BMW CE 02 Review: The Electric Scooter That’s Turning Heads in Urban Mobility
By Nik Miles
There’s a peculiar sort of satisfaction in showing up to a meeting aboard something that looks like it escaped a concept sketch on a Berlin napkin. That’s the BMW CE 02—a vehicle that defies every expectation of what a “scooter” should be, laughs in the face of the Vespa stereotype, and politely sips electrons while you contemplate whether this is the future of personal transport or just the most expensive way to avoid walking.
Spoiler: it might be both.
What sets the CE 02 apart?
At first glance, the CE 02 doesn’t scream “BMW.” There’s no kidney grille, no xDrive badges, and certainly no Bavarian subtlety. Instead, what you get is a chunky, minimalist design that’s equal parts cyberpunk and urban courier. It looks like a transport solution Tony Stark would doodle between coffee sips.
But don’t let the toy-like silhouette fool you. This machine is engineered with the same precision as Munich’s best. You get a rigid double-loop frame, high-end suspension components, and a belt-drive system that’s smoother than a jazz saxophonist on a Sunday morning.
The CE 02 is powered by an 11 kW electric motor, or about 15 horsepower in old money, which places it squarely in the “moped with a PhD” category. Top speed? Just under 60 mph. Range? Around 56 miles in ECO mode. Enough for a week’s worth of urban commuting—or a night of mischievous joyriding through neon-lit streets.
How does this affect everyday riders?
Let’s be honest: most urban commuters don’t need 700 horsepower or a Nurburgring lap time. They need something that fits in bike lanes, doesn’t cost $100 to fill up, and won’t require a second mortgage to insure. The CE 02 delivers precisely that.
It’s whisper-quiet, which means you can actually hear the city around you for once. And because it’s electric, your maintenance list basically reads: “Keep tyres inflated. Don’t crash.”
Charging is idiot-proof—just plug into a standard household outlet and wait a few hours. BMW says it’ll go from 20% to 80% in about 85 minutes with the optional quick charger, which, granted, is another £800/$900-ish add-on. But you knew this wasn’t going to be cheap. It’s a BMW, not a Bird scooter.
Is this a game-changer or just hype?
Here’s the contrarian bit: It’s not for everyone. And that’s exactly why it works.
The CE 02 isn’t trying to convert Harley loyalists or lure away Tesla owners. It’s designed for people who think city life should be fast, clean, and stylish. Students, creatives, startup founders—the sort of person who wears a helmet with a matte finish and uses the word “modular” unironically.
Its price—starting around $7,600 in the U.S.—will raise eyebrows. But compare that to the cost of owning a car in a major city: insurance, fuel, parking tickets (you know you’ll get them). Suddenly, the CE 02 starts looking fiscally sensible, if not downright clever.
And yes, there’s still a stigma attached to scooters in America. But this isn’t the timid, wheezing machine your uncle bought in a midlife crisis. This is an electric statement piece with BMW’s logo on it. It doesn’t just break rules; it rewrites them in all-caps Helvetica Neue.
So what’s it actually like to ride?
Surprisingly refined. You twist the throttle and it glides forward like a maglev train. The torque delivery is instant but not jarring. It’s not quick in the Tesla Plaid sense, but zippy enough to beat cars off the line at a red light—and then disappear down a bike lane they’re not allowed to use.
It corners well, the brakes are sharp, and the 15-inch wheels help smooth out potholes with less drama than you’d expect from something this compact.
The display is a full-colour TFT, Bluetooth-enabled, and about as intuitive as an Apple Watch. It even lets you track ride stats and toggle between modes. “Flow” mode is your gentle cruiser; “Surf” adds a bit of punch; and “Flash” is the rebel mode, adding enough kick to make every green light a thrill.
Bottom line?
The BMW CE 02 is less about specs and more about lifestyle. It’s not trying to be the fastest, cheapest, or most practical vehicle. It’s trying to be the coolest—and in a world dominated by soulless ride-shares and bloated SUVs, that might just be revolutionary.
It’s a scooter, yes—but not as we know it. It’s an electric rebellion, shrink-wrapped and street legal.
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