BMW has actively engaged in a high-stakes game of innovation, venturing into uncharted territory with its latest electric two-wheeler designs, even if only a select few have successfully transitioned from concept to commercial reality on showroom floors. For the first time, we’re taking a closer look at a potential new BMW electric scooter that’s genuinely on track for production.
The scooter’s folding design is elegantly simple yet remarkably astute, yielding a platform that presents itself as effortlessly convenient and incredibly effective for urban mobility needs.
Compared to the corporation’s CE 04 and CE 02 electric scooters and motorcycles, this milder, standing-configuration e-scooter offers a more affordable and portable alternative.
Upon our initial glance, the patent drawings depict a distinctive large-wheeled design featuring a innovative progressive rear wheel folding mechanism. With a conventional handlebar stem folding mechanism, a secondary axle positioned ahead of the rear wheel enables the scooter’s wheel to retract into the body, resulting in a more compact, foldable configuration.
As the floorboard appears to lift upwards and slide out of the path, it creates an opening that allows the rear wheel to seamlessly rotate underneath and through the vehicle’s center.
The patent discloses specifications indicating that the motor’s energy output will likely not exceed 500W, with an upper limit of 1400W when at least 60% of the facility is dedicated to self-balancing functionality. However, the patent does not provide substantial details on this supposed self-balancing feature, leaving its potential implementation unclear.
While there’s no fixed pace defined in the patent, it does incorporate terminology referencing Germany’s standard speed limit of 20 km/h (12 mph) for scooters. While that’s an acceptable pace for a larger e-scooter industry, it’s likely that BMW will roll out faster iterations specifically for non-German markets.
While we lack concrete weight data, the manufacturer’s statement that the scooter weighs “no more than 55 kg” is somewhat reassuring, considering most users wouldn’t require a heavy 120-pound vehicle that barely surpasses jogging speed?
BMW’s latest endeavour in electric scooters marks a significant departure from their previous efforts, which were somewhat underwhelming.
The 2019 e-scooter collaboration between BMW and Micro was more of a joint venture with the latter, rather than a genuine BMW-developed scooter. As we explore the motorbike manufacturer’s capabilities, let’s see how they excel when fully invested in both design and engineering initiatives.
Will a BMW folding electric scooter ever leave its factory confines? Although BMW has successfully brought unconventional EV designs to market, we shouldn’t dismiss the possibility entirely.
