Today, an innovative electric motorcycle designed and manufactured in the UK received the prestigious Simms Medal from the Royal Automobile Club for its outstanding contribution to motoring innovation. Seb Inglis-Jones, co-founder of Maeving, accepted the award, which recognizes the company’s transformative impact on the British motorcycle industry.
Founded in 2018 by Inglis-Jones and Will Stirrup, Maeving aimed to address the lack of electric motorcycle sales in the UK. Only 297 were sold in their founding year compared to over 20 million in China. Due to quality concerns, they cancelled plans to import Chinese models and focused on creating bikes with removable batteries for easy charging.
In 2023, Maeving launched its RM1 and RM1S models, which sold out within hours, making them the best-sellers in their sector. Maeving, based in Coventry, became Britain’s first electric motorcycle manufacturer, continuing the tradition of iconic brands like Triumph and Norton.
Inglis-Jones and Stirrup, who met at Durham University, were motivated by their respect for the environment. They assembled a talented engineering team with over 200 years of experience, including former Triumph Head of Product Graeme Gilbert.
“Our innovation addresses the primary barrier to electric adoption—insufficient charging infrastructure,” said Inglis-Jones. “Removable batteries enable riders to charge their devices using any standard electrical outlet.”
Maeving’s achievement contributes to a legacy of excellence recognized by the Simms Medal, joining other prestigious recipients like McMurtry Automotive and Williams Advanced Engineering. Ben Cussons, Chairman of the judges, praised Maeving’s work, saying, “This project embodies the passion of its founders and has the commercial insight to achieve its ambitious goals.”
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- Click here to visit the award-winning electric motorcycle British Manufacturer Maeving’s website.
Previous winners of the Simms Medal
2023 – Alex Summers for his P4t hillclimb car.
2022 – McMurtry Automotive for the conception, design and manufacture of the stunning McMurtry Spéirling,
2021 Dr Rob Lewis OBE for developing the Catesby Tunnel Test Facility and the associated Innovation Centre.
2019 Zef Eisenberg: a man driven by technology and demonstrating its potential in the most extreme manner.
2017 HIPERCAR Consortium for the development of the HIPERCAR.
2016 Riversimple for the development of the Rasa hydrogen fuel cell electric car.
2015 Williams Advanced Engineering for designing, developing and producing the battery powering Formula E racing cars.
2013 Lord Paul Drayson for setting four Electric World Land Speed Records for sub-999kg vehicles.
2012 Ben Bowlby for his brilliant realisation of the groundbreaking DeltaWing racing car.
2009 World Steam Land Speed Record team, with a special dedication to former Project Manager, the late Mr Frank Swanston, for breaking the 103-year-old world record and raising it to an average of 148.308mph for two consecutive runs over a measured kilometre.
2007 Richard Parry-Jones CBE, recognition of his immense contribution to the UK and world automobile industry (as the Ford Motor Company Group Vice President and Chief Technical Officer).
2006 Bill Gibson of Zytek, for developments in motorsport and electric vehicles.
2005 Simon Saunders of Ariel Motor Company for designing the Ariel Atom sports car.
2004 Professor Gary Savage of the BAR Formula 1 team for its carbon fibre gearbox.
2003 Mick Hyde of Radical Motorsport for the SR3 sports racing car.
