This article was published on July 7, 2021

Feast your eyes upon BMW’s new electric scooter

It has a 130km range and comes in two different styles


Feast your eyes upon BMW’s new electric scooter Image by: BMW

Yes, folks, it’s here.

The long-awaited BMW CE 04 escooter has finally been unveiled, and, yes, it was worth the wait since 2017, when it was firstly showcased as the BMW Motorrad Concept Link. 

Today the company took the wraps off its new all-electric two-wheeler, which marks the German brand’s triumphal debut in the escooter market.

Modern design

Design-wise the BMW CE 04 does look sleek and future-oriented. In its standard version it comes in Light White color with matt black sections in the the front and side areas as well as the seat. 

The

The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!

In its Avantgarde Style variant it’s dressed in Magellan Grey metallic color with a black/orange seat, an orange wind deflector, and body graphics.

The BMW CE 40 is sleek.
Credit: BMW
The Avantgarde Style.

Powerful motor

The scooter’s motor a has maximum output of 31kW, which enables it to go from 0 to 50km/h in just 2.6 seconds. There’s also a reduced output version offering a 23kW drive power. As per BMW, both versions can reach a top speed of 120km/h on a single charge.

The motor has a maximum output of 31 kW.
Credit: BMW
The escooter features a liquid-cooled electric motor.

But speed shouldn’t be a problem, as the scooter is claimed to have a cutting-edge braking system, consisting of twin front disc brakes with a single rear disc brake and ABS. To control braking on bends through braking sensors, BMW offers ABS Pro as an extra. 

Charging time

The CE 04 runs on a 8.9 kWh capacity lithium-ion battery that can be juiced up from zero to 100% within 4 hours and 20 minutes, using the standard 2.3 kW charger. However, with the optional 6.9 kW fast charger, the time can be reduced to 1 hour and 20 minutes. 

BMW's scooter promises fast charging times.
Credit: BMW
A charge from 20% to 80% can be done in 45 minutes.

With this 8.9 kWh battery, you can expect the scooter to have a range of approximately 130km, which drops to 100km for the reduced output version.

Three plus one riding modes

“Eco,” “Rain,” and “Road” are the three standard modes that enable the riders to personalize their driving experience. There’s also the optional “Dynamic” mode that helps the scooter accelerate when it runs at a swifter pace.

The CE 04 looks powerful and beautiful.
Credit: BMW
BMW Motorrad’s first electric scooter also gets a traction control system.

Other tech specs

The escooter comes equipped with a 10.25-inch TFT color screen with integrated map navigation and smartphone connectivity.

It’s also all about LED technology, used for the head and rear lights as well as for the turn indicator lamps. What’s more, riders can choose the Adaptive Headlight Pro for better road illumination when cornering, or even special light functions such as “Welcome” and “Good Bye” – I guess, if one’s feeling playful. 

It enables navigation and connectivity.
Credit: BMW
The scooter’s10.25-inch TFT color screen.

Overall, the BMW CE 04 looks like a beautiful – and eco-friendly – beast, but we’ll have to wait some more before we get to know its price or the launch date. Don’t worry about it, we’ll keep you updated.


Do EVs excite your electrons? Do ebikes get your wheels spinning? Do self-driving cars get you all charged up? 

Then you need the weekly SHIFT newsletter in your life. Click here to sign up.

Get the TNW newsletter

Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.

Also tagged with