News

What would you do if you saw a 2023 electric motorcycle listed for a fraction of its retail price at a salvage auction? Most people would see a “Non-Runner” label and walk away, fearing a four-figure battery replacement. But here at Kinghorn Electric Vehicles, we see an opportunity for a rescue.

In the debut episode of our new series, EV RESCUES, we headed to Peterlee to pick up a Maeving RM1 that the previous owner had given up on.

The Gamble: A £600 “Non-Runner”

The Maeving RM1 is a beautiful, British-built piece of engineering, but like any EV, it’s only as good as its electrical health. When this bike hit the auction block, it was a total mystery. With auction fees, we were nearly £1,000 into a bike that wouldn’t even power up.

The Durham Connection

There’s a reason we wanted to save this specific bike. Did you know Maeving was founded by two friends who met right here at Durham University? Bringing this RM1 back to our workshop in Meadowfield felt like a homecoming. We weren’t just fixing a bike; we were saving a piece of local heritage.

The Diagnosis: Chasing Ghosts

We suspect that its previous owner found it “unreliable,” cutting out randomly until it finally stopped moving altogether. They probably suspected a terminal motor failure.

However, our experience with EVs told us to look deeper. It turns out the bike was suffering from two common “ghost” faults:

1. A “Sleeping” 12V Battery: An EV’s high-voltage system can’t wake up if the 12V “brain” is dead. Ours was reading a dismal 4V.

2. The Safety Sensor Trap:  Slightly misaligned kickstand and battery compartment door sensors were telling the bike’s computer to kill the motor every time it hit a bump.

A £30 battery and a bit of mechanical alignment later, and this “dead” bike was back to life.

What’s Next for the Maeving?

While she runs perfectly now, she’s still got some battle scars from the salvage yard. In the next part of this rescue, we’ll be tackling the pitted handlebars and surface rust to get her back to showroom condition before she finds a new home.

Need an EV Specialist in the North East?

At Kinghorn Electric Vehicles, we specialize in the repairs that main dealers won’t touch. Whether you have a modern EV with a “mystery” fault or you want to convert a classic car to electric power, our Meadowfield workshop is equipped to help.

• Diagnostic & Battery Repairs

• Specialist EV Servicing

• Classic Car EV Conversions

📍 Find us in Durham: Unit 3, Bowden Court, Meadowfield, DH7 8RE 

Subscribe to our YouTube channel to see the full restoration of the Maeving RM1!

https://youtu.be/GZOCoKrAUOo