Electric vehicles already fight an uphill battle. They often cost more than their petrol-powered counterparts and rarely achieve the same range. Gas stations far exceed the number of charging stations and charge times far exceed fueling times. These factors place EVs at a marked disadvantage. That’s especially true for two-wheeled vehicles.
BMW is well aware of this fact. That’s why it hardly positions the CE 02, its latest C-series electric scooter, as the practical option. Skim the model’s web page and descriptors like creative, fun, and stylish jump out; not specs like range and battery voltage. That’s no mistake.
The German marque hopes the CE 02 customer is less concerned with those details. It also expects that customer to be young. That’s evident in the model’s futuristic form and cyberpunk graphics. BMW goes as far as rejecting conventional titles like e-scooter and e-motorbike, calling it an e-Parkourer instead.
On paper, on pavement
Photos alone will tell you that the CE 02 is compact. Its dimensions only drive that fact home. The wheelbase is a short 53.3 inches. The seat height is a low 29.5 inches. Its curb weight is 296 pounds (measured on the RevZilla West scales). Even its wheels are miniaturized at 14 inches, falling somewhere between a scooter and a mini-moto. That’s the kind of company the CE 02 keeps, with BMW listing Honda’s Grom, Vespa’s Primavera 150, and Kawasaki’s Z125 as the model’s main rivals.
Similar to its competition, the e-scoot handles best in close quarters. It picks through traffic like a mouse in a maze. That’s thanks in part to its narrowness and lightweight construction. With much of its weight centrally located (and no top-heavy fuel tank to bear), the zero-two is impeccably balanced. Steering is predictable and precise, the two attributes you want when negotiating the millimeters between your handlebar and a car’s side mirror.
The CE 02 is just as comparable in the power department. Many 125-class models top out around 55 to 60 mph. BMW claims a 59 mph top speed for the CE. That’s not giving it full credit, though. The speedometer often reads 63 mph before the 02 limits further acceleration; a laudable figure considering that BMW lists the air-cooled, current-excited synchronous motor at 8 horsepower (15 horsepower peak).
At a distance
The CE’s two 1.96 kWh lithium-ion batteries carry a total charge of 3.92 kWh, which theoretically nets a maximum range of 56 miles, per BMW. One factor that greatly influences the practical range is the selected ride mode. The base model comes standard with Flow (gentle acceleration and medium regenerative braking) and Surf (direct throttle response and no regen). The optional Flash mode, which is exclusive to the Highline package, pairs dynamic acceleration with aggressive regen.
While Flow is easily the most conservative and economical setting, Flash often yielded more mileage than Surf. I chalk that up to Flow and Flash’s regenerative braking. To me, riding an electric without using regen is like frying bacon without a shirt. High risk, low reward. Sure, regen only recovers an extra mile or two over the course of the trip, but that could be the difference between reaching or not reaching your destination. Or in the CE 02’s case, reaching your destination or calling a tow truck.
| 2024 BMW CE 02 | |
|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | $9,069 (as tested), $7,599 (base model) |
| Motor | Air-cooled excited synchronous |
| Transmission, final drive | Intermediate shaft, belt final drive |
| Claimed horsepower | 15 peak, 8 nominal |
| Claimed torque | 40.6 foot-pounds @ 0-1,000 rpm |
| Frame | Tubular steel, double-loop frame |
| Front suspension | 37 mm fork, non-adjustable; 4.6 inches of travel |
| Rear suspension | Spring/shock absorber; 4.6 inches of travel |
| Front brake | Single two-piston caliper, 9.4-inch (238.76 mm) disc with ABS |
| Rear brake | Single-piston caliper, 8.7-inch (220.98 mm) disc |
| Rake, trail | 24.5 degrees, 3.6 inches |
| Wheelbase | 53.3 inches |
| Seat height | 29.5 inches |
| Claimed range | 56 miles (city) |
| Claimed battery capacity | 3.92 kWh nominal |
| Claimed charge time | 3.83 hours @ 110-120 V (0%-80%) |
| Tires | 120/80-14 front, 150/70-14 rear |
| Measured weight | 296 pounds |
| Available | Now |
| Warranty | 36 months |
