2022 BMW CE 04 First Look

BMW officially launched the production version of its CE 04, a futuristic-looking electric scooter that will arrive in U.S. showrooms in Q1 2022 with pricing starting at $11,795.

The 2022 BMW CE 04 isn’t the company’s first electric scooter (that honor belongs to the C Evolution), but it does herald a new chapter in the company’s electric strategy: starting with the CE 04, all BMW two-wheeled urban mobility vehicles will run on electricity.

We first saw the scooter in 2017 as the Concept Link and again last year as the Definition CE 04. Through these iterations, the general look of the CE 04 has remained fairly consistent. Its most defining feature is probably the low, lengthy body, with a 66-inch wheelbase and most of the scooter sandwiched in between the two 15-inch wheels.

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This form factor allowed BMW to position a long, flat battery module in the underbody, keeping its weight low to the ground. The design also allowed BMW to optimize heat dissipation for the 147.6-volt lithium-ion battery by adding a cooling plate with longitudinally-arranged cooling fins on the underside. The air cooling helps prevent the battery from getting too hot, which impacts battery life. At the same time, BMW didn’t want the battery to get too cool as excessively low temperatures could impact the cells’ internal resistance, which would reduce power.

BMW claims the battery has a capacity of 60.6 Ah (8.9 kWh), with a charge time from 0 to 100% of 4 hours 20 minutes with the supplied Level 1 charging cable, and 1 hour 40 minutes with an optional Level 2 charging cable. BMW also claims Level 2 charging will take the battery from 20 to 80% in 45 minutes.

The battery also regains some energy when the CE 04 is coasting. When the throttle is closed, kinetic energy is converted to electrical energy with the electric motor acting as a generator. The drag torque from this energy recuperation also creates an engine braking effect when rolling off the throttle, providing a similar feeling as you would get with a gas-guzzling scooter.

The CE 04 is equipped with a liquid-cooled permanent magnet motor that claims a maximum output of 42 hp at 900 rpm and 44 lb-ft. of torque at 1500 rpm. The motor is mounted behind the battery and ahead of the rear wheel, with the radiator positioned at the front. Torque is transmitted through a single-stage primary gearbox and secondary belt drive.

BMW claims the CE 04 has a maximum speed of 120 kph (75 mph), with a 0 to 50 kph (about 0 to 31 mph) time of 2.6 seconds. BMW also claims a full battery will provide a range of 80 miles.

The CE 04 also comes with a reverse drive activated by a switch on the left handlebar. Holding down the switch causes the scooter to move backward at a walking pace, which will help its claimed 509-pound weight maneuver in tight spaces.

The CE 04 offers three ride modes: ECO, Rain and Road. A fourth mode, Dynamic, is available as an ex-works option. ECO mode increases drag torque to optimize energy recuperation while limiting acceleration to help maximize range. Rain mode reduces drag torque to provide a smoother response for adverse road conditions. Road mode is the default setting with full acceleration and regular drag torque. The optional Dynamic mode offers full acceleration and additional drag torque.

The front wheel is equipped with twin 265 mm discs with fixed four-piston calipers. The rear wheel uses a single 265 mm disc with a single-piston floating caliper. All the brake lines are steel-wrapped, and a parking brake is automatically applied when the side stand is extended.

The CE 04 comes standard with a Bosch 9.3 two-channel ABS, and BMW offers a lean-sensitive ABS Pro upgrade as an optional add-on. Automatic Stability Control is standard, limiting engine torque to control rear wheel slip while also helping prevent the rear wheel from locking during energy recuperation. A lean sensitive Dynamic Traction Control system is available as part of a Premium Package.

A 35 mm telescopic fork offers 4.3-inches of travel up front. The rear wheel is mounted to a single-sided swingarm and suspended by a single strut offering 3.6 inches of travel. The CE 04 is fitted with a 120/70 R15 67H front tire and a 160/60 R15 56H rear tire.

The CE 04 is the latest BMW model to be equipped with the Bosch 10.25-inch TFT color display with a 1920×720 resolution. The wide screen allows for a split screen view, so you could have a navigation system and instrument cluster showing side-by-side. The navigation system requires a smartphone with the BMW Motorrad Connected App. The phone can be stored in a lockable storage compartment with a USB-C socket and a ventilation system for keeping the phone from overheating in the closed space.

Other features include full LED lighting (an adaptive headlight is optional), a storage compartment under the seat, and a 30.7-inch seat height.

For the U.S., the 2022 BMW CE 04 is available in Light White for $11,795, with the Magellan Grey Metallic Avantgarde Package color adding an additional $225. A $1,650 Premium Package adds an adaptive headlight, ABS Pro, the Dynamic ride mode, a Level 2 charging cable, a tire pressure monitor and a heated seat.

As we mentioned above, BMW says that all of its future urban mobility (i.e. scooters) models will be electric from here on. The “04” in “CE 04” suggests that other CE models are in the works, and indeed, BMW has filed a trademark in Germany for “CE 02”. This also means that the C400GT and C400X scooters will not be replaced by gas-powered models when they are eventually discontinued.