[KarthikK]

BMW CE 02 Review

BMW CE 02 Pros

• A simple, fun and quirky electric commuter with radical styling, great practicality and usability, targeted at urban dwellers looking for something different yet niche in the premium electric commuter space
• Solid build quality and top-notch fit and finish. Leagues ahead of similarly spec'd ICE vehicles
• Well engineered to be quite lightweight, nimble and agile at parking speeds and on the move
• Stellar dynamics and small turning radius make it flickable in traffic and squeeze into cramped parking lot gaps
• Fantastic motor with peppy acceleration for urban rideability coupled with excellent braking and a balanced suspension setup makes for a very enjoyable city riding experience
• Well-sorted rider ergonomics with flexible seating positions, allow for various riding postures, making it easy for shorter and taller riders alike.
• Surprisingly comfortable despite its deceptively compact proportions and bench-like seat
• Packed with features such as multiple riding and regen modes, built-in smartphone holder, USB-C charging port, reverse mode, keyless operation, heated grips, etc.

BMW CE 02 Cons

• No under-seat storage and no luggage space of any sort makes it lose out on practicality compared to other electric scooters in the market
• Bench-like flat single seat is next to useless for taking a pillion along even for short commutes unless both the rider and pillion are short and are built small
• Hefty price tag puts it out of reach of most aspirants in the commuter space
• Estimated real-world range of under 100 km is a tad disappointing. Heavy usage will need a fair bit of planning and frequent charging
• Minimalistic design layout of instrument console with tiny screen needs constant scrolling to display even essential information
• Cannot be charged at public charging stations. Battery isn't removable either
• Single-channel ABS in a premium product is a disappointment in today's day and age
• Soft suspension setup makes it unsuitable for riding at higher speeds

Introduction

Commuter two-wheelers are mostly meant to be doing routine stuff. They largely exist in similar shapes and sizes across manufacturers and segments. Seldom does one come across a commuter design that seeks to be an oddball, and seldom do they do something or look radically different from the plethora of commuter two-wheelers on sale in the market. This is where BMW Motorrad seeks to differentiate itself from the rest of the market with the BMW CE 02.

Designed to be an (electric) urban mobility workhorse that neither wants to identify as a scooter, nor as a motorcycle, this rather quirky looking industrial-design commuter can almost be passed off as a concept or prototype two-wheeler at first glance, and noticeably so. BMW Motorrad prefers to call it an E-Parkourer for the city, in reference to a sport which attempts to traverse between two places in the fastest and most efficient manner possible. The CE 02's name expands to 'Concept Electric' and the 02 refers to its performance levels being comparable to 200cc motorcycles/scooters in the internal combustion engine genre.

In 2022, BMW Motorrad launched the electric maxi scooter BMW CE 04 in global markets and in 2021, they had demo'ed the CE 02 as a concept vehicle which would exist as a junior offering to the bigger CE 04. In 2023, BMW displayed the final production version of the CE 02 in USA, with global sales slated to start in 2024. TVS Motor - BMW Motorrad's long-standing Indian partner, manufactures and exports the BMW CE 02 from India. After the 310 platform, this is the second jointly developed collaboration platform between TVS and BMW.

Powered by a twin battery pack rated at 4 kWh, the CE02's power output stands at a respectable 15 HP, and it puts out a more-than-adequate peak torque of 55 Nm, all available from a standstill thanks to the electric motor ready to propel the eParkourer through urban terrain via a belt drive system. BMW claims a 0-50 km/h time of 3 seconds and a claimed range of 108 km under test conditions, though in the real world the range would probably be around 85-90 km on a single charge.

The CE 02 comes in two variants - Standard and Highline. While there are some subtle visual differences between the two, the significant changes that the Highline trim adds (at an additional cost of course) are an additional 'Flash' riding mode, heated grips, a smartphone holder integrated into the handlebar, Bluetooth connectivity and a quick charger which brings charging time (20% to 80%) down from ~3 hours with the standard charger, to around 100 minutes (a shade more than 1.5 hours).

