The BMW C1 makes a return in urban safety study

BMW has dusted off its former enclosed scooter, the C1, to use as the basis for a European road safety project.

The updated machine, known as the C1-E, has an electric motor from Vectrix, powered by a lithium-ion battery, as well as a safety cell, roll-over bar and impact-absorbent nose.

There is a seatbelt, but the original C1 was exempt from mandatory helmet wearing in almost all European countries (it wasn't sold in Australia).

Either way, it's now a moot point, as the C1-E is not destined for production, and is simply BMWs take on what an environmentally friendly and practical single-track vehicle could look like in the future.

The C1-E project is BMW's contribution to European Safer Urban Motorcycling (eSUM), which is a collaboration between the German manufacturer, Italian motorcycle and scooter conglomerate Piaggio, and the cities of London, Parris, Barcelona and Rome.

The aim of eSUM is to look into ways of reducing the number of accidents in urban areas, which is where 80 percent of the world's population live.

Outside of the eSUM environment, BMW remains a champion of road safety initiatives through its ConnectRide venture, and current goals include developing cross-traffic and traffic-light assistance, and a warning system for impending poor weather, road obstacles, an approaching emergency vehicle, or sudden braking manoeuvres.

Meanwhile, the original C1 will remain as an historical example of BMW safety ingenuity. After selling 10,614 units in 2001, BMW only sold 2000 units in 2002, and ceased production in October 2002.