Hold on, is Bugatti’s first EV really just a scooter?

Bugatti produces some of the word’s finest and most expensive cars, so our expectations for its first electric vehicle are sky-high.

And, at CES 2022, we were finally shown what the automaker had in store. Are you ready? Are you prepared? Then — drum roll please — welcome to  the world, BUGATTI’S ELECTRIC… scooter?

As strange as it is to see Bugatti’s logo on a two-wheeler, to be fair, it’s a pretty sleek-looking vehicle.

The escooter is foldable and features — according to the company — a “unique aerodynamic design.” Looks like a standard scooter to me. Anyway, this “unique” vehicle has a magnesium alloy frame that keeps weight down to just 15kg.

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A 700W motor provides enough juice to climb up to a 15 degree incline, which, coupled with a 36V 10Ah battery, delivers a range between 32km and 45km.

The battery itself is removable and be charged in any standard wall outlet for around four hours.

If, however, you’re expecting a Veyron-like beastly performance, you’ll be somewhat disappointed. The escooter has three drive modes: Economy, City, and Sport, good for top speeds of 14km/h, 20km/h, and 30km/h, respectively. 

That’s actually on par with most escooters on the market and doesn’t really reflect Bugatti’s motto “If comparable, it is no longer Bugatti.”

Oh, well. We can’t have everything.

Other cool features include a digital dash that displays speed, mode, battery life, and headlights, and — my favorite — a monogrammed rear light that projects the famous “RB” logo onto the ground behind the rider. 

Bugatti has also gone big with the lights to increase safety. The scooter features illuminated base lights on the sides of the deck and back, plus it has dual-turn signals on the handle grips, as well as above the rear mudguard.

Bugatti didn’t develop the electric two-wheeler on its own. Instead, it joined forces with Bytech International, a tech accessory company that makes everything from phone holders to Bluetooth speakers.

As per Wiebke Stahl, Managing Director at Bugatti International: 

Partnering with a company such as Bytech gives us an opportunity to expand our reach in the electric mobility space with an experienced partner and a product that can be enjoyed by consumers around the world.

Beyond hypercars to… escooters?

While it feels weird to associate Bugatti with anything other than its famous cars, the automaker isn’t the first to start dipping into the micromobility market.

Porsche has its own ebikes, SEAT escooters, and even BMW has dabbled.

After all, the micromobility market is projected to reach $195.2 billion by 2030 — and who wouldn’t want a piece of that cake?

There’s no word yet on when the Bugatti-Bytech scooter will be available or how much it’ll cost for that matter. My guess is that bearing the Bugatti name, it’s gonna be more expensive than regular consumer models. And it might be worth it for that Batman-style rear light alone.