BMW CE 02 Pricing

The BMW CE 02 has been priced at Rs 4,49,900 (ex-showroom).

[KarthikK]

Design & Styling

The CE 02 is a very uniquely styled machine. To some, the design may come across as bizarre, and to some, it may look too basic and almost like an industrial prototype (for lack of better word). Yet, to a small number of enthusiasts, it may appeal as a product born out of a different design language, one that may appear oddball but cannot be ignored. Kudos to BMW for attempting to keep the final production model design almost the same as the bare-bones concept which was displayed some years ago.

At first glance, it can come across as an oversized BMX bike with a battery and a motor between the wheels instead of pedals. The flat skateboard-styled seat and bare-bones body stand out and are nothing like we have ever seen in this market. The tall and chunky handlebar makes the front end look a bit more substantial than it is, while the bench-like flat and narrow seat tapers off to complete the minimalist rear profile. The bold colour schemes and combinations ensure that this design will attract attention every time it is out on the roads (or in parking lots). The rear portion ends rather abruptly, with the seat ending before the extended-like wheelbase ends. The bare essentials such as the headlights, indicators and tail-lights are all there, making their presence felt because there is hardly any fairing or panel work to conceal them.

Build Quality, Fit & Finish

The BMW CE 02 is a well-put-together machine. The build quality is typically European, with a solid vault-like feel on all the metal bits. There is hardly anything to fault about the build quality, as well as the fit and finish levels of this scooter. The controls feel solid and built to last the distance, and the levers have a top-notch matte finish. The paint is neatly done on all the painted bits, which are themselves minimal in proportion to the entire body, thanks to the bare-bones style design.

The instrument console is of good quality, albeit tiny in size (more on that later) and the visibility in bright daylight is excellent too.

Features & Instrumentation

The minimalist design of this scooter carries over to the instrument console as well, and we are presented with this tiny, yet useful display putting out all the necessary information in this rectangular layout:


The left side controls feature a set of menu navigation buttons for operating the TFT console, along with chunky and nice-to-operate indicator and horn buttons. What is sorely missed and could have been added is a hazard lights switch:


On the right side, there are controls to lock/unlock the scooter and bring it to life and ready to move (remember this vehicle has keyless 'ignition', except that there is nothing to ignite here ), along with controls to activate heated grips, electric motor on/off switch and a mode button to switch between three riding modes - Flow, Surf and Flash:


Flow is the usual relaxed power delivery mode, Surf has a higher tune of power and allows coasting when the throttle is let go of. Flash also runs a higher tune of power, but regen is set to the maximum level and accentuates the 'engine braking' effect when the throttle is let go of.

Aside from the riding modes, the CE 02 in Highline trim gets Bluetooth connectivity, a dedicated smartphone holder at the center of the handlebar, and a USB-C charging slot built-in, making in-city navigation and charging seamless on the move.

Wheels & Tyres

BMW has equipped the CE 02 with scooter-like 14" wheels shod with Michelin City Grip tyres at the front and rear. The front gets premium 120/80 section rubber, while the rear is shod with 150/70 section tyres. Do note the presence of a single sided swingarm on the CE 02.

Ergonomics & Comfort

The ergonomics on the CE 02 can look a bit comical at first glance, especially for well-built or taller riders, but it is quite comfortable:


BMW says they have designed the ergonomics in a flexible manner, to be able to appeal to riders of any age group, gender or physical build. For instance, there are two sets of footpegs, one for the rider and one for the pillion. But for solo users, the rider can use the rear set (pillion) footpegs for a more sportsbike feel or the forward-set pegs to give a more upright and cruiser bike-like feel while commuting. The upper body is almost totally upright thanks to the easy reach of the handlebar and levers, and the seat height is an easy 749 mm - totally accessible (flat-footing is effortless too) even for teenagers and short riders. The weight of the entire scooter is a modest 142 kg, but one can hardly feel it once on the move.

