inaugurates the Cityrunner category, light and versatile electric vehicles for use in the city (maximum speed of 35 km/h), in line with the tendencies of the administrations to extend the 30 zones.
The economic advantages of Solingo are superlative: the "consumption" is less than 50 cents to travel 100 km, maintenance is reduced and there are numerous public incentives: from tax exemption to state contributions for vehicles with low overall emissions. Being a totally electric vehicle, it does not produce any harmful emissions for the environment and therefore enjoys benefits from local administrations such as access to restricted traffic zones closed to normal petrol vehicles.