BMW reveals electric scooter launch in Australia, with pricing and specs

BMW has announced it will launch the all-electric CE 04 scooter in Australia in 2022, revealing pricing, specifications and options of the production version of its 2020 concept of the same name.

Starting from $20,350, the CE 04 promises a great deal of grunt and power. Its 31kW motor set between the battery and rear wheel will deliver an equivalent 42 horsepower and instant torque for acceleration from 0 to 50km/hr in 2.7 seconds.

Using the same battery cells to be utilised in the BMW iX that will arrive in Australia in the coming months, the CE 04 “opens up a new chapter in two-wheel urban mobility” according to BMW.

While it is aimed at city riders, it also has a top speed of 120km/hr, and provides up to 130km driving range from its 8.9kWh battery before needing a recharge.

When requiring a charge, the air-cooled battery can be plugged into a standard powerpoint or wall charger at home or work, but can also be charged up at a public AC charging station – its possible the lack of liquid cooling has placed limits on the speed at which the battery can be charged, thus no DC fast charging capabilities.

With a top AC charge rate of 6.9kW on a 30 amp socket, the BMW CE 04 can recharge from 20% to 80% in about 40 minutes – but only for an additional $1,330. At home on a standard 10 amp socket will take 4 hours and 20 minutes from 0% to full.

On the rare occasion that the rider runs the battery completely flat, no fear – the CE 04 recovers power not only when braking, but also when being pushed.

The permanently excited, liquid-cooled electric motor, which was derived from the BMW hybrid car models, is fixed to the frame in the area between the battery and the rear wheel.

The final drive runs over a toothed belt. It is decelerated with a double disc brake system at the front and a single disc at the rear. The disks measure every 265 mm in diameter. The parking brake is automatically activated when the side stand is down.

A slip control on the rear wheel as well as traction control that is sensitive to banking, and cornering ABS, ensure driving safety. Drivers get three driving modes – Eco, Rain and Road as standard to adjust riding to conditions.

A 10.25-inch TFT color display with integrated map navigation and connectivity functions acts as the human-machine interface, while USB-C charging port and ventilated charging compartment ensures phones can be charged even when riding.

Other features include adaptive LED headlights, taillights and indicators, daytime riding lights, the helmet storage compartment behind a hinged door on the side under the 780 millimeter high seat.

At 231 kilograms, the CE 04 is in the big bike range, having a payload of 179 kilograms.

Constructed from tubular steel, the front wheel is guided by a telescopic fork with a 35 mm immersion tube diameter and 110 mm spring travel, while the rear wheel is guided by a single swing arm.

At the rear, suspension and damping are provided by a directly hinged, fully covered spring strut with a 92 mm stroke, which is placed on the left.

A 120/70 tire at the front and a 160/60 tire at the rear rotate on the 15-inch wheels. With a wheelbase of 1,675 mm, a steering head angle of 63.5 degrees and a caster of 120 mm, the BMW CE 04 has basic, motorcycle-like, geometric chassis data.

The BMW CE 04 at its base level comes in white with black accents, but for an additional $340 riders can choose the Avantgarde trim to get color Magellan gray metallic in combination with a black / orange bench, and a high windshield (that can be added for an additional $140 on the base level trim).