Testing update

[SparkE]

EM has *talked* about production for 3 years. Have they *shipped* more than 3-5 units yet? (they announced the factory in China about a year ago, but ...)

[Rickb]

Apparently it takes time for production and production scale of a new vehicle. Selfishly, I only care about the 2 month delayed retail production start and deliveries of the 100 FUV Evergreen Editions due to certification issues. Arcimoto and EMV Sales should explode soon and both will be unable to keep up with demand. Although, EMV’s Zongshen Motorcycle Manufacturing partner should be able to crank out and ship a good number of SOLOs. China might be the SOLO’s largest worldwide market area.

[4dthinker]

I suspect the solos will at best get bit parts in sci-fi movies set in the future. I once owned a tiny Honda 600 Sedan (late 1970's) and in the sea of pickups and SUVs where I live now it would be crushed without even a notice by the offending driver. The FUV should do a bit better as it is taller and hopefully more easily seen.

4D

[Rickb]

The Canadian validation testing and certification requirements are more rigorous and exceed the USA’s in terms of safety to include crash testing. My guess is the SOLO would fair far better in a side impact accident and the FUV’s higher platform would fair better in accident avoidance, pending the driver’s attention to traffic conditions and reaction time. The SOLO is TOLOW to see and be seen. Frankly, I wouldn’t feel particularly safe driving either, but accept the risk as a future FUV Evergreen owner.

[Rickb]

The good news is Arcimoto had an angel investor from the very beginning, likely paid them back with interest after the IPO funding round, and the same angel$ are waiting in the wings.

[4dthinker]

Looks like all tests have been passed. If you have a reservation, check your email.

[harriska2]

FI NA LLY

[Rickb]

Apparently, the required validation retests have passed and the paperwork is being submitted to officially certify. However, still left with unanswered questions: How long is the certification paperwork process, will the assembly team start assembling retail Evergreens, inventory those vehicles, and door status.

[SparkE]

If everything passed, they could start up "almost complete" assembly, leaving anything "newish" that they might have doubts on for later, and stockpile them. Then do a "rush" final assembly (last few pieces) on the (10? 30? 50?) carcasses  already assembled and deliver them.

That would (1) gain time, (2) train the assembly line, allowing them to go slowly for assembly of the first  (10? 30? 50?) units, (3) make reservation holders happy.

AM didn't go the "outsource to China" route (I think). 

Complete left turn and non-related subject:

I am sort of sad that the "micro factories geographically separated" idea didn't take off. There was a company that had this "3-D print the car" idea (not the frame, not the springs, not the engine - the body) .  Manufacture all (10%?) of the "structural" components in one place and ship those SMALL (well, smaller) units/pieces to a few distributed locations where the "body" could be added - created on a 3-D printer using recycled plastic. They had several contests for designs and created several different car models ("body" parts different, many of the other parts common) - including a public "print - then assemble" demonstration of a vehicle  that took less than 24 hours.

I guess 3D printing is still too expensive.

[Rickb]

That’s exactly what they have been doing the past few months.....assembling and disassembling FUVs and apparently ramping production to a total of 4 units per day. There should be nothing newish added following the successful round of validation re-testing.