In 2011, BMW wowed scooter enthusiasts with an early prototype E Scooter. A few months later, they gave an encore: the Concept e. Now, with the summer 2012 debut of their BMW C evolution , it looks as though BMW is just about ready to take electric, two-wheeled motoring to the streets.

Like its predecessors, the "near-production ready"¹ scooter boasts quintessential BMW style; a fully-functional, 62-mile range and a three-hour charge time. What's new is the fact that the BMW C evolution can attain a 70-percent charge in roughly half an hour. Impressive we know.

In addition to packing an undisputable wow-factor, the new electric scooter is also very convenient. This comes in the form of a charge socket that's compatible with the many car-charging stations popping up across the U.S. BMW is allegedly the only scooter maker to offer such a feature industry-wide.

The icing on the cake: flexibility. While the BMW C evolution will naturally be marketed as more of a metropolitan machine; it has a top speed of approximately 75 miles per hour. This means that future owners are free to escape to the countryside.

As for availability, BMW has not made an official announcement yet. Testing is, however, underway in London. So, be sure to stay tuned as details are expected to surface soon. In the meantime, you can always explore our entire four-wheeled new BMW lineup, including a collection of urban-friendly hybrid models (i.e., the BMW ActiveHybrid 3, BMW ActiveHybrid 5, BMW ActiveHybrid 750i and BMW Active Hybrid 750 Li) online or in person at Preston BMW in Warren, OH.

Source: ¹http://www.gizmag.com/bmw-c-evolution-electric-scooter/23498/