Two years after the BMW Ce 04 was revealed as a production model, we’ve now seen the new electric BMW CE 02 launched as a smaller, lighter option particularly for younger riders. And it looks like little has changed since it was first revealed as a concept back in 2021.
You get a maximum power output of 15hp (11kw), and there’s also a 5hp (4kW) version limited to 45km/h which means it can be ridden by 16-year-olds, and sometimes even younger riders in some European countries. While the BMW press information claims it’s neither an electric scooter or motorcycle, but apparently an ‘eParkourer’, which presumably means you need to be jumping it across ledges and rooftops, the current UK law lets you ride a moped with a speed of up to 45km/h at 16 under the AM licence category, and a light motorcycle up to 11kW on an A1 licence at 17.
And aside from parkour marketing cobblers, the electric BMW CE 02 sounds pretty interesting, particularly for new riders or people which short urban commutes. It offers a low seat height of 750mm, with a weight of 119kg (4kW) or 132kg (11 kW), and a top speed of 95km/h with the higher power model, plus a range of more than 90km. In imperial, it means the 4kW will give a 16-year-old around 28mph, and a 17-year-old could reach approximately 59mph for around 60 miles before the batteries run flat. Which is probably enough to get to and from work or college. And there’s room for a pillion, as well.
It also looks quite cool with the wide tyres on cast light allow wheels, double-loop steel tube frame chassis, telescopic forks and a single-sided swingarm promising decent handling in town. And it comes with ABS on the front wheel, Automatic Stability Control (ASC) and Recuperative Stability Control (RSC).
The fact there are no gears to worry about will make it easier for novices to ride, and it even comes with a reverse assistant, along with LED headlights, and two riding modes for cruising in traffic (Flow mode), and a more dynamic option (Surf), with a third (Flash) available as part of the Highlgine optional extra equipment, which also lets you use the BMW Motorrad Connected app safely as an additional handlebar display in cradle mode.
Standard external charging is 0.9kW from a typical household plug socket, but the Highline package includes a quick charger with 1.5kW (also available an an individual accessory for the 11kW version).
So the new BMW CE 02 looks good and offers a practical experience for new or young riders. And there are lots of useful features. The one sticking point may be the price. The 2024 BMW CE 02 costs from £7450 for the AM 4kW version, and from £8,450 for the 11kW version. To put it into context, you can get a 50cc scooter from the big brands like Piaggio, Vespa and Peugeot for less than half that, and it’s about the same difference for an A1 category 125 from Honda, Aprilia or KTM. You could even pick up a larger 2023 BMW G 310R from £5,190.
Prices of electric motorcycles, scooters and ‘eParkourers’ will come down over time as the technology improves, and if you have the money and the desire to go all-electric, it definitely seems like a great choice. Personally, I’d struggle to justify it over a £3,849 Honda MSX125 Grom, and with a teenage son and the state of UK traffic, even as an ardent motorcyclist, I’d be wary about sending him out on any 30mph moped-speed two-wheeler.
But as an adult rider, the CE 02 and CE 04 can make sense as a finance option, with the monthly costs offset by potential fuel savings and the environmental benefits. Riding into central London from the outskirts on a CE 02 would be more fun and flexible than public transport, cheaper than the CE 04, and 60mph is plenty for urban speed limits. That’s who I can see potentially investing in the CE 02.
Keep up with all the latest BMW motorcycle news, including bikes, events and more, here. And secondhand electric scooters are starting to appear for sale, so if you’re in the market, it’s worth checking places like eBay.
Leave a Reply