Launched in summer 2021, the BMW CE 04 is one of the most radical electric scooters in the UK market, featuring a futuristic design, a high-performance powertrain, and an array of high-end connectivity and safety tech.
Recently, I got to check out the scooter in the Imperial Blue Metallic. This darker shade gives it a deeper, more understated appearance, and one that also blends more easily into city traffic.
Design & features
The BMW CE 04 looks like nothing else on the road with its long, low silhouette and clean, uninterrupted panels. A flat underfloor battery is central to the scooter’s architecture and gives the scooter an unusually stretched profile. The slim tail section, exposed mechanical elements on the left side, and solid rear wheel align with its futuristic appearance.
I noticed that BMW Motorrad has packaged several thoughtful design features into the platform. The side-hinged helmet compartment opens from a seated position, and a smaller front compartment provides quick access to items during short stops.
All-LED lights, a 10.25-inch TFT display with navigation and smartphone connectivity, and a ventilated smartphone compartment with a USB-C charging port are standard. Adaptive headlight, daytime running lights, heated handlebar grips, and a tyre pressure monitoring system are optional extras.
Specifications
The BMW CE 04 features a liquid-cooled permanent magnet synchronous motor mounted between the battery and the rear wheel. The PMSM produces 31 kW and 62 Nm of torque, enabling 0-50 km/h in 2.6 seconds and an electronically limited top speed of 120 km/h. The motor delivers strong low-speed response, and its single-stage gearbox and toothed-belt final drive keep operation quiet in urban use.
An 8.5 kWh battery powers the PMSM and delivers a WMTC range of 130 kilometres. Charging at 2.3 kW takes 4 hours and 20 minutes from empty to full, while the optional 6.9 kW fast charger reduces that to 1 hour and 40 minutes.
BMW Motorrad offers an L3e-A1 category configuration as well, with a PMSM developing 23 kW and 62 Nm of torque and a 6.2 kWh battery. The 0-50 km/h acceleration time increases to 2.7 seconds but the restricted top speed remains 120 km/h.
The smaller battery leads to a lower WMTC range of 100 kilometres. It can be fully charged in 3 hours and 20 minutes via the standard charger or 1 hour and 10 minutes via the fast charger.
Riding modes include ECO, Rain and Road, with Dynamic offered as an option. Each setting alters accelerator response and regeneration strength. Automatic recuperation during coasting removes the need for manual adjustment, and the system adapts behaviour to each mode. ASC is standard, with DTC offered as an upgrade.
The chassis uses a steel frame, a 35 mm telescopic fork and a single-sided swing arm with a directly mounted rear shock.
Tyres measure 120/70 R15 at the front and 160/60 R15 at the rear. Braking comes from twin 265 mm discs with four-piston callipers at the front and a single disc at the rear. ABS is standard, and ABS Pro is available for improved control when cornering. A tyre pressure monitoring system is also available.
Price
In the UK, BMW Motorrad updated the CE 04 this summer with new graphics, fresh colours, and additional options, including a taller windscreen. Following this revision, the company’s flagship electric two-wheeler retails at GBP 12,410.
Since 2014, I’ve worked as an international automotive editor, attending global motor shows, industry events, media drives, and tracking the latest developments across the sector, with a particular focus on electrified vehicles.