Pillion Comfort

Pillions are rather unwelcome on this minimalistic scooter. The single, long bench seat does not have sufficient real estate for two full-sized adults unless they are both short and/or built light. For all practical purposes, the CE 02 should be considered a solo-use urban vehicle, and whatever is left of the seat space behind the rider may at best suffice to lug along a tiny piece of luggage, say a college backpack of a student, or an office-goer's laptop or lunch bag.

Battery Capacity, Charging & Range

The 4 kWh battery pack of the CE 02 is non-removable and cannot be charged at public charging stations because it comes with a regular power cable suitable for charging with household sockets only. This can effectively be a deal-breaker for folks who live in apartments where charging infrastructure is still undeveloped in the basement parking zones.

Speaking of range, one single charge can power the CE 02 for a claimed 108 km, but a more realistic number in real-world usage would be something close to 85-90 km in my observation. While the range number could have been better for a product commanding a premium price tag, there are two ways to look at this. One view would be that the range should have been better and this might dissuade customers from plonking their money on purchasing one of these. The contrarian view would be that a purely urban user would hardly ever be away from his home/workplace for long-range needs, and this range can easily suffice for 3-4 days of urban commuting, with fuss-free home charging when needed.

The Standard variant of the CE 02 comes with a regular charging cable that's claimed to be able to charge the battery pack from 20% to 80% in 2 hours and 48 minutes (slightly under 3 hours). The Highline variant gets a quick charger kit that is claimed to be able to charge the battery pack from 20% to 80 in 1 hour and 42 minutes (around 1.5 hours). The quick charger is supposed to be available as an optional OE accessory for the Standard variant owners.

Maintenance

At the time of writing this review prior to the official launch, we were not informed about the exact service interval schedule for the CE 02. I am given to understand that globally, the maintenance schedule for this vehicle is a visit to the service centre only once in two years, predominantly to take care of checks for the brakes, brake fluid replacements, drive belt condition inspection, etc.

Standard & Extended Warranty

BMW offers a 3-year and 50,000 km standard warranty on the CE 02 globally. We expect the same to be offered in India.

[KarthikK]

Riding the BMW CE 02

The CE 02 is powered by an electric motor putting out around 15 HP and 55 Nm. The torque, which is instantly available from the word go, can rival the torque of 400-500cc bikes if not more! This translates to effortless pulling power and acceleration bursts in urban confines, which in turn, makes city traffic-ridden commutes very enjoyable and something an office (or college) goer will actually look forward to instead of dreading (contrast this with an ICE bike user operating the clutch and gears, dealing with heat and fatigue).

Rapid acceleration bursts can be addictive, and darting in and out of gaps becomes enjoyable and almost second nature, plastering a smile on the face of the rider. 0-50 km/h comes up in 3 seconds flat. One can almost catch some bigger vehicle users by surprise with the pace that this tiny package can produce on city streets.

The turning radius is quite small and U-turns and tight turns are very easy. What also helps is that the scooter has a very narrow footprint. So it can squeeze into gaps almost like a small moped. This (good turning radius) also aids in manoeuvring into and out of tight parking spots, which are aplenty in our cities. The reverse mode involves holding a button down while accelerating with the throttle, accelerating upto a maximum speed (in reverse) of 3 km/h. This feature should help in getting the scooter out of any parking lots or inclines, making the weight feel insignificant at parking speeds.

As mentioned earlier, the CE 02 gets three power modes called Flow, Surf and Flash, with Flash being available only on the Highline variant. I quite liked the Surf mode which allows relaxed coasting and feels more natural (mimicking say a 200cc ICE bike), while the Flash mode employs aggressive and a rather intrusive level of regen to gain back any range lost due to the higher state of power delivery.

