BMW Brings Back the C1, and This Time It’s Electric

[Quicksilver]

The C1-E was designed to highlight safety in low-emissions “single track” vehicles designed for urban use. As such, it sports the same roll cage, seat belt and windscreen as the erstwhile production C1. While BMW said that future single-track production vehicles may feature low-emission gasoline engines or electric motors, the C1-E swaps the original C1’s Rotax 4-stroke gas engine in favor of a Vectrix electric motor and lithium-ion battery.







BMW Brings Back the C1, and This Time It’s Electric | Autopia | Wired.com

[AzX5]

Maybe they should add a 2nd rear wheel and then the helmet wouldn't be required as a 3-wheeler?
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Originally intended to be ridden without a helmet, the C1 turned into a sales flop after several European countries refused to exempt C1 riders from existing helmet laws. Despite the bike’s roll cage and studies that showed helmet-wearers who also used the C1’s integrated seat belt had worse neck injuries in low-speed crashes, the British government mandated helmet use. Sweden paradoxically required C1 riders to wear helmets but outlawed them from wearing seat belts. Partially as a result of lost sales in Britain, the C1 was discontinued in 2002 and was never offered in the United States.

The concept shown above will most likely never be seen in a showroom, but BMW hasn’t abandoned their interest in safe urban scooters. “This BMW Motorrad study is likely to remain the only model of its kind,” the company said in a statement. “Nevertheless, findings from the project will find their way into other future developments in the field of single-track vehicles.”

[Quicksilver]

Does seem curious that a Vespa requires a helmet
but this is intended to be ridden without a helmet.
And Oh yes those 3 wheelers are showing up round
these parts.