BMW confirms maxi scooters

Set for a global launch in the third quarter of 2011, BMW has confirmed a triumvirate of scooters.

Maxi scooters to be precise.

Not only has it confirmed a new scooter range, which will include two combustion engine and one electric maxi scooter, BMW will also buile two new electric cars, the I3 and I8, outlining its desire to be a leader in the electric vehicle field.

With development on a range of electric motors well and truly underway, BMW has invested heavily in electric drivetrain technology and will be hoping to gain a foothold in the small-but-growing EV industry, with the BMW E-Scooter concept our first look at its two-wheeled electric ambition.

Dr. Christian Landerl, the Executive Vice President for Development and Model Lines at BMW Motorrad, used the company's 'Innovation Day' to talk about the company's impending scooter range, confirming the first two combustion engine models would be launched in autumn, though what size engines these will be is not yet clear.

An electric scooter will follow the late 2011 launch of the ICE models.

"We know from our market research, that customers of a maxi scooter want a realistic range of 100 kilometres," said Landerl of an electric runabout. "And in terms of performance figures, a two-wheel vehicle should be able to keep up well in fast-moving urban traffic.

"We believe the products currently on the market do not meet these customer demands in every respect," added Landerl, who believes the new E-Scooter from BMW will be a class leader when it launches "in the near future". Once BMW has perfected its electric powertrains, research and development on an electric motorcycle will undoubtedly follow.

Disguised with psychedelic camouflage, the new BMW E-Scooter design appears to be fully finished, boasting a relatively orthodox maxi scooter appearance with plenty of seat room (and grab handles) for a pillion passenger.

But the E-Scooter's appearance is secondary - the real interest lies in what BMW has been developing underneath the skin, and the company claims its new electric powertrain will deliver a cruising range of around 100km and has 0-60km/h acceleration levels similar to a 600cc rival.

That's pretty quick, but when you take a look at the scoot's internals it's not surprising. It has a very large battery pack of undisclosed make up (BMW is keeping some elements secret, though our spies tell us it's lithium ion) and a decent sized electric motor, all of which are located underneath the seat section, unlike some electric scooters, such as the Vectrix, whose motors are rear-wheel hub-based.

Dr Landerl also hinted that the new scooters would adhere with BMW's global philosophy of "dynamic performance and sporty flair" adding that, "This [ethos] applies to our automobiles, our motorcycles and our future scooters."

Another interesting design element is the frame - or lack thereof. Instead of a traditional frame the E-Scooter's aluminium battery casing provides structural rigidity for the maxi scooter, to which the single-sided swingarm, rear sub frame, and the head support at the front are connected.

"Without wanting to sound arrogant, we may well be the most innovative motorcycle manufacturer in the world today," opined Landerl.

The German motorcycle maker has also seen fit to try a horizontally fitted rear shock, and regenerative braking is claimed to increase the E-Scooters 100km range by 10 to 20km "depending on driving style".

BMW has given no indication of the maxi scooter's weight, but for regenerative braking to be effective the more weight the better, suggesting that the scooter could be a very chunky individual.

One of the most important aspects of any electric vehicle is the charging time, and BMW Motorrad says the E-Scooter can be recharged from standard household power sockets in less than three hours, with no need for a charging station. Just unplug the kettle and plug in the E-Scooter and you're good in a few hours. Well, in theory. We won't know just how effective it is until we test it, which might not be for another couple of years at least.

The charger is located within the E-Scooter's body and it comes with what appears to be a long extension cord, and BMW has seen fit to include a monitoring system that scrutinises the voltage and temperature at all times. The battery is air cooled.

Safety is also of prime concern for the Bavarian brand, and it will leverage some of the technological features not only from the K 1600 GT series, but also from the BMW car division. What these are remains to be seen, but radar-based military-style sensor systems and vehicle-to-vehicle communications could be on the cards.

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