BMW Electric Scooter Brings 8 HP, 56

For $7599, an electric two-wheeler could be the right answer to metropolitan sprawl.

Have you ever circled the same few blocks hoping for a parking spot? Or wedged yourself into a parking spot only to discover it's not quite the same size as your car? And we've all thought 'I shouldn't have driven here' at least once or twice in our lives, right?

If these tales of city-based car ownership resonate with you, then listen up, as BMW is proposing a creative solution to our collective woes. It's not really a new solution either, but its packaging may convince young folks otherwise, BMW says.

Known as the 2024 BMW CE 02, the Bavarian company is essentially redesigning the scooter, the mobility tool throughout vast parts of Europe. But this time, BMW is going electric, all for the price of $7599. That's spendy for an internal-combustion scooter, to be sure, but BMW is promising high-tech innovation and banking on the rallying cry of no-tail-pipe emissions as well.

Powered by two 48v, 1.96-kWh lithium-ion batteries and propelled by an air-cooled, current-excited synchronous motor, the CE 02 makes 8 hp and 40 lb-ft of torque, in a whopping power delivery split. Given the battery-electric packaging and intended stoplight-to-stoplight use, this makes sense, though BMW claims a top speed of 59 mph and a range of 56 all-electric miles. Weighing in at 291 pounds, that 40 lb-ft of torque will be put to good use, surely.

Charging is done through a 0.9-kW external charger or an optional 1.5-kW charger. Using the standard 0.9-kW unit, BMW says it will take 5.5 hours to fully charge from 0%, whereas the 1.5-kW charger allows for a 100% charge time of 4 hours. If it were me, I would just stick with the slower charger, especially because no one is taking a road trip with the CE 02.

In order to get all this power to the 14-inch rear wheel, BMW has employed a double-belt system, with a main toothed belt delivering power to an intermediate shaft which then drives a secondary belt connected to the rear wheel. It sounds complicated, but BMW says this allows for the best center of gravity and handling characteristics. Paired with automatic stability control, a 29.5-inch seat height, and its torsionally rigid double-loop frame, the CE 02 is meant to handle rough roads and short, ham-fisted riders alike.

Slowing down all this weight is a set of disc brakes front and rear, with adjustable levers to boot. That's a feature typically reserved for more expensive touring or supersport motorcycles. But adding top-of-the-line features like a TFT dash to an urban mobility scooter aimed at young people seems to be the company's strategy for success here. By building a modern, aggressive-looking scooter with high-end features, BMW is hoping to shed the stigma around cheaply built, uncool mopeds.

"With the CE 02, we are striving for something new at BMW Motorrad and want to be pioneers once again. Thanks to its unusual proportions and striking graphics, the new CE 02 is an uncomplicated, youthful form of single-track mobility. The reduced design language stands for lightness and fun. The focus is not on utility, but on emotional appeal, riding pleasure, and uncomplicated, almost intuitive use," explained Edgar Heinrich, Head of BMW Motorrad Design.

BMW isn't the only brand to approach scooters in a new way. Late last year, Aprilia announced a small, all-electric supermoto, while Honda has revamped its own lineup of mini ICE motorcycles. Furthermore, scooter legends like Piaggio and Vespa are also in line for the electric market, meaning BMW has strong competition ahead. Will style and premium features be enough to keep BMW ahead? Time will tell, but we won't be surprised to see these sliding into San Francisco parking spots.

Would you consider commuting on an electric scooter? Why or why not? Please share your thoughts below.

A New York transplant hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Emmet White has a passion for anything that goes: cars, bicycles, planes, and motorcycles. After learning to ride at 17, Emmet worked in the motorcycle industry before joining Autoweek in 2022. The woes of alternate side parking have kept his fleet moderate, with a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI and a 2003 Honda Nighthawk 750 street parked in his South Brooklyn community.

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