Refinement & NVH

The electric motor of the CE 02 is a rather silent and refined unit, going about its job diligently with the help of a belt drive. On aggressive acceleration, it lets out a whistle which turns into a subtle whine if you keep the throttle pinned for further acceleration, typical of electric scooters. There is nothing much to write in this regard.

Being an electric vehicle, there was no concept of vibrations at any specific rpm, etc. One observation, however, is that in the Flash (high regen) mode, some amount of vibrations were felt on the footpegs whenever regen kicked in, but these were also subtle and nothing alarming or worth calling out in a negative sense.

Suspension & Handling

The BMW CE 02 gets an upside-down fork suspension at the front, which is non-adjustable. The rear suspension has a single side shock absorber doing duty, which is adjustable for preload. The rear shock gets a black casing to protect it against the elements and look nice.

The suspension setup is tuned towards the softer side to soak in all the bumps and potholes that a typical urban commute would throw at you. Tiny undulations are dispatched with ease, while the bigger potholes and bumps are also gracefully absorbed and there is no crude feel of crashing into undulations or bottoming out even on bad patches of roads. While the suspension is set towards the softer side, the CE 02 is still able to confidently dart into and out of gaps. Sudden direction switches and lane changes do not upset the bike's composure.

Start gaining speed and the suspension starts to feel floaty, losing a bit of the feedback at the front, while the rear gets a bit bouncy as you attempt to hold higher speeds. This is clearly a sign that this vehicle was meant to operate at city speeds and was not designed to cruise or hold ship at high speeds on open roads.

The front and rear suspension setup on the CE 02:

Braking

This scooter is equipped with a 239 mm single disc brake with a 2-piston floating caliper at the front. The rear brake is a 220 mm single disc with a single piston floating caliper. The front brake is equipped with ABS, while the rear is not, making this a single-channel ABS setup. This is a tad disappointing because for a premium product, one definitely expects at least a dual-channel ABS setup.

That said, both front and rear brakes are outstanding. The bite is brilliant and the feedback is progressive and not wooden. There is no cost-cutting on the brake setup, with steel braided lines fitted stock on both the front and rear brakes. What bike riders have to get used to (if they buy this as a pure urban commuter) is the scooter-style rear brake lever on the left (replacing the clutch lever) instead of under the right foot. It is quite easy to get the rear brake to lock up the rear wheel. With the instantaneous bite of the CE 02's rear brake, one has to be careful about applying too much of the rear brake. Scooter users have to be careful since they tend to use a higher percentage (bias) of the rear brakes, compared to bike riders.

Closing Thoughts

The BMW CE 02 is a quirky, yet remarkably engaging commuter to ride in the city. It definitely ticks most, if not all of the practicality boxes and even the fun factor boxes, while remaining easy on maintenance (lower frequency of servicing) and economical to run compared to conventional ICE bikes. That said, it is likely to come at a purchase premium so high (relative to 200cc ICE bikes), that prospective buyers can argue that the difference amount can fund several years of petrol usage expenses. This one may very well be for the niche buyer, one who is looking at something different and unique in the market, and doesn't mind splurging on that extra kit in exchange for the brand and stand-out exclusivity rather than be lost in the crowd of other commuter vehicles.

[KarthikK]

BMW CE 02 Images

Front profile. USD fork suspension is eye-catching:


Cyan tinted windshield to go with the bold colour scheme of the CE 02:




Polarizing side profile design of the CE 02. You may love it or hate it, but can't ignore it :




Flat skateboard-styled seat ends much before the wheelbase!


The narrow seating:


Both front and rear get full steel wheels:


Chunky rubber at both front and rear - Michelin City Grips come stock:


BMW logo embossed at the base of the seat under the handlebar:


Ergonomics are surprisingly good, even for tall riders:


Integrated phone holder at the centre of the handlebar:


Belt drive system with integrated saree guard:


Rear wheel gets this mudguard to protect the rider (and others around) from splashing rain water or muck around:


Electric motor with the e-Parkourer branding on the right side...




...while the other side gets the charging port with a sealing lid:


Two sets of footpegs are positioned apart, allowing the rider to choose between a forward-set and a rear-set position for his/her rides. The forward footpeg assembly (on the crash guard) is rather basic and could have been done better:


Side stand is located between the two sets of footpegs:


Reaching out for the side stand lever to pivot it down from a riding position when seated is rather cumbersome. I found myself hunting quite a few times to catch the side stand's notch with my heel:


Both the brake levers are big in size and are adjustable for reach:




Mode button is on the right side of the handlebar controls, where a conventional bike's ignition button would exist:


Rear gets a disc brake setup but misses out on ABS, making this a single-channel ABS scooter:


Skateboard or surfboard styled basic seat is offered in dual-tone trim on the Highline variant, which is pictured here:


Seat fit and finish levels are great, but the thickness of the cushioning could have been a bit better. I have a feeling these seats may start to tire out riders after an hour or so in our traffic-ridden city roads:


Mirrors look typically commuter-ish, but they do a decent job of providing adequate visibility of what lies behind the rider:




Slim and compact instrument console:


A brief preview into some of the functionalities on the instrument console. This is the sequence when unlocking and starting the scooter and setting it into motion - removing the side stand and actuating the brake while holding the 'ignition' switch:


Riding modes - Flow, Surf and Flash and the power delivery simulations on the console:


By accessing the menu on the left side handlebar controls, the rider can check vehicle settings, service reminders and opt to enter a low-power mode to conserve battery if he/she so wishes:


During regular riding, the scrolling buttons can be used to cycle through various data which occupies the top left corner of the screen. One of my gripes was that some of the essential information has to be scrolled through instead of being allowed to exist together, thanks to the cramped layout of this tiny display. For example, I would have liked to always have the clock displaying time along with the battery charge percentage, but only one can be shown at a time:


Handlebar is thick and chunky, and feels solidly built to use and muscle the scooter around:




BMW branding on the front fork looks rather loud and out of place:


Steel braided lines come standard on both the front and rear brakes on the CE 02:




Branding on the electric motor and battery cover:


Barebones tail section with the LED tail-lamps:




Tiny grab rails accentuate the rear section's aesthetics a bit, but are next to useless for pillions to use:


Rear left section appears busy:


Disclaimer: BMW invited Team-BHP for the CE 02 test-ride. They covered the expenses for this riding event.

[Aditya]

Thread moved out from the Assembly Line. Thanks for sharing!

[gaurav_3000ad]

On the positive front

I'm sure the designers at BMW motorrad as well as the future generation of designers would be stoked to see a major manufacturer churning out a product which is decidedly far from centre when it comes to design language.

They stuck to their guns, stayed true to a radical concept and kudos to BMW for this.

However...

Even for someone with cash to spare and looking for something premium to stand out from the commuter crowd, the lack of a pillion seat and any meaningful storage option will be a dealbreaker for sure.

[TusharK]

BMW CE 02 electric scooter launched at Rs 4.50 lakh

BMW Motorrad has announced the launch of the CE 02 electric scooter in India. It is priced at Rs 4,49,900 (ex-showroom).



The BMW CE 02 has an unconventional yet futuristic design with minimal bodywork. It features an LED headlamp, a 3.5-inch TFT instrument console and a single-piece flat seat set at a height of 745 mm. The CE 02 is based on a double-loop frame made from tubular steel and weighs 142 kg.



The Highline package includes forks anodized in gold and tape designs in combination with Petrol as a contrasting colour. Features such as Bluetooth interface, SP Connect smartphone holder, Additional Flash riding mode, a 1.5 kWh quick charger and heated grips are also part of this package.



The BMW CE 02 uses two air-cooled lithium-ion batteries with a capacity of 3.9 kWh. The batteries power an 11 kW electric motor. BMW claims the scooter can accelerate from 0-50 km/h in 3 seconds and has a top speed of 95 km/h. The batteries offer a maximum range of 108 km (according to ICAT).

The CE 02 comes with a 0.9 kW external charger. The battery can be charged from 20% to 80% in 102 minutes using the 1.5 kW quick charger.

The BMW CE 02 has two riding modes – Flow and Surf. Other features include a USB C charging socket, Keyless Ride, reverse mode, power-saving mode, ABS, Stability Control and Recuperation Stability Control.

Link to Team-BHP news

[Sudarshan42]

So, 4.5L for an upgraded Yulu bike?

<insert image of a pile of dog poop with a BMW logo on it, with a caption below that says "You'll buy anything if it says BMW">

Makes you respect other automakers for giving us products, electric or otherwise, that are 10x more usable, practical, affordable and more fun.

[Senotrius]

Just no. No one asked for this here in India. Clearly for the Ambanis of this world to gift their kids. Also clearly not aimed at our market. They are manufacturing it here for export, I'm guessing and hence selling it in India. BMW themselves won't be expecting much traction for it here.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

BMW (arguably) makes some of the most ugliest cars in modern times, and now BMW Motorrad has achieved the same distinction for the 2-wheeler segment too!

It is quite literally a bench with battery underneath, a cushion above and two wheels on either ends! No brand value can justify this look, specs and pricing!

Originally Posted by KarthikK

After the 310 platform, this is the second jointly developed collaboration platform between TVS and BMW.

Isnt this the BMW version of the TVS X - which (in itself was quite overpriced!) feels like a stylish bargain in comparison now - at just half the price!

[pavanmadhini]

The TVS X looks a hundred times better than this ugly duckling.

Maybe they can get Alia or Ananya to showcase it like they had John ride the M1000RR around and a few other star kids might get inspired to buy this. Beyond that, I see no purpose or reason why they would launch this in India at this price.

[Joe367]

This is my favourite electric two wheeler available in India now. I like how they didn't make another EV that looks like an ICE scooter or bike, when it doesn't have to. I definitely cannot spend 4 lakhs on a two wheeler right now, or else would've bought one.

[Arun yadav]

Originally Posted by Sudarshan42

So, 4.5L for an upgraded Yulu bike?

<insert image of a pile of dog poop with a BMW logo on it, with a caption below that says "You'll buy anything if it says BMW">

Makes you respect other automakers for giving us products, electric or otherwise, that are 10x more usable, practical, affordable and more fun.

Common man checks:

Price - awesome
Looks - wonderful
Application - fantastic

What can go wrong?

[karanddd]

I don't understand the hate for it. The point is that it looks a little funky. Obviously it's very expensive for India. Bit in many places (eg. say Berlin or London) where you don't expect to use a scooter as your only mode of transport (maybe you drive or just take public transportation), and just need a lil old thing to whip around for fun, it makes perfect sense. Especially as it looks cool and unusual. The cost is more in line with the offerings of those markets too.

Plenty of vehicles exist outside the conventional Indian use-case, but I would rather that manufacturers offer them anyway instead of making that decision for us and never bringing anything unusual or interesting just because it makes less sense than an Activa. Another example of this is the 3 door Jimny. Sure it may not "make sense" for the Indian market, but it would be cool if you could buy it anyway. I am just happy that BMW is not doing a Maruti and trying to keep their offerings spicy.

[ach1lles]

Originally Posted by karanddd

Plenty of vehicles exist outside the conventional Indian use-case, but I would rather that manufacturers offer them anyway instead of making that decision for us and never bringing anything unusual or interesting just because it makes less sense than an Activa.

Echo.

“Sometimes the truth of the thing is the feel of it, not the think of it” - Stanley Kubrick.

We enthusiasts are a funny bunch. We demand the most esoteric of things for ourselves, and yet bash and pull down anything which doesn’t make conventional sense for us.

I’m happy the manufacturer decided to bring it here, available to try, and buy.