“Considering that Coventry was the birthplace of the British cycle industry, it is perhaps no surprise that the city became heavily involved in the development of the British motor industry during the mid-1890s. From the first velocipedes built here in 1868, most of the later well-established cycle manufacturers quickly turned their attention to motorised vehicles, and many of the early motoring pioneers moved to Coventry to become part of this revolutionary work. Local companies such as Bayliss, Thomas & Co., Coventry Eagle, Humber, Riley, and Swift were just a few of the cycle firms quick to catch on, and steadily new companies were formed solely to manufacture motorcycles.” (The History Press, Damien Kimberley)
The latest pioneer in Coventry is Maeving. In June last year the Maeving RM1 electric bike came on stream. I haven’t ridden one but I have pressed my nose against the shop window near Seven Dials.
It’s relatively light and the retro design is eye-catching. Its selling point is the battery made by Bosch. It is housed in the rectangular bit on the side that looks like a giant Kindle and can be taken out and charged in an ordinary power socket at home or anywhere. It weighs twelve kilos and takes four hours to charge from empty.
Where the petrol tank would be is a small storage compartment. There’s a binary choice as to what to keep in it. You could use it to store Useful Things. Pooh Bear would keep honey there. Or you can use it to store a spare battery (£995). You see one battery has a range of just forty miles and if you are a speed merchant the top speed is 45 mph. The bike with one battery costs £5,995.
The concept and design are in my opinion brilliant; cooler than a Tesla and almost £40,000 cheaper. Perfect for a short commute, riding around the farm or following the hounds. It’s a toy to enjoy, wheels with Wow! but not a substitute for a petrol car. Wait to see what new models are developed.