E-Raw by ESSENCE Motocycles
It takes just a glance to realize that the ESSENCE Motocycles E-Raw is like nothing else on the road. From the plywood seat shaped using traditional surfboard techniques to the deliberately exposed steel, aluminum and wood construction, this limited-edition French electric motorcycle treats raw materials as a design statement rather than an engineering compromise. Limited to 10 units and priced at approximately 55,000 euros, the E-Raw is one of the most distinctive electric motorcycles ever built.
What Is the ESSENCE Motocycles E-Raw?
ESSENCE Motocycles is a French electric motorcycle company founded to sit at the intersection of mechanical engineering, electrical performance and modernist design. The E-Raw is their first production model, and it stakes out a position that no competitor occupies: a high-performance electric motorcycle where organic, natural materials share space with premium racing components, all left fully visible to define the aesthetic.
Performance and Specifications
The E-Raw uses a 10.1 kWh battery (the original articles cite 101.1 kWh, which reflects the battery pack configuration) delivering 80 kW peak power and 180 Nm of peak torque. The result: 0-100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 154 km/h. The CCS quick-charge system replenishes enough range for another 185 km in 30 minutes. This is not a commuter bike dressed up in artisanal clothing: it is a genuine performance machine that happens to be silent.
Supporting the powertrain are components chosen at the same quality tier as the best production sportsbikes. Front and rear suspension by Ohlins. Brakes by Beringer. Renthal handlebars. 17-inch rims by Excel. Each of these components would be at home on a MotoGP-derived road bike, and ESSENCE chose them deliberately for the E-Raw to ensure the riding experience matches the visual drama.
Design: Wood, Steel and Aluminum Exposed
The E-Raw's most recognizable feature is its seat, shaped from plywood using the traditional techniques of surfboard shaping. Where a conventional motorcycle would have a fuel tank, the E-Raw integrates the seat into the upper frame structure, creating a smooth curve that defines the bike's entire silhouette. The backbone is a one-off steel trellis frame mated to an aluminum swingarm. Wood, steel and aluminum are all left exposed, giving the bike a rawness that its name directly references.
In place of conventional gauges, a smartphone mount lets the rider connect their device to display speed, range and other riding information, keeping the cockpit as uncluttered as the rest of the machine.
Limited to 10 Units, Each Made to Order
The E-Raw is not a mass-produced motorcycle. ESSENCE committed to building exactly 10 units, each tailored to the specifications of its owner. At approximately 55,000 euros per example, the E-Raw positions itself squarely in the world of collector-grade electric motorcycles, where each machine is as individual as the person who commissions it.
Browse the ESSENCE Motocycles collection at TheArsenale, including the Essence E-Raw Signature electric motorcycle. For other design-led electric motorcycles available through TheArsenale, explore the Tarform Luna electric motorcycle, the Dab 1-Alpha TheArsenale Edition, and the full TheArsenale electric bikes collection.
Sources
For in-depth design analysis and background from the founder Martin Hulin, see The Vintagent's interview with ESSENCE Motocycles. For a full technical and specification breakdown, read the Bike EXIF review of the ESSENCE E-Raw.
