GM Lab Eco Initiative: investigating the "bare necessity" car & truck

[freebeard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MHPujoi3Fo

[Bicycle Bob]

I see that Arcimoto does not even publish basic specifications, but it does claim that changing the design from steering wheel to handlebars saved 700 lbs. No news about what it did to the precision of steering on a fast, rough road, with the rider being tossed sideways. To paraphrase a popular description of helicopters, this looks like a collection of scrap rolling in loose formation.

[freebeard]

No news about what it did to the precision of steering on a fast, rough road, with the rider being tossed sideways.

Probably typical for a three wheel vehicle with torque vectoring in software. The problem is steering effort at parking speeds.

I'd be more concerned with a 27cu ft box above the single wheel.

...this looks like a collection of scrap rolling in loose formation

Have you seen their production facility? The video shows them testing the roll cage (probably to destruction).

[Bicycle Bob]

Originally Posted by freebeard

Probably typical for a three wheel vehicle with torque vectoring in software. The problem is steering effort at parking speeds.

I'd be more concerned with a 27cu ft box above the single wheel.



Have you seen their production facility? The video shows them testing the roll cage (probably to destruction).

I didn't hear anything about software - does this thing tilt? Handlebars are for the very rapid steering needed on a two-wheeler at low speed. Control motions become imperceptible at speed, which only works if the rider is well braced.

Trikes always have more trouble with variable loads - maybe it should have a box at both ends.

I didn't scope out the facility - a roll cage is an add-on for production racing safety. On a new design, that much weight should have a full-time job.

[freebeard]

It doesn't tilt, but it has twin 20hp motors with the differential action in the controllers' software.

"production racing safety"? It's what takes it out of the category with bikes and Polaris trikes. I don't know if it has power steering but it's likely since they have ambitions with autonomous ability.

No news about what it did to the precision of steering on a fast, rough road, with the rider being tossed sideways.

I asked if anyone had rolled one yet and he said no. It has four-point seatbelts.