Increasing traffic density and scarcity of space in major city centres have inspired BMW to design its E-Scooter.
Electric bikes are not new in Hong Kong and the police have tried out Vectrix machines over the past two years, but many models can only carry battery power for short inner-city distances.
BMW thinks its experts have devised a bike comparable to a 600cc maxi scooter with sufficient range and power to manage hill starts and overtake on an urban motorway while carrying a pillion passenger.
The bike's battery allows a driving range of 'over 100 kilometres', the marque says, citing how the BMW E-Scooter 'provides a long-term, zero-emissions urban and suburban travel option which is suitable for everyday use'. Its electricity is charged through household power sockets; no special charging station is required, BMW says.
When the battery is completely flat, the charging period is 'less than three hours', the marque says. 'However, practical experience has shown that the battery rarely runs out completely, so charging times are generally shorter.' The bike's aluminium battery casing contains the electronic system required for battery cell monitoring and is also the machine's frame. The steering head support and rear frame are connected to it, as is the left-hand mounted single swing arm with a directly hinged, horizontally installed shock absorber.
The BMW Motorrad development study's high-performance electric machine is mounted behind the battery casing, the marque says. 'The secondary drive consists of a toothed belt from the electric machine to the belt pulley mounted coaxially on the swinging fork pivot with drive pinion. From here, power transmission occurs via roller chain to the rear wheel.'