BMW has confirmed that its new electric motorcycle – the CE 04 – is coming to South Africa and will be available for purchase before the end of the year.
TopAuto recently had the chance to check out BMW’s two-wheeler in Munich, Germany, while attending a showcase of the automaker’s upcoming projects.
Practical commuting
Visually and functionally speaking, the CE 04 is something of a hybrid between a scooter and a motorbike.
Its general shape resembles a Vespa more than your typical Ducati, and this more practical commuter-style appearance is solidified by the addition of a storage compartment located underneath the driver’s seat.
This large storage space is the result of having a battery rather than a combustion engine, and is big enough to accommodate the user’s helmet as well as the bike’s charging cable.
Two smaller ventilated storage boxes are also located in the dash, one of which is equipped with a 12V USB charger for charging a phone, and it’s possible to have an additional load box added to the rear of the bike.
The third dash compartment then conceals the vehicle’s electric charging socket.
Meanwhile, a built-in 10.25-inch media display sits between the handlebars, which can be used to view the onboard navigation system, check your current speed, and monitor the health status of the motorcycle such as the remaining range and charge on the battery.
Additionally, a spokesperson for BMW explained that, with the associated CE helmet with its built-in speakers, bikers will be able to take hands-free calls after pairing their phones with the infotainment system.
Quiet performance
While the CE 04 may resemble a scooter in terms of practicality and appearance, its performance is certainly more in line with that of motorcycle.
The electric bike runs off a 8.9kWh battery which is hooked up to a 31kW motor transmitting power to the rear wheel.
The result is an initial sprint time from 0-50km/h in just 2.6 seconds, and its top speed has been electronically capped at 120km/h.
Charging the battery then takes about an hour to reach 100% using a 6.9kWh socket, which increases to just over four hours using a more common 2.3kWh home connection.
As far as range is concerned, the CE 04 is able to do 130km on a single charge, which is more than most smaller scooters but less than many motorcycles which can usually manage 200km or more depending on their tank size.
Of course, BMW’s electric bike isn’t designed for long-distance travel, instead it’s meant to be the company’s latest entry pushing for a clean and practical mode of transport in urban environments and, in this regard, the CE 04 feels great to use.
Its near-silent operation will prove to be a blessing to those who are tired of loud motorcycles tearing through the suburbs on a Sunday morning, though when you are the one driving it the electric motor does still create a noticeable amount of noise.
Taking it around the streets of Munich, the bike’s acceleration was impressive, courtesy of the instant torque electric vehicles are typically known for, but equally impressive was how smoothly it controlled.
BMW has added automatic stability control to the CE 04, which limits the engine torque in relation to the rear-wheel slip. Consequentially it’s rather easy to get consistently effortless take-offs from the bike.
Driving modes have also been added, with Road handling everyday driving scenarios, Eco conserving power and range, Rain improving grip in wet conditions, and Dynamic providing sportier acceleration.
All this combined meant it was easy to manoeuver between cars while taking the motorcycle on a short stint through the suburbs and main roads surrounding BMW’s Innovation Centre.
BMW South Africa has not yet revealed the local pricing for its new bike, but in the US it retails for $11,795 – roughly R197,000.
While it won’t be the cheapest two-wheeler on the market, you do get a lot of value for your money. The CE 04 brings practical storage, a nifty infotainment screen, performance that is nothing to scoff at, and a 130km range which should be more than sufficient for the majority of everyday users.
BMW CE04 electric scooter
Keyword: BMW CE 04 electric motorbike hands-on impressions