BMW Anticipates an Eclectic Propulsion Future

While the world makes strides towards eco-friendly transport, predicting motorcycles’ future propulsion becomes an increasingly complex task, even for large brands like BMW.

While some manufacturers have decisively committed to electric solutions, others like Honda, Suzuki, Kawasaki, and Yamaha are exploring alternative options by researching the feasibility of hydrogen.

To get a perspective on BMW’s approach, THEHARDTAIL had a conversation with their motorcycle division head, Dr Markus Schramm, and design chief, Edgar Heinrich. “At BMW Group, especially concerning motorcycles, we want to remain technologically flexible,” said Dr Schramm.

BMW’s motorcycle division head Dr Markus Schramm “Undoubtedly, we are planning for electric mobility. We’ve embarked on that journey, but concurrently we’re also enhancing the story of the ICE [internal combustion engine]. I believe we will see substantive e-motorbikes before [synthetic] e-fuels,” he added.

“I firmly believe – and we are strategizing towards this – that we will soon introduce the first substantial [electric] bike. Our efforts begin now in urban areas, so we will see another model for the urban sphere this year.”

Dr Schramm also hinted that this first “real bike” would have a roadster design and said synthetic fuels will have a significant role. “E-fuels are crucial, and I am very confident that political discourse will shift in the next 10 years.

The electric BMW CE-04 on the road “I’m quite optimistic, but we are very proactive regarding e-fuels. I’m sure that in 20 years, people will opt for e-mobility bikes due to their preference and emotional connection, not regulatory requirements.

“Long-term, approximately 30 years from now, I anticipate that over 50% will be electric mobility. But, I firmly believe that combustion engines will continue to exist.”

THEHARDTAIL also spoke with BMW’s designer, Edgar Heinrich, about the potential obstacles his team might encounter as the focus veers away from conventional combustion. “Electric motorcycles create a new realm for design, as most existing bikes are fundamentally designed around engines,” Heinrich said.

“Iconic bikes are defined by the engine – like a V-twin, inline-four, flat boxer engine, or Ducati’s L-twin. If we do away with all the engines and just install a large black box [the electric motor] and all brands use the same black box, what would then be the bike’s icon?”

He added, “Losing the engine changes the perception of motorcycles significantly, but this is something we have to cope with.”

BMW electric C Evolution scooter In June 2019, Heinrich and his team experimented with the Vision DC Roadster naked concept, which employed side-mounted coolers to replicate a traditional boxer engine’s cylinders.

“We didn’t attempt to imitate a boxer engine, but we literally positioned the hot components – the cooler and the radiators – in the air stream,” he explained. “That’s essentially what [Chief Designer] Max Friz did with the first boxer engine motorcycle. It follows the same logic.”

Despite the challenges, Heinrich is enthusiastic about the future, drawing parallels with the pioneering era of two-wheelers.

Dr Markus Schramm presents at an unveiling event “If you look at bikes from the 1920s or 30s, there was an enormous breadth for suspension, seats, valve timing, brakes, and more. These have been streamlined to a few universal concepts. The forks now are uniform, the brakes are the same, there’s four fundamental engine layouts, and three different frame designs,” he said.

“But when you look at electric motorcycles, everything is open-ended. You can suddenly rearrange components. It’s incredibly exciting, and occasionally, the designers come up with innovative ideas we’ve never thought of before.