The BMW CE 04 Electric Scooter Gets the Polizei Pack

• BMW CE 04 electric scooter bows at Milipol 2021 in police specification, offering zero-emissions and versatility for city services.

• The German manufacturer has been favorite of police agencies in Europe when it comes to motorcycles, and has been working to offer electric models.

• A number of European cities have made plans to ban gas- and diesel-engined vehicles in city centers, and are seeking zero-emissions vehicles for city services of all types.

Our present is beginning to resemble the future depicted in sci-fi films 35 years ago, with EVs whooshing by almost silently on the streets, while news streams into our phones. Some days look like they're from a Neill Blomkamp film, others (when a gun-toting robot is revealed) looks like something from a Paul Verhoeven film. And some days are straight up Blade Runner.

That very 1980s vision of two-wheeled transport has been brought to life earlier this year with the debut of the BMW CE 04 electric scooter, featuring plenty of rhombus-shaped body panels with a whiff of an Akira-style aesthetic. But to really feel like that future is here, we had to see it in police colors. BMW obliged this week, bringing the CE 04 to the Milipol trade show in Paris, complete with police gear.

The CE 04 itself is powered by an 8.9-kWh battery, offering a 41-hp output along with a range of 81 miles. In police spec, the CE 04 has been given LED strobes, a siren system, and a telescoping rear LED beacon, along with additional secure storage. The electric scooter still features a 10.25-inch TFT screen, but could be equipped with an additional radio fitted to other BMW motorcycles currently in use by German police.

"The new CE 04, which was presented a few months ago, plays a particularly important role, since the dynamic, environmentally friendly electric scooter not only offers a concept tailored to special authorities requirements by offering flexible options and a high level of operational expertise in urban and metropolitan areas," BMW says.

With a top speed of 80 mph, the scooter is suited for city and highway riding alike, though we'd imagine that police agencies that order these will prefer to use them in the city, since highway police motorbikes have their own range and equipment requirements.