Electric BMWs

[Richard230]

It occurs to me that the BMW e-scooter looks a lot like, and has similar performance to, the original Vectrix scooter - which I might add sold for $11,000 when it first came out, how many years ago? I am pretty sure that stuffing the latest LiFePo4 batteries into the Vectrix would get you the same performance as claimed by BMW.

I test rode a Vectrix some years ago and was impressed with its performance. I got it up to 65 mph on the Freeway and it had a real world range of 35 mph. My only complaint was that it was kind of large and would have taken up a lot of space in my garage - about two motorcycles worth.     I also heard that they had cooling problems with the hub motor when running full throttle up hills for more than a couple of miles.

[protomech]

It occurs to me that the BMW e-scooter looks a lot like, and has similar performance to, the original Vectrix scooter - which I might add sold for $11,000 when it first came out, how many years ago? I am pretty sure that stuffing the latest LiFePo4 batteries into the Vectrix would get you the same performance as claimed by BMW.

I test rode a Vectrix some years ago and was impressed with its performance. I got it up to 65 mph on the Freeway and it had a real world range of 35 mph. My only complaint was that it was kind of large and would have taken up a lot of space in my garage - about two motorcycles worth.     I also heard that they had cooling problems with the hub motor when running full throttle up hills for more than a couple of miles.

The original Vectrix had a 7kw cont / 20kw peak motor and a 3.7 kwh NiMH pack. A bit faster* and a bit more pack than the Enertia 3.1, though 200 lbs heavier (6.8s 0-50mph, 515 lbs).

* I'm actually surprised it's faster at all, with the extra weight.

Most recent Vectrix, Vectrix VX-1 Li and Li+ use a 3.7kwh and 5.4kwh lithium iron phosphate battery, 125V 30Ah and 43Ah respectively. Weight is down (425 and 460 lbs respectively), performance is up (6.0s 0-50mph and 6.2s 0-50mph respectively). Motor - peak 21 kw - and chassis are likely the same.

Prices are set at $12k and $14k USD respectively.

If the BMW comes in at $15k, then I'd expect to see a large price drop from Vectrix. The BMW is likely more powerful, may have more range than VX-1 Li+. Vectrix claims 55-85 mi or 88-136 km which is optimistic on the high end. We don't know how much battery the BMW scooter has, BMW claims 100 km.

Most importantly, BMW has the name and BMW has a dealer network.

[Richard230]

It is starting to look more and more like BMW will have their e-scooter on the market late this year. My guess is that it would be sold in Europe for a year or two before it hits North America, based upon their previous marketing history for completely new models.

http://www.twowheelsblog.com/post/6760/bmw-concept-c-video?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+twowheelsblog%2Fcom+%28twowheelsblog%29

If I were Brammo I would start signing up motorcycle dealers in Europe ASAP. There is a limited number of people in this economy willing to pay big bucks for an electric commuter vehicle and if BMW gets their product on the market before Brammo, Brammo may find that what market there is has been cornered by the Germans.

[Gavin]

Yep....all the more reason for Brammo to:

1) Ramp up the Hungary plant asap. Get to full capacity NOW and then plan to expand or maybe add more shifts--3 teams, 24 hours a day production.

2) Make the 2011 model of the Empulse a single gear bike: Europe is use to single gear scooters, so a single gear Motorcycle wouldn't be as big a shock as in the States.

3) Release the Empulse in Europe this Fall/Winter along with the Enertia twins. Yes Europe will likely buy more Enertia and Plus powercycles than Empulses, but having both the Enertia twins and the Empulse will be good for marketing.


Then Brammo waits on the geared Empulse for summer 2012 riding season.

Maybe Brammo only goes single gear Empulse in Europe and we have to wait for the Empulse till next summer...that would be a bit sad as I think there is a smallish market for the single geared Empulse here; but getting up and running in Europe and Asia ASAP is a winning strategy for Brammo...More bikes are sold in Europe and Asia than in the States. WAY MORE.

If I were Brammo: This Fall...20% of the bikes made in Hungary go to Enertia and Enertia Plus reservation holders. 10% go to US Dealerships as Demo models (so 30% get shipped to the US); then send 40% to European dealerships (Holland, England, France and Spain should eat up lots of Enertias) and 30% to Asian dealerships (30% as I think Brammo only has Hong Kong set up so far...more if they add Beijing)...I would also make as many single gear Empulses I could and keep them in Europe and a few in Hong Kong. Make them Special Editions and charge a crap load for them...the rich in Europe and China will buy everyone you make.

Then when Brammo gets a USA production plant those Hungary numbers can be basically 50% for Europe and 50% for Asia.

I would see about getting a shop up in Taiwan also...then US facility handles US, Canada and Central/South America...Taiwan covers Asia and Japan...Hungary covers Europe.

Gavin

[Gavin]

ps...it won't happen, but IF BMW had that scooter in the states before I received my Plus, well I would definitely take it for a test ride...and I might very well buy it.  

It will be competition.

Especially in Europe where they love maxi-scooters and where BMW is strong...in fact I would think that Brammo might not get too many sells in Germany at this point.

Still Brammo will do better in Holland, England, France and Spain than Germany anyways.

Gavin

[Richard230]

Good analysis, Gavin. Or at least one that I thoroughly agree with.