BMW is giving us a preview of yet another vehicle it plans to launch under its i sub-brand for environmentally friendly modes of transportation, this time in the form of the latest C evolution electric scooter prototype.

Developed together with the automaker’s two-wheel division, BMW Motorrad, the C evolution is described as a “near-production” prototype and as its name suggests is the evolution of previous vehicles like the C1-E electric scooter concept from 2009 and original C1 scooter sold during the early 2000s.

As we’ve previously reported, the aim of BMW’s i sub-brand was never to exclusively develop one type of vehicle or another, but to come up with a range of technologies BMW could eventually introduce. Already locked in are the i3 electric city car, the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car, and almost certainly a production version of the C evolution, and beyond these three vehicles we’re likely to see even more BMW i vehicles launched.

For BMW, vehicles like the C evolution are ideal for tackling growing traffic volume, rising energy costs and constantly increasingly stringent CO2 restrictions all across the globe.

Key specs include an electric drivetrain developing a continuous output of 15 horsepower and a peak output of 47 horsepower, a top speed of 75 mph, plus a range of about 62 miles courtesy of an 8-kWh air-cooled lithium battery.

BMW claims the scooter handles motorway riding and overtaking without issue--even with a passenger. It is said to also be capable of effortless hill starts on steep slopes with a pillion passenger. In fact, performance is said to be comparable with a 600-cc gas-powered scooter. Furthermore, thanks to its electric motor, there are no delays in torque build-up at all as are typical in combustion engines due to the clutch engaging and disengaging.

BMW hasn’t announced a release date for a production version of the C evolution, but given the near-production status of the prototype we wouldn’t be surprised to see it on sale within the next year or two.