In brief. The BMW DC 04 does not exist as a motorcycle: it is one of the nine names from DC 01 to DC 09 that BMW registered in Germany in 2020 and that the press linked to a patent for a G 310-based electric motorcycle published in 2023. As of October 10, 2026, no BMW electric motorcycle has been presented or announced, and the “electric boxer” also remains a 2022 patent and a 2019 concept.
The only BMW Motorrad electric vehicles on sale are the CE 04 scooters (31 kW, 130 km WMTC) and CE 02 (11 kW, 95 km WMTC). In September 2025, CEO Markus Flasch said that BMW currently sees “no real demand” for an electric motorcycle. Here you will find what is official, what is a patent, and what is merely speculation, along with the sources.
DC 01-DC 09 are registered names, not upcoming motorcycles
The starting point for all the claims about the “DC 04” is a trademark filing, not a product announcement.
What was registered and when
In 2020, BMW registered eleven designations in Germany: DC 01, DC 02, DC 03, DC 04, DC 05, DC 06, DC 07, DC 08, DC 09 for motorcycles, parts, and accessories, plus CE 02 and CE 04 for motorcycles and scooters. The news was reported by inSella and Bennetts BikeSocial between August 30 and September 1, 2020; BMW did not comment.
The press interpreted the “DC” designation as direct current, because it recalls the 2019 Vision DC Roadster electric concept. This is a plausible interpretation, not an official explanation.
The “DC 04” is a patent for a G 310-based urban electric motorcycle
In March 2023, BMW patent drawings emerged that the press associated with the name DC 04. BMW has never confirmed the connection.
What the drawings show
- G 310 Size: the motorcycle shown has proportions similar to the G 310 R, with a wheelbase of 1,380 mm compared with the CE 04 scooter's 1,685 mm (a figure read from the drawings by Bennetts BikeSocial).
- CE 04 components: the motor, battery, control electronics, and charger appear to be the same as those of the scooter, rearranged for a motorcycle.
- Transmission: the engine is rotated 90 degrees and tilted approximately 45°, a bevel gear serves as the reduction gear, followed by a toothed belt to the rear wheel.
- Angled battery: it shortens the motorcycle but raises the center of gravity; the tank area remains free, with space for a helmet.
The other patents mentioned
At the end of December 2023, an international BMW patent application was published for a modular monocoque frame with a battery housing made of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (also aramid-reinforced), with possible aluminum or titanium inserts on the steering head and swingarm mount. MOTORRAD described it on January 18, 2024.
A patent is protection for a technical idea: manufacturers file hundreds that never make it onto the road. It says nothing about dates, prices, or production.
The electric boxer exists only in a 2019 concept and a 2022 patent
The idea of an electric motorcycle reminiscent of a boxer twin comes from BMW itself, but it has remained at the design-study and patent stage.
| Project | When | What it is | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vision DC Roadster | June 25, 2019 | Concept: vertical battery replacing the engine, two lateral elements with fins and fans reminiscent of the 1923 R 32's boxer, electric motor connected to the drive shaft (BMW Group press release) | Design study |
| E-Power Roadster | December 2019 | Working prototype: 100 kW (136 hp), approximately 300 kg (data reported by MOTORRAD) | Technical prototype |
| “Electric boxer” patent | June 2022 | Two cooling cylinders mounted on the drive unit: one as a radiator for the water circuit, the other for passively cooling the electronics. Rudimentary drawings (MOTORRAD) | Patent |
| Vision CE | September 2025, IAA Mobility | Electric concept with a tubular cage and belt, designed for riding without a helmet, with self-balancing | Study, no information on production |
The electric BMWs you can buy today are two scooters: CE 04 and CE 02
Of the names registered in 2020, only the two CE models have reached dealerships. Both are designed for the city, not for touring.
- Maximum power
- 31 kW (42 hp)
- Rated power
- 15 kW (20 hp)
- Torque
- 62 Nm at 1,500 rpm
- Top speed
- 120 km/h
- Battery
- 8.9 kWh gross / 8.5 kWh net
- WMTC range
- 130 km
- 2.3 kW charging
- 0-100% in approximately 4 h 20 min
- 6.9 kW fast charging (optional)
- 0-100% in approximately 1 h 40 min
- Kerb weight
- 231 kg
- Price in Italy
- from €13,500
- Maximum power
- 11 kW (4 kW in the restricted version)
- Torque
- 55 Nm at 1,000 rpm
- Top speed
- 95 km/h (45 km/h for the 4 kW version)
- Battery
- 2 × 1.96 kWh usable, removable
- WMTC range
- 95 km (over 45 km for the 4 kW version)
- Standard charging
- 0-100% in 2 h 40 min
- Kerb weight
- 132 kg
- License
- A1 (11 kW); AM or car license (4 kW)
- Price in Italy
- from €7,750
The CE 04's 2026 updates
Presented on July 3, 2025, the 2026 CE 04 is unchanged technically: three trims are available (Basic, Avantgarde, Exclusive), along with a 10.25" TFT screen with navigation map, a ventilated smartphone compartment with USB-C socket, and options such as a center stand, E-Call, tire-pressure monitoring and the Dynamic package.
