Raptors & Rockets presents the BMW C1-E electric scooter concept featuring Vectrix technology

Raptors & Rockets presents the BMW C1-E electric scooter concept featuring Vectrix technology. Edit Tor Sagen. Music: Perfect Breakdown by Elizaveta. Official press release: BMW Motorrad study for urban traffic. BMW C1-E: concept for a higher level of safety in the city. * 06.10.2009 * Press Release

Munich. This is what a safe, environment-friendly and highly practical single track vehicle for city traffic could look like in the future. BMW Motorrad developed the C1-E study as a contribution to the European safety project eSUM. This study unit is based on the concept of the BMW C1. It is characterized by a very high level of active and passive safety and is driven by an electric motor.




The BMW C1-E provides exemplary protection for its rider. This is ensured by the safety cell with the conspicuous roll-over bar which dynamically spans the rider seat in combination with the energy-absorbing impact element at the nose end. A further special point is that the C1-E rider wears a seat-belt. In the study this safety feature is highlighted by red belts and belt buckles.




Visually the concept vehicle expresses brand typical sheer driving pleasure and clearly distinguishes itself from typical scooter looks. Its lines are dynamically stretched and flow horizontally with a low visual centre of gravity. The fairing with its windscreen, the luggage space behind the rider and the side stand for effortless parking ensure high suitability for everyday riding combined with a high degree of wind and weather protection.




The electric motor employed in the study has been designed for city use and is based on components by the company Vectrix. The motor obtains its power from a lithium-ion battery and thus possesses sufficient power for mastering most inner-city traffic riding with ease. Alternatively the vehicle could also be equipped with an efficient, low-emissions internal combustion engine.




The safety features of the C1-E have been taken from the former BMW C1 and further enhanced. BMW's avant-garde two-wheeler is regarded as a milestone in safety on two wheels. It is the only motorised single-track vehicle to be exempt from mandatory helmet wearing in almost all European countries.




This BMW Motorrad study is to remain the only model of its kind. Series production is currently not planned. Nevertheless, findings from the project will find their way into other future developments in the field of single-track vehicles.




eSUM stands for European Safer Urban Motorcycling. It is a cooperation project between major urban European motorcycling centres and motorcycle manufacturers. The cities currently involved in the project include Paris, Rome, Barcelona and London and the manufacturers are BMW and Piaggio.




The advantage of two-wheeled transportation is that it offers a great opportunity for improving the flow of traffic in urban locations. Moreover, it is environmentally friendly and lends itself to individualisation. However, the vast majority of accidents occur in urban traffic, in areas where 80 percent of the population live. The idea behind eSum is to look into ways of countering this trend. The joint goal is the identification, development, and practical demonstration of measures which are able to guarantee safe motorcycle and motor-scooter transport in the inner-city traffic of the future.




One of BMW Motorrad's major concerns over the last twenty years has been the improvement of motorcycle safety. This was amply demonstrated by the consistent strategy which has led to the Motorrad ABS and continued with its long-term ongoing development. Only a few weeks ago, on August 31, the 1,000,000th BMW motorcycle with Integral ABS, a BMW K 1300 R, left the production line in Berlin-Spandau.




Since 2005, a series of further active safety features have been developed to enhance the safety BMW motorcycles still further: RDC Tyre Pressure Control, ASC Anti-Slip Control, the new Race ABS and the DTC Traction Control incorporated in the new BMW S 1000 RR, not to mention the innovative range of BMW Motorrad rider equipment.




Over and above this, BMW Motorrad is also conducting research into forward-looking rider assistance systems designed to increased road safety, as part of the ConnectedRide project. Features being looked at include cross-traffic and traffic-light assistance as well as a warning system for impending poor weather, road obstacles, an approaching emergency vehicle, or sudden braking manoeuvres.

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Autos & Vehicles

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• Raptors
• Rockets
• presents
• the
• BMW
• C1-E
• electric
• scooter
• concept
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• Vectrix
• technology
• Mini

[OzIsmailov]

I ride C1 for 3 years now, this is the only thing on two wheels that gives some chance of survival. Joonsuk88, you want to be detached? Go ahead, detach yourself into a car with which you are colliding. Just watch the C1 crash tests and compare them with let's Honda GoldWing crashtest, where the head is detached.. If Andrea Pininfarina was riding a C1 he would be very much alive today. So, BMW puleeeez bring out the new C1 as soon as possible!!

[joonsuk88]

I would think having a seatbelt for a scooter like this will do more harm than good.

Most bike/scooter accidents are not head-on collisions (which is where the seatbelt would be useful), but instead are low-side, high-side, or any other type of falling over accidents. When a bike/scooter begins to tumble, you want your body to be detached from the machine, not tumble with it and risk being crushed.

[wbsnakes]

no thanks, i've been riding bikes for years and every accident i've had the bike ended up someplace i'd rather not be while i've had a bit of roadrash i've escaped without being pinned beneath a car or crushed against a tree, bike might be totalled but i walked away everytime because i wasn't part of its momentum and slid to a stop well before it did

[TorontoJames1]

what about head gear if you fall your head will hit the ground that dont look to safe

the bike looks cool I would ware some thing over my head if I was riding it

[tdot06]

That shit looks retarded

[OzIsmailov]

@floatinsun The logic is simple really. You don't get 'tangled' inside a C1, just like you are not tangled inside a Fiat Punto during a crash. C1 is certainly far more dangerous than Punto (no doors =)), but then again it is a LOT safer than Vespa 300.

[OzIsmailov]

However, on the street what happens when you 'leave your bike' is that you have a nice slide of 20-30 meters and have a nice contact with the soft and fluffy truck tire that was passing nearby. For my colleague a couple of years ago that contact unfortunately resulted in a very expensive coffin. He was wearing a full gear and was travelling at 60 kph when he slid on a wet road.

[OzIsmailov]

@pgrigoriou , That is the problem with some motorcyclists. Some think that MotoGP logic applies to the riding on the streets and highways. Well I got the news for you, somehow MotoGP organiserts thought that it is a good idea to ban other cars and trucks on the track during race (and still some kids get killed - by another bike of course).

[pgrigoriou]

@OzIsmailov not a chance dude when you fall the bikes momentum lasts longer plus the bike is heavier so when you fall the bike drives you if you keep holding. Watch motogp when they fall they always leave the bike that's like rule number one when you are riding

[floatinsun]

@joonsuk88 I agree, Having no seat belt will let one to quickly detach one the vehicle, this way the vehicle wouldn't grad the person with it causing tangling inside the vehicle. Seat belt is not a good concept for motor bike but why BMW such an experienced company thought other wise , I just couldn't get the logic

[GameWriterGuy]

@joonsuk88 I see what you're saying, but I think the seatbelt makes sense. It's got a rollcage. You want to be in that cage during an accident, not taking your chances with the pavement.

[misterobvious]

so...there is a SEATBELT, but no HELMET?

Like that rollbar thing is going to keep a head from smacking the pavement?