It's undeniable that traffic congestion is growing denser everyday as cities become more populated. This has promoted many people opting for alternative methods of transportation. Surprisingly, automakers saw scooters as a solution. BMW has now joined the electric scooter game and announced a its own version due to come out this later this year.
Simply called the BMW E-Scooter, it's the newest offering in BMW's Lifestyle collection. It weighs 20 lbs. and features a 140-watt motor boasting a top speed of 12 miles per hour and 7.5 miles of range.
Under ideal road conditions, it can last about 37 minutes before it runs out of batteries. For safety purposes, lights are fitted to the front and rear of the scooter, and brakes are found both on the front and back wheels.
Apart from the battery-powered E-Scooter, BMW is also going to release two additional human-powered scooters.
BMW has a foldable unit it calls the City Scooter, designed in collaboration with a UK-based scooter maker called Micro. The City Scooter is one for adults and can be used around town featuring a kickstand and appropriately-sized wheels. According to BMW, the City is designed to be foldable for ease of storage.
Another available model is called the BMW Kids Scooter. This one is designed for children ages three and up. This fun machine is designed so that it grows with the kid as they age.
It starts out in a seated position, which allows younger children to scoot while seated. There's a storage compartment within the seat wherein toys can be kept. When the child is taller, the seat can be removed and its handlebars adjusted so they can scoot while standing up at a height they are comfortable with. A BMW propeller badge is featured on the front of the scooter.
The Kids Scooter is sold at $134 while the City Scooter is available for $224. The E-Scooter is estimated to cost about $892.
"Once it is homologated for sale in our country and we have a better idea of an on-sale-date, we will issue an update," BMW U.S. spokesman told Automotive News.
Earlier this month, Germany passed a law to to legalize scooters driven around the country's streets, clearing the way for more of them to navigate around city centers. Volkswagen has said its Cityskater scooter will go on sale by the end of the year.
All BMW scooters are available for purchase at selected BMW dealers. Each one will be available starting in September 2019.
