The BMW CE-02, available in 50 and 125 cc, is undoubtedly the most fun electric scooter on the market currently, despite some compromises to be made. Its main fault is its price, but diluted in a long-term rental, it seems a little more digestible at 99 euros per month. But is this really the case? Decryption.
We know the BMW CE-02 at Survoltés quite well since we have tried it in all its forms, both in the 125 cc and 50 cc equivalent versions. Naturally, the 125 version has a little more response and it appealed to us more overall, but the smallest model available from 14 years old is not left out either.
Marketed for a few weeks, the BMW CE-02 starts at 99 euros per monthabout half the price of its big brother, the CE-04, available from 180 euros per month and which we also analyzed a few months ago.
On paper, given the front price of the BMW CE-02 (from 7,750 euros in the AM 50 cc version and 8,750 euros in the 125 version), this offer seems quite interesting, and allows you to afford a means of fairly high-end and efficient mobility in large cities, particularly in Paris where parking for thermal two-wheelers became chargeable in September 2022. Decryption.
The BMW CE-02 offered at 99 euros per month
As with the majority of “starting from” financing offers, This is the basic model. At BMW, the CE-02 does not have a specific finish or even a specific engine. All versions are equipped with the same battery (or almost, the 50 cc version integrates a single module compared to two for the 125 cc version, allowing it to increase its autonomy), but there is however a small difference in terms of the engine.
The BMW CE-02 is equipped with a 4 kW (5.4 hp) permanent magnet synchronous electric motor in its 50 and 11 kW (15 hp) versions. In terms of performance, 0 to 50 km/h is achieved in 3 seconds for the 11 kW version and the speed limited to 95 km/h. In both cases, the torque remains the same: 55 Nm. Both models are available from 99 euros per month. BMW makes no difference at this level, even if, in front price, the CE-02 AM is slightly cheaper. In fact, everything will come down to the ecological bonus, but we will come back to that below.
On the other hand, the 125 version being available as standard with both batteries, it immediately offers 90 km of autonomy according to the WMTC cycle and 45 km on the 50 version since in France, as standard, the AM version is only delivered with one battery. Note that it is possible to add a second one as an accessory, for a fee, via your dealer.
In terms of equipment, it is very complete. There is even assistance for reversing. The Highline pack, offered as an option at 890 euros, is in our eyes, and as stated in our tests of the two versions, essential, but it will take us out of the financing offer at 99 euros per month. Too bad, because it really is the essential option in our eyes. This allows you to add a little customization, including a gold fork, a three-color black/white/blue saddle, blue inserts on the scooter or even heated handles.
What are the conditions to be eligible for the BMW CE-02 LLD offer?
This is a long-term rental offer on 36 months and 15,000 km in total including extended warranty. BMW does not indicate whether the offer at 99 euros per month is subject to a first rent, but this must undoubtedly be equivalent to the ecological bonus of 900 euros for 125 cc equivalent electric scooters in FranceAnd 490 euros for 50 cc equivalents. The contribution is therefore zero, since BMW also adds 900 euros in customer benefits.
Overall, 15,000 km over three years for this type of machine is more than enough, especially since unlike cars, this type of scooter will be limited to urban and a little peri-urban use, since it is capable of reaching more than 100 km/h quite easily for the 125cc version, as we were able to see during our test.
How much will the BMW CE-02 LLD cost you?
Our two versions are not at the same prices, we will break down our calculations into two parts.
BMW CE-02 AM
Over three years of long-term rental, your BMW CE-02 AM will cost you 3,564 euros. BMW displays its electric scooter from 7,750 euros in the catalog, ecological bonus of 490 euros and discount of 900 euros not deducted. This gives us, once deductions have been made, a model displayed at list price at 6,360 euros.
Starting from this price, you will pay over the three years of the rental 56% of the price of your electric scooter. As the offer is an LLD, there is no option to buy back the vehicle. You will therefore only have one choice: return the scooter at the end of the financing.
Be careful with the restoration costs, these can be high at the time of return. If you take another vehicle from your dealership after your LLD, they will also be a little less careful about repair costs. But overall, on an electric scooter, there are not too many concerns to have, apart from a possible fall which could damage the machine.
BMW CE-02 125
Same principle, but this time with a 125 version, therefore more expensive. Over three years of long-term rental, your BMW CE-02 will cost you 3,564 euros. BMW displays its electric scooter from 8,750 euros in the catalog, ecological bonus of 900 euros and discount of 900 euros not deducted. This gives us, once deductions have been made, a model displayed at list price at 6,950 euros.
Starting from this price, you will pay over the three years of the rental 51% of the price of your electric scooter. It goes without saying, but the offer for the 125 version is more advantageous than the AM version, since in addition to having a more powerful scooter that goes further, you pay the same price as the small version. But when you don’t have the license, customers will have no other choice than to turn to the AM version!
Should we favor the LLD or a traditional loan?
What to choose between an LLD and a traditional loan? From a purely financial point of view, buying in cash is obviously the best solutionbut if you absolutely have to go through financing, LLD and credit are the two main solutions.
Even though rates have increased in recent months, some remain attractive, especially if you are buying an electric car. For two wheels, this is a little less the case, especially since some banks do not distinguish between two thermal and electric wheels. For example, at Crédit Agricole Île-de-France, for the financing of a classic vehicle, we arrive at a fixed APR of 6.60% over the same duration and the same contribution as the LLD.
Thus, by financing the 125 model for example, at 6,950 euros (ecological bonus of 900 euros and 900 euros discount deducted), still over 36 months, we arrive at monthly payments of 213.74 euros, without insurance. The total amount due is 7,658.64 euros, the credit will therefore have cost you 639.14 euros (and 69.50 euros administration fees).
Let us point out that with other banks, which have a special tab for electric two-wheelers, the monthly payments are generally similar to a few euros, or even a few cents sometimes.
Things to remember
A quick calculation shows that the LLD offer is rather a good deal overall, since it allows you to pay, in a way, for the “used” part of your scooter and not its entirety. The interest is to start again at the end of your financing on a new LLD with a new product, or not.
With a classic loan, you finance the entire scooter and not part of it. As a result, the monthly payments are higher, of course, but at the end of the 36 months, the scooter definitely belongs to you. So let’s see if you want to keep it or not!