He is converting his Peugeot 103 to electric: after two years, Thierry’s favorite project has turned into a headache.
A lover of motorcycles, Thierry decided to give his Peugeot 103 an electric second life—a model he has owned since he was 20. While this young retiree from Reims enjoys the thrilling rides on his bike, he has encountered numerous design issues after two years of use.
Thierry sold his retrofitted Peugeot 103 before he could send us photos, so the illustrations in this article come from a previous test conducted by Cleanrider on a Peugeot 103 equipped with a similar electric retrofit.
A youth love reimagined
Thierry has always been a loyal fan of motorized two-wheelers. For him, they represent absolute freedom: avoiding traffic jams, parking in an instant, and weaving through cars. “In the city, I can’t stand cars. Even in winter, I ride a moped!” he admits.
After riding Motobécanes and Solexes, his Peugeot 103 has been with him since his early teens and is still in good condition. Two years ago, he met someone who had modified their own bike. A connection was formed immediately, so Thierry tried it out… and adopted it right away. “Being able to discuss it with someone who had already done it was decisive, as I could ask them all the practical questions,” explains this sentimental man, who turned to Noil to transform his “Madeleine de Proust” into an electric moped.
A Controlled Risk
One might wonder why to upgrade one’s favorite motorcycle rather than buying a new electric model... “There are no electric motorcycles available; they’re only scooters. They’re heavier, wider, and harder to maneuver... And then there’s the nostalgic factor, of course,” replies Thierry.
It should be noted that his 40-year-old 103 is starting to give problems. The carburetor gets clogged regularly and repairs are expensive, and he’s tired of manually mixing oil and gasoline as required by his old two-stroke engine. “With an electric one, it’s as simple as charging your phone!”
Of course, Thierry also sees the switch to electric as an opportunity to save on fuel. “I used to pay almost 10 euros for a full tank of gasoline, while to cover the same distance on electric, I spend barely one euro,” he explains.
A simple and quick retrofit
Thanks to government subsidies still available in 2024 and a 20% discount on the motor offered by NOIL, Thierry only pays 300 euros for his retrofit, compared to 2,000 euros under normal circumstances.
“Clearly, I wouldn’t have done it if it were at full price,” he admits. The process, carried out by Énergie Cycles (a NOIL-approved garage 30 km from Reims), is quick: “I arrived with my gasoline scooter, and I left driving an electric one!” he summarizes humorously, although a week’s delay occurred due to a missing part, but nothing that would prevent the project from going through.
The First Exciting Sensations
From the first few kilometers, Thierry is impressed by the rapid acceleration of his electric Peugeot 103: “It goes from 0 to 45 km/h in just 5 seconds, compared to 15 seconds before the retrofit. It’s incredibly pleasant to accelerate at top speed every time I start driving!”
With a range of 40 km, which is more than enough for his daily city trips, Thierry doesn’t change his habits. “I use it to do grocery shopping or attend professional meetings within a 10 km radius without any problems, just like before.”
Thierry is full of praise for the strengths of his retrofitted Peugeot 103. Being cheaper to operate, easy to park and handle, clean, and quiet (although it requires much more caution since other drivers can’t hear it approaching), his electric scooter brings him immense joy while driving, especially during rapid acceleration.
Genuine mechanical challenges remain
On the other hand, Thierry quickly encountered limitations with his retrofitted scooter. The first problem was handling stability. “The battery is located on the rear luggage rack, so I had to raise the saddle, which raised the center of gravity. This isn’t great for maneuverability.”
This setup also affects daily comfort. “When I sit down, the seat presses on the battery. It not only wears out faster but is also less comfortable because it’s very rigid.” Added to this is a significantly higher weight compared to his original Peugeot 103. “Due to the battery’s weight, the electric scooter is much heavier. It takes strength in the arms to put it on the stand, which has already been damaged as well.”
But it’s mainly the premature wear of certain parts that ultimately ruins the experience. “Every month, something breaks. When I start quickly, the tire inner tube shifts, so I have to replace the tires and the chain regularly... It’s a real headache.”
Small problems that eventually strain both the budget and the time spent on maintenance. “The garage that handles it is 7 km away. And since it’s a retrofitted vehicle, it’s not designed to last without constant adjustments. So it takes me a lot of time and costs a fortune,” he notes.
What about tomorrow? A new adventure with an electric two-wheeler?
After some exciting rides but too many unexpected expenses, Thierry eventually sold his bike. “The costs are too high. I’m interested in a Barrolex, or maybe an electric NIU scooter for now.” He even tried an electric cargo bike, but… you have to pedal!
"I want something comfortable with good suspension, like the OneMile speed-bike for example," he plans. One thing is certain: Thierry will always keep a two-wheeler. "It’s a matter of freedom."