Boat International – September 2019

boatinternational.com

PHOTOGRAPHY:

GUNHILL

STUDIOS

hecombustionengine–andthe
variousindustriesthatrelyonit–is
havingatoughtimeadjustingtothe
triplewhammyofenvironmental
concerns,customerdemandforgreenervehicles
and strict governmentemissions targets.
Companiessuch asTesla,Jaguar,Harley-
Davidson,OceanvoltandSoelYachtshaveall
responded,producingtheirownhybridsor
all-electricformsofpropulsion.Butfewhave
beenabletopulloffsomethingthatistruly
innovativeandseriouslystylishtoboot.
TheArcVector,anall-electric,belt-driven
motorcycle,isaradicalreimaginingofthewhole
bikemanufacturingprocess.It’ssomethingthat
itsfounder,MarkTruman,isonlytookeento
emphasise. “If youthink abouta normal
motorcycle,withaframethatcradlesanengine,
conventiontellsyoueverythingelseisbuilt
aroundit,incertainplaces,”hesays.“Butwiththe
ArcVector,weapproacheditwiththeideathat
wewantedtoimagineamotorcyclethathad
neverbeeninventedbefore.
“Oneofourdesigninspirationswasthe
conversionofthetraditionalviolintoanelectric
one.Wewantedtobuildanentirelynewobject,
butonethatcouldstillperform,sothere’s
nothingonthisbikethathasn’tgotapurpose,
whichgivesitsuchcleanlines.”
TheArcVector’saestheticsarejustoneofits
standoutfacets.Itsexteriortreadsapathbetween
geometriccurvesandthesmoothlinesthatare
offsetbypopsofwoodveneersonthetoppanels.
ThesewereinspiredandsuppliedbyLignum

T

Ahead of the curve

Theall-electricArcVectorrethinksthemotorbike

forthe21stcentury,saysAlistairMacQueen

Surfboards,makers of bespoke surf and

paddleboardswiththeonusonhandcraftedand

high-classsustainableproductswithlongevity.

ThisallieswithTruman’svisionthattheArc

Vectorshouldbehewnwithpremium-grade

materialsfromtheoff–somethingthat’salso

apparentin the groundbreaking“human

machineinterface”.Asthefirstofitskindin

theautomotivesector,thehelmet–which

requiresascanofyourheadtodetermineitssize

• has anHUD(head-updisplay) toshow
  notifications,withabuilt-inrearcameratoshow
  youwhat’shappeninginyourblindspots.This
  ridesintandemwithabespoke“Origin”haptic
  jacket,whichwarnsyouofanyapproaching
  trafficwitharepeatingpulseonthebackor
  shoulder,accordingtowheretheoffending
  vehicleissituated.
  Theteam approachedthisbike withan
  overarchingphilosophythatformandfunction
  havetoworktogetherseamlesslytoachievethe
  bestridingexperience,andnowhereisthatbetter
  definedthaninitsconstruction.Theengineand
  batteryarehousedinasolidmonocoqueshell
  that’sexactlylikeaFormulaOneracingcar.
  Producing133bhpandhitting 100km/hin

TheArcVectorcomes

withabespoke

helmet(left)featuring

ahead-updisplay

designedtoimprove

roadawareness

BOATLIFE