BMW - best ever half-year
In the second quarter of 2021 (April - June inclusive) BMW delivered 65,018 motorcycles and scooters to customers worldwide, which was +55.1% over the COVID-hit year-ago period. For the first six months of this year, it delivered 107,610 motorcycles and scooters worldwide (+40.3%) - its best-ever sales result for a first half-year, building on the all-time highs seen in Q1.
CE 04, "the silent revolution - a new chapter in electrically powered urban two-wheel mobility".
The company said that "this success relies on a strong product offering with a wide range of different models, including no fewer than eight new models released onto the market in the first six months of this year".
CE 04 electric scooter
Simultaneous to its financial announcements, BMW followed up the July 1st news release about model revisions for 2022 (mostly new colours and updates to standard and optional equipment to existing models) with the much trailed final confirmation of its Gen 2 e-bike launch, the CE 04 electric scooter.
Billed as "the silent revolution: A new chapter in electrically powered urban two-wheel mobility", it is described as having a "futuristic design style" with a "low position" for the battery" for an "entirely new geometry - a complete departure from previous conventions".
Claiming that the CE 04 "doesn't just master acceleration, speed and bends but redefines them" it uses the same battery cells that power the BMWiX and the company says that "all future new BMW Motorrad models for urban mobility will be pure electric," according to BMW AG CEO Oliver Zipse.
BMW claims a maximum output of 31 kW (42 hp), 0 to 50 km/h in 2.6 seconds and 23 kW (31 hp) drive power "even in the reduced output L3e-A1 vehicle class". The maximum speed of both versions is 120 km/h, 60.6 Ah (8.9 kWh) battery cell capacity, for "a range of some 130 km (reduced output version: 100 km) from the liquid-cooled, permanent magnet electric motor that is mounted in the frame between the battery and the rear wheel".
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The lithium-ion battery is charged using the integrated charging device either at a regular household socket, a wallbox or a public charging station. When the battery is completely flat, charging time ideally lasts 4 hours and 20 minutes.
With the 6.9 kW output quick charger that is available as an optional extra, charging time is reduced to 1 hour and 40 minutes when the battery is completely flat (2.3 kW is the standard level); charging time is reduced to 45 minutes for an 80 percent charge into a battery with 20 percent residual power. Subject to market, a 2.3 kW charging capacity cable comes as standard; a Mode 3 charging cable is required for fast charging at the wallbox at home or at a public charging station.
As a first iteration, the CE 04 has an adequate level of electronics - creature comforts and driving aids such as the standard equipment ASC (Automatic Stability Control) for increased riding stability through slip control and optional Dynamic Traction Control (DTC).
There are three riding modes as standard ("ECO", "Rain" and "Road") with "Dynamic" as an option; directionally stable suspension with one-piece tubular steel main frame is said to deliver "smooth handling and a high level of ride comfort".
