BMW Gen 2 E-bike - the CE 04
By Ben Purvis
While most major bike manufacturers are still tentatively experimenting with electric prototypes, BMW has been in the business of selling viable battery-powered machines for the best part of a decade. This year will see it start to bring its second-generation models to the market.
The C-Evolution scooter might never have been a big seller for BMW, but it proved an invaluable learning tool as the company gets to grips with electric power. Allied to a growing range of electric cars, it helped put the Bavarian firm in the front line when it comes to getting battery bikes into the mainstream.
It was first shown in 2011, with prototypes pressed into action during the 2012 Olympics in London before the final production model went on sale in early 2014.
For 2021, the C-Evolution is gone from BMW's range though, but the void it leaves will soon be filled by the model seen in these design illustrations, the CE 04.
If it's familiar, that's because BMW has twice teased us with concepts leading up to this production bike. First there was the Concept Link, shown in 2017, which previewed the unconventional styling, along with the solid disc wheels and the flat, detached screen ahead of the smartphone-style instrument pack.
Then, in 2020, BMW showed the 'Definition CE 04' concept, a near-production evolution of the Concept Link that toned down elements of the styling, but not by much.
These new images, from BMW's own design patent, show that the production CE 04 will be almost indistinguishable from the Definition CE 04 concept. Changes are few but include mirrors, a longer rear mudguard that now incorporates a licence plate bracket, and rear indicator lights and front indictors and other detail changes.
What hasn't changed is the bike's construction. A large battery unit in an aluminium case makes up the central chassis section with the motor bolted on behind - driving the rear wheel via a reduction gearbox and a belt final drive.
Up front, there's a tubular steel steering head frame that bolts to the battery box and carries normal telescopic forks - under covers that also hide much of the front brakes. There is a solid disc rear wheel; the front is a spoke wheel that has been designed to give the impression of a matching solid.
In terms of performance and range, the CE 04 is likely to represent a step up from the C-Evolution, which was capable of 47 hp (35 kW) for short spells or 26 hp (19 kW) continuously and good for around 100 miles per charge in 'Long Range' form. Like the C Evolution, a detuned 15 hp (11 kW) version is also sure to be offered to cater to learner riders. Interesting features from the Definition CE 04 concept that carry over to production include under-seat storage that's accessible via hatches in the sides instead of lifting the seat.
The CE 04 is just the start for BMW's second-gen electric bike plans. The firm has also trademarked the name 'CE 02' - indicating that a smaller, cheaper model will follow. It's also working on making a production spin-off from the wild looking Vision DC Roadster electric motorcycle concept, shown in 2019. BMW has trademarked a range of names from 'DC 01' to 'DC 09', indicating that a number of different electric motorcycle models will be offered across a variety of performance and price points. Since the Vision DC Roadster appeared two years after the original Concept Link, it's likely that the first production 'DC' motorcycle will appear in around 2023.
Further away is BMW's next big step in electrification - the adoption of 'solid-state' batteries. The firm has joined forces with Ford and Volta Energy Technologies to add $130m of funding to Colorado-based technology company Solid Power, which is developing automotive-scale solid-state lithium batteries.
In a normal lithium-ion battery, there's a liquid electrolyte that allows the transfer of ions between the anode and cathode via a porous separator. In solid-state batteries, the electrolyte is replaced with a solid, and Solid Power's design uses a metallic lithium anode instead of the graphite used in most lithium-ion batteries.
It's a technology that significantly reduces the size of the cells, allowing greater power density - the Holy Grail for the EV battery industry. Solid-state cells are also more rugged than those with liquid electrolytes, reducing the chance of battery fires, and can theoretically be charged more quickly. There's still a lot of development to do, but BMW intends to make a demonstration vehicle using the cells by 2025, with mass production of the batteries to start before the end of the decade.
