Arcimoto, the real thing? ($12k tandem EV trike, 70/130 mi. range)

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by freebeard

It looks like the flood-damaged FUV are down to four. I need one to EV the Superbeetle.

How repairable is it, and what do they want for 'em?

Halfsies?

[freebeard]

My contact there, pointed at them and mentioned a speculative price; but they were awaiting the insurance companies decision. Now he doesn't return my calls.

I'll try email.

I'm going to go ahead with wide beam and beam extender on the front of the Baja. Reserve judgement -- EV or 1776 with 5-speed.

[Piotrsko]

Seen audis with 5 speeds that look exactly like the irs bug tranny,, but you probably already known that. Even if it's a bit different, an electric conversion wouldn't care.

Can you install an irs in a swing axle chassis? I suppose you can, but I don't know for sure. I do know the suspension interchanges and an irs to swing axle should be possible.

If it were me, I would do the baja as electric since that is the easier/ cheaper option and shove the stroker into your super. Off the super to some ricer kid who just wants to go fast in a unique car.

That's me, YMMV

[freebeard]

Yeah, the Super is my 'retirement investment fund'.

It's actually the other way round. The '58 body is on a 1971 floorpan, and the five speed came out of the notchback. swing axles and Type III drums. I think I'd need new spring plates.

I still have the Lexus electric axle, but the FUV would be a lot easier.

[Piotrsko]

From what i have seen on DIYELECTRICCAR.com. the Lexus drive is a costly can of worms unless you can come up with a really cheap 3 phase controller.

Didn't know that it was a 71 pan. That makes life easier. They made 5 spd swingaxles?

[freebeard]

I had high hopes for the Open ReVolt controller, if just for the name. https://ecomodder.com/wiki/Open_ReVolt

Back in the day, I called up Gene Berg for one of his five-speeds but he growled at me. So it was built by a garage in the woods outside Beaverton named Mikey's Five-speed. He showed me the custom mainshaft before it went in.

It adds a section between the case and nosecone with a 'low 4th and high 4th' gears. Requires a bump in the sheet metal and a modified shifter, Fifth is right and forward. In the notchback I shifted up into fifth at 85MPH so it wasn't used much, but there was an extra gear avaiiable around town. 85 is where the Superbeetle wants another gear.

The Baja has four-bolt wheels, I'm hoarding a set of aluminum dune buggy 14s. Those will get big and little tires as soon as it's back downtown. My project for today is to extend a parking space.

The advantage of an FUV conversion is the whole double A-arm suspension and brakes 'should' fit [TBD] with the same 4x100 bolt pattern as the front.

[Piotrsko]

So your 5spd has 2 shift rods or some odd thing with the 4th gear fork? Sticks the engine further back or does different bends on the axles?

For a controller, there seems to be a lot of ( cheap ) chinese powered utility vehicles, around 50hp. Haven't done a search in a couple years, the ranger still performs to the engineering requirements, too lazy to upgrade....

Ah , I understand why you want a flooded fuv. I was thinking it was a replacement for all your current vehicles.

[freebeard]

Single shift rod, but there is a section added to the front (front is front) and the 'nosecone' is shortened to compensate. The shifter (which I failed to scavenge out of the notchback) is modified to add a dogleg to the right and forward.

I wanted an un-flooded FUV to replace them all but at this time the extended warranty seems iffy.

[freebeard]

I was just passing though The Whiteaker so I drove through the RAMP.

Still very quite, but I found a guy named Mark wearing an Arcimoto hat sitting in an FUV. He said that production is paused for excessive inventory.

So that's good news. He said there were used FUV available, but the one listed on their website* is 'out of stock'.

*Used FUV (2021, 8036 Miles) – Base Model, West Coast Doors, Riviera Blue Frame, Cargo Box
$9,995» $250 To Reserve

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by freebeard

He said there were used FUV available, but the one listed on their website* is 'out of stock'.

*Used FUV (2021, 8036 Miles) – Base Model, West Coast Doors, Riviera Blue Frame, Cargo Box
$9,995» $250 To Reserve

That's a good price, right? All prices are negotiable too, so if it doesn't move then maybe we talk 'em down to $8k cash and a feel good story about a veteran getting their dream vehicle.