Real Motors Project Ares: Cyberpunk Electric Motorcycle
First ride on Project Ares, the debut electric motorcycle from South Carolina-based Real Motors with cyberpunk styling starting at $20,000.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Project Ares is the debut electric motorcycle from South Carolina's Real Motors.
- Design draws heavy inspiration from cyberpunk aesthetics and sci-fi universes.
- Starts at $20,000 and ships next year in limited production volumes.
- Powered by an electric motor delivering 101 horsepower and immense torque.
Electrification has unlocked unprecedented freedom for motorcycle designers, allowing them to strip away traditional engines and fuel tanks to craft strikingly original machines. While retro-futuristic offerings like the Maeving RM2 and minimalist entries like the BMW CE 02 have previously captured attention, nothing quite compares to the sheer visual impact of Project Ares.
This all-electric machine marks the inaugural vehicle from South Carolina-based Real Motors, sporting an aesthetic that would fit right into the streets of Night City from Cyberpunk 2077. Blending subtle nods to Star Wars and Wipeout into a cohesive original design, the bike is slated to begin shipping next year with a starting price of $20,000 in limited quantities.
CEO and cofounder Trent Dingman explains that the company originated from a challenge between himself and design engineer Michael Feng to build the coolest possible thing, achieve top-tier design, and demonstrate their engineering capabilities.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Known evocatively as Ghost, the Prototype 04 test mule features a glossy black fairing that conceals translucent properties upon closer inspection. Sitting in the saddle reveals the charger's cooling vanes tucked inside the faux-gas tank area alongside bright orange high-voltage wiring snaking through the battery assembly.
The bike relies on a battery pack rated at roughly 15 kilowatt-hours, supporting charging speeds up to 3.3 kilowatts via an SAE J1772 port positioned atop the faux tank. This energy feeds an electric motor officially rated at 101 horsepower and a staggering 738 pound-feet of wheel torque, which translates to roughly 200 pound-feet when measured at the motor output shaft, placing it among the most powerful twisting motorcycles globally.
"Build the coolest possible thing, the best design, and show people what we can do."
Trent Dingman, CEO and cofounder of Real Motors
Located in Greenville, South Carolina, Real Motors operates right in the heart of the emerging battery belt close to major EV players like BMW, Scout Motors, Volvo, and Redwood Materials. This strategic placement places them near key clean-energy supply chains, although current limitations in mass-produced solid-state battery technology mean large battery packs like the one on Ares still contribute significantly to the motorcycle's overall weight.
Source: The Verge
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