EV Startup Arcimoto Takes On Tesla With All-Electric Three Wheeler FUV

Clean and energy-efficient that doesn't take up much road space is what Arcimoto strives to accomplish with its new three-wheeled electric vehicle that is set to begin production.

There are already about 4,000 plus pre-orders for the FUV (Fun Utility Vehicle) after Arcimoto received a street-legal status that is has fought over a decade for. The Oregon-based startup founded in 2007 by Mark Frohnmayer will roll-out units in the West Coast initially.

The three-wheeled vehicle features two front wheels and one in the back. It has handlebars instead of steering wheels and a rear storage. The FUV is a cross between a motorcycle and a car but its open design if without the doors, is slightly comparable to a sandrail. This unique setup is unlike any of the mainstream EVs available in the market today, including Tesla and Porsche.

The FUV's top speed hits 75 miles per hour with a full charge (four hours on a 220V outlet) that can run for a little over 100 miles.

Electra Meccanica manufactures a similar kind of electric vehicles but differs in certain aspects. For instance, the Canadian microcar maker's Solo model features only one seat, and its design is very identical to a car. It's also faster at 85 miles per hour and charges quicker at three hours on a 220V outlet.

Interest for EVs has increased notably in Australia with 2,414 Model 3 arriving in the country far exceeding the sales of its fuel competitors. Elon Musk's company is also setting up factories in Shanