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[Richard230]

BMW has finally introduced their C Evolution electric maxi scooter, after at least three years of development.  It looks like a typical BMW product, very fancy, lots of nice features and maybe a little over-engineered.  See the photos, watch the video and read about it here:

http://rideapart.com/2013/09/2014-bmw-c-evolution-first-photos-and-specs/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HellForLeather+%28Hell+For+Leather%29

Note the reader comments at the bottom of the page.

[BSDThw]

I hope "Ride Apart" ascertain the facts more carefully at the other parts of their articles.

.. while a typical European 220v/12a outlet can charge the battery ...

Europe is different but typical we have 230V and 16A!

[MostlyBonkers]

Thanks for posting that Richard. I watched an MCN YouTube clip earlier today where they said it would cost £13,500 in the UK. I wish more subsidies were available so that these could be made cheaper to the consumer than their petrol equivalents. Just imagine the inner city pollution reduction. It would hopefully take some of those ridiculous two strokes off the road too.

[protomech]

InsideEVs has a nice detailed look at the BMW C Evolution.

http://insideevs.com/detail-bmw-c-evolution-electric-maxi-scooter/

They state the price is 15000 euros in germany. "We still don’t have US pricing from BMW, but this electric scooter will be sold in the States."

Peak power output of 35 kW, 0-100 km/h in 6.2 seconds. This is actually faster than the C600 Sport and C650 GT, at 7.1s and 7.5s respectively. It is slightly heavier, at 265 kg vs 249 kg (C600 Sport) and 261 kg (C650 GT). Both of the gas powered bikes have much higher top speeds, but the Evolution of course will mostly see duty in the city, not on the Autobahn.

C600 Sport: 11.200,00 EUR or 9590 USD
C650 GT: 11.550,00 EUR or 9990 USD
C Evolution: 15.000,00 EUR

Based on these prices, I would expect the C Evolution to be priced right at $13000 when it arrives in the US. This puts it on price parity with the 2014 Zero S ZF8.5, though of course the two are substantially different bikes. The Zero is significantly faster and lighter; the BMW will probably be more comfortable to ride two-up, has a faster charger (3 kW), and of course has the roundel on the front as well as BMW's distribution and service network.

BMW hasn't listed MIC standard range ratings for the C Evolution, but states the range at 100 km / 62 miles in "practical operation". In comparison, Zero states the S ZF8.5 range at 103 miles in the city, 64 miles at constant 55 mph, and 53 miles at constant 70 mph. Zero will probably have the edge in range in all but highway operation.

[Richard230]

My BMW dealer informs me that BMWNA has decided not to offer the C Evolution for sale in the U.S.  They don't see a market for it and the cost of importing the bike, training shop technicians and inventorying parts is just too great for the potential sales in North America.  Maybe next year, but not this year.

[protomech]

Wise.. and maybe a little cowardly.

The C Evolution has lower specifications than the $13k Zero S, and (partly due to a limited dealer network) Zero is selling < 1000 units/year, and most of those are probably the larger battery bikes. BMW might sell 1000 units of these per year, overall they sell around 110k units/year.

BMW may first build a few hundred units, sell them only in Germany, and see how sales are for the first year before making a decision to expand outwards.

This bike is a halo vehicle in a way for BMW; Germany is pivoting heavily towards a renewable energy grid, and this along with the BMW i-series cars are great design exercises for BMW, even if initially they aren't extremely successful. (On the other hand.. BMW is basically sold out of their i3)

[Richard230]

When it comes to new BMW models, the U.S. BMW importer, BMWNA, are real chickens and are all about making money, not about being "green" or making a "statement".  They let BMW do that in Europe and if the model flys there, and if they get enough interest in the vehicle from their dealers, only then will they import the model into North America - and that even goes for some new IC models, too.  (My daughter owns a German-model 1981 BMW R65LS, which was not imported into the U.S. until 1982, as an example. Also, I once owned a 1997 F650 Funduro single, which was a new model in the U.S. that year, although it had been kicking around Europe since 1993.)

[Richard230]

Mike Werner test rides the BMW scooter:  http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/review-electric-bmw-c-evolution-scooter---the-future-now.htm

[kensiko]

So the acceleration IS really close to 4 seconds!

[Mike Werner]

So the acceleration IS really close to 4 seconds!

Not officially. BMW quotes 6, but it feels much faster. My Ducati does 4, and that is what this felt. I didn't use a stopwatch, but counting, so could be off by a second or so. Compared to the Zero, that thing took off like a bat out of hell.

[benswing]

BMW quotes 6, but it feels much faster. My Ducati does 4, and that is what this felt. I didn't use a stopwatch, but counting, so could be off by a second or so. Compared to the Zero, that thing took off like a bat out of hell.

The Zero SR does 0-60 in 3.3 seconds.  Bats out of hell are slower.   

http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/zero-motorcycles/2014-zero-sr-ar161215.html

[Mike Werner]

BMW quotes 6, but it feels much faster. My Ducati does 4, and that is what this felt. I didn't use a stopwatch, but counting, so could be off by a second or so. Compared to the Zero, that thing took off like a bat out of hell.

The Zero SR does 0-60 in 3.3 seconds.  Bats out of hell are slower.   

http://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/zero-motorcycles/2014-zero-sr-ar161215.html

That one didn't exist last year when I tested the Zero... 

[Mike Werner]

I'd asked BMW some question for my article, and finally got some answers (a bit late..).

I'll share them with you..

Maintenance

Initial maintenance after break-in period (1000 km). Then every 10,000 km. Maintenance can only be done by BMW employees for Level 2 maintenance. Level 1 can only be done by dealers if they have had the training and equipment (high electrical tension work). This means the scooters will need to be sent to the central repair hub (for each country).

Battery

The battery certificate is valid for 5 years or 50,000 km (whichever comes first) and the terms and conditions of the warranty approximate very closely to those formulated by BMW i.
70 % of original battery storage capacity is the figure guaranteed.

So there you go. I got from the French dealer a figure: they have 100 scooters for France, and already a lot have been sold. He figures that by the end of the year, all the stock will be gone. The C Evolution is outside the dealer's quota and figures, so they don't really have any incentive to sell.

The leasing deal is pretty sweet. A 3 year lease is proposed, with 0 capital outlay, for €295 per month. 3 years later, you get a new one...(that's about $10.000 for the 3 years, while they are selling them I believe for 15-18.000).

[Richard230]

Here is Mike Werner first report on his new BMW C Evolution Electric scoot:   

http://news.motorbiker.org/blogs.nsf/dx/bmw-c-evolution-electric-scooter---warm-welcome-to-my-family.htm

Looks good Mike!   

[MichaelJ]

Great write-up, Mike!
I have an electric scooter too, and am happy to see that you are enjoying yours.  It's a beautiful ride that you have there.