Car companies aren’t the only ones embracing electrification—motorcycle brands are, too. Harley-Davidson now has an electric sub-brand, and Triumph’s experimenting with an electric bike of its own. However, motorcycles aren’t the only two-wheeled EV option. Electric scooters—as in Vespa-style, not the flat-board Bird-style ones—are an increasingly popular option for urban transportation. And now, another one has hit the market: the 2022 BMW CE 04.

The 2022 BMW CE 04 is the company’s newest electric scooter

Although the 2022 BMW CE 04 is new, it’s not the German company’s first electric scooter. In 2014, BMW launched the C Evolution, though it didn’t arrive in the US until 2018, Cycle World explains. The CE 04 is essentially the C Evolution’s successor.

Styling-wise, the 2022 BMW CE 04 is based on the 2020 Definition CE04 electric scooter concept. Underneath the sharply-angled bodywork is a rear-mounted electric motor connected to an 8.9-kWh battery pack. That pack uses the same kind of cells found in the upcoming BMW i4 and iX, Roadshow notes. And it gives the CE 04 an estimated range of 80 miles.

While likely more than sufficient for most urban commuters, that range actually puts the CE 04 behind its predecessor. The C Evolution claimed up to 99 miles with its 12.7-kWh pack, Autoweek says. And the earlier BMW electric scooter made 48 hp and 53 lb-ft of torque. In contrast, the 2022 BMW CE 04 makes 42 hp and 44 lb-ft of torque.

However, the CE 04 has several notable advantages over its predecessor. For one, it’s 97 pounds lighter than the C Evolution, despite being longer. Secondly, with the optional Level 2 charging cable, the CE 04 can fully recharge in 1 hour and 40 minutes. And if you just want to charge from 20%-80%, it only takes 45 minutes.

Plus, while some scooters are limited to the streets, the BMW CE 04 has a 75-mph top speed. So, it can theoretically hit the highway.

What else does it offer besides the styling?

The 2022 BMW CE 04 isn’t all charging speeds and Akira-esque styling, though. The electric scooter has ABS with regenerative braking, multiple riding modes, traction control, LED lighting, and a 10.25” TFT dash with navigation. There’s also a side-opening under-seat storage area that’s accessible even while you’re seated. Plus, the scooter has a waterproof, cooled compartment with a USB-C outlet to charge your phone. And while it’s a single-speed scooter—no need to shift—the CE 04’s electric motor can run backward to act as a reversing aid.

On top of that, the 2022 BMW CE 04 offers several notable optional extras. Buyers can give the electric scooter stability control, an adaptive headlight, and lean-sensitive ABS. These options also come as part of the Premium Package along with the Level 2 cable. The Premium Package also comes with a heated seat, tire-pressure monitoring, and an additional riding mode.

BMW CE 04 buyers will also be able to spec shorter-height and extended-length seats, RideApart reports. Also, luggage for additional storage space, graphics, and similar accessories.

How much is the 2022 BMW CE 04?

The 2022 BMW CE 04 is scheduled to arrive in dealers in Q1 2022. In base form, the electric scooter starts at $11,795. The ‘Avantgarde’ gray-and-orange color scheme costs $225 extra, while the Premium Package costs $1650.

$12K is quite a lot for a scooter, though the CE 04 is cheaper than the C Evolution, Cycle World notes. A highway-legal Vespa GTS Super 300, for example, starts at $7199. And Vespa’s fastest electric model starts at $7599. However, the electric Vespa can’t go on the highway and only has 62 miles of range.

Plus, not everyone wants a scooter that looks like a Vespa. In that regard, the CE 04’s styling might be one of its major selling points, Roadshow muses. And while it won’t appeal to everyone, it’s certainly more striking than a Bird scooter.

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