Askoll

It all started in 2009...

It’s quite a stretch from acquariums to electric scooters, almost unimaginable, but it happened and – for a series of incredible coincidences – we’ve been part of it.

It didn’t happen over night though.

Askoll is today a group of 11 companies operating from the most strategic parts of the world, but in 1978, when it was founded by the visionary entrepreneur Elio Marioni, aquariums were their thing.

The turning point was Marioni’s idea of synchronous technology applied to electric motors. Synchronous technology introduction meant saving more than 50% of energy compared to conventional electric motors. With the same power smaller engines could be produced, initially for the aquarium industry and later for household appliances and heating.

Askoll quickly became a giant in the white goods components sector, with an enviable turnover and hundreds of employees. Position conquered and well consolidated, the owner, almost 70, instead of relaxing over years of stunning achievements, threw in the biggest challenge in the company history: entering the electric mobility sector by producing all in-house in Italy.

“At home we all have at least 4 or 5 engines designed, manufactured and sold by us. Since its foundation, Askoll has issued 850 industrial patents. Today we are ready to pour this knowledge into electric mobility.”

explained in an interview in 2014 Askoll president Elio Marioni.

+850

Industrial patents

At that time we were designing aquariums for them, our studio was just born and we had never designed a bike, let alone a scooter before.

‘Fortune favours the brave’ or ‘ignorance is bliss’.

Difficult to say what is more appropriate to describe our decision making process. Result was that we accepted the challenge facing immediately one of the steepest learning curves we can remember.

Designing a bike or a scooter is not for the faint-hearted. It requires knowledge, organization and time, a lot of time, because each single piece from the frame to the handle bar, from tires to lights is both a standalone design project and part of a complex object.

eB1, the electric bicycle – with its vintage lines and unusual look – has been designed to be recognisable and at the same time light, fun and easy to use. The 300 Wh battery is mounted on the front – weird but unique feature – becoming one with the frame. It can be easily detached and taken inside the house to charge.

Inspired by the models that wrote the history of scooters in Italy with its big wheels and democratic look, eS1 (the electric scooter) design revolves around the motor and the battery pack (positioned under the seat). Battery can be taken off and charged at home too.

The group invested to create an entire range of electric vehicles and we rushed to learn, design and deliver. It’s 2015 when eB1 and eS1, electric bicycle and scooter, got launched. Askoll maintained the promise: electric motor, traction unit and batteries were and are still produced in the Vicenza factories. It’s 2015 when eB1 and eS1, electric bicycle and scooter, got launched. Askoll maintained the promise: electric motor, traction unit and batteries were and are still produced in the Vicenza factories.

Now eS1, almost 10 years later, is the prime choice of electric mobility sharing companies around the world as well as organisations like Austrian Post.

we contributed to a more sustainable mobility

Ah, we might have forgotten to mention the biggest woah of all, we kept it for the gran finale: we humbly believe we contributed to a more sustainable mobility. On average, a car emits 120.6 g of CO2 per km. An Askoll scooter releases into the air only 7.2 g/km, when energy is generated from non-renewable sources. If energy is produced from renewable sources, there are zero emissions: 0 g/km. How good is that?

-180%

CO2 emission compared to a petrol car

A visionary man

It’s been thrilling for us to be part as designers of all this and witness how the intuition of a visionary man changes, not only the course of a company history, but initiates a domino effect of related businesses that grow and flourish around his ideas and products.