BMW has clearly said that it currently sees no demand for an electric motorcycle
The most solid answer to the question “when will the BMW electric motorcycle arrive?” comes not from patents but from the head of BMW Motorrad.
Markus Flasch's statements
Interviewed by the American website Common Tread at DoubleRFest in Austin, BMW Motorrad CEO Markus Flasch said that “for the time being, we do not see real demand for an electric motorcycle” (reported by Visordown on September 30, 2025, and by Motorcycles.News on October 2, 2025). BMW is instead continuing to develop electric scooters and urban mobility, where sales are doing well.
On another occasion, speaking about the R 20 concept at Villa d'Este, Flasch added that motorcycling is linked to freedom and independence and that for now an electric motorcycle does not make sense: “not now, perhaps later” (RideApart).
- CE 04 and CE 02 in the 2026 lineup
- DC names registered in 2020
- Patents published in 2022-2023
- No announced electric motorcycle program
- Whether “DC 04” is the G 310 patent motorcycle
- Power, range or price of a DC
- A production electric boxer
- Launch dates
For those who ride a boxer GS, nothing will change in the next few years
Until a BMW electric touring motorcycle exists, the equipment for a large adventure bike remains the same as always: protection, luggage, lights, and onboard power.
What makes sense to plan today
- Protection and luggage: frames, luggage cases, and crash bars for the R 1250 GS and R 1300 GS remain investments that last. You can find everything in the BMW R 1300 GS accessories collection and the BMW R 1250 GS accessories collection.
- Onboard power: the «electric» component that matters on a touring motorcycle is the 12 V system. We explained how to choose a battery between AGM and lithium and how much current a 100 W USB-C outlet draws.
- Entry-level motorcycle: those looking at the G 310 size for city riding will find the combustion-engine range in the lineup; see the BMW G 310 GS accessories.
Frequently asked questions about BMW electric motorcycles
Does the BMW DC 04 exist?
No. DC 04 is one of nine names from DC 01 to DC 09 that BMW registered in Germany in 2020. As of October 10, 2026, BMW has neither presented nor announced a motorcycle with this name.
What does the abbreviation DC mean in BMW names?
The press interprets it as direct current because it recalls the 2019 Vision DC Roadster electric concept. BMW has not provided an official explanation of the abbreviation.
Will BMW make an electric boxer?
There have been no announcements. There is the 2019 Vision DC Roadster concept, with side elements reminiscent of the boxer engine, and a 2022 patent featuring two cooling cylinders on the drive unit. Neither is a production product.
Which electric vehicles does BMW Motorrad sell in 2026?
Two: the CE 04 scooter (31 kW, 130 km of WMTC range) and the CE 02 (11 kW, 95 km WMTC, or 4 kW in the restricted version). There is no BMW electric motorcycle in the lineup.
Why doesn't BMW produce an electric motorcycle?
In September 2025, BMW Motorrad CEO Markus Flasch said that, for the time being, BMW does not see real demand for an electric motorcycle and that the company continues to develop electric scooters for the city.
What is the BMW electric motorcycle patent based on the G 310?
These are drawings that emerged in March 2023: a city electric motorcycle the size of the G 310 R, with a motor, battery, and electronics that appear to be taken from the CE 04, a 90-degree bevel gear, and a final belt drive. The press associated it with the name DC 04, but BMW has not confirmed this.
What range does the BMW CE 04 have?
BMW claims 130 km in the WMTC cycle (100 km with the power reduced to 11 kW). The battery has 8.9 kWh gross and 8.5 kWh net capacity.
How long does it take to charge the CE 04?
With the 2.3 kW onboard charger, it takes about 4 hours and 20 minutes to charge from 0 to 100%. With the optional 6.9 kW fast charger, about 1 hour and 40 minutes, and about 45 minutes from 20 to 80%.
What license is required for the BMW CE 02?
BMW specifies an A1 license for the 11 kW version and an AM license or a car license for the version reduced to 4 kW. Equivalences between car licenses and light motorcycles vary from country to country: check the Italian rules before purchasing.
What was the BMW E-Power Roadster?
A working electric motorcycle prototype shown at the end of 2019, with 100 kW (136 hp) and a weight of about 300 kg according to MOTORRAD magazine. It never became a production model.
What is the BMW Vision CE?
An electric concept presented at IAA Mobility in September 2025, with a tubular cage and a safety belt designed for riding without a helmet, plus a self-balancing function. BMW has provided no information about series production.
Who makes the BMW CE 02?
The CE 02 is produced by Indian partner TVS, which also builds the G 310 family for BMW; production began at the end of 2023 according to MOTORRAD.
Will there be electric BMW motorcycles at EICMA 2026?
The rumors gathered in August 2026 indicate five new BMW models, all with combustion engines. BMW has not announced any electric models for the show, which opens to the press on November 3, 2026.
Do you have a BMW and want to prepare it for touring?
Tell us your bike's make, model, and year: we'll point you to compatible protection, luggage, and lighting among the BMW accessories available on Endurrad.
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