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BMW's C1 - that bulbous scooter with a roof and a screen - has gone electric. A favourite among softie bikers, the C1 was designed so they could leave their helmets at home. But the UK government rained on that idea and refused to change the law to allow scooterists to ride about with naked heads.
Other countries, though, allow helmetless riding. Which is why BMW has taken the C1 a step further and fitted it with some lithium-ion batteries so you can, erm, charge around without the annoying buzz of a tiny little engine.
Most of the safety features remain, including seatbelts and rollover hoops and side-protection bars, so that if you're swiped by a bendy bus, you will simply slide along the road without bashing your head. Though you might look a bit daft as you hang from your belts, at 90 degrees to the tarmac, with your cheeks and other wobbly bits sagging limply towards the road.
What an excellent concept! And it is indeed a concept, as BMW is still considering whether to take the battery-powered C1 into production.
So stay tuned, scooter fans. We'll keep you posted.
The hard cell
BMW builds a battery-powered version of its scooter-with-a-roof. Does anyone care?
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What do you think?
Want to comment on this?
tohafat commented on this article
at 01:55 pm on 07 October 2009
First, possibly only comment. Seriously Top Gear, why put that of all thing in the news.
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KMTV commented on this article
at 03:39 pm on 07 October 2009
I think that this one has potential. Quite like it actually. Shame it has 2 wheels too few *runs from horde of marauding biking Vikings*
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Mikeado commented on this article
at 03:55 pm on 07 October 2009
OMG are they still making those? I thought they died year ago. I wouldn't havebeen surprised if they had, either. This is the ideal vehicle for hippies who hate cycling. Electric, and all safe and soft for the eco-wimp inside. Looks like a bit of a high riding position, though, like you'd have to lean quite far to put your foot on the ground.
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Bobs commented on this article
at 04:47 pm on 07 October 2009
What. Utter. Rubbish. Why did I have to ruin my Ferrari happyness to look at that.
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eaststand commented on this article
at 04:59 pm on 07 October 2009
What a stupid vehicle, although they are very popular abroad. Foreigners are pretty dumb though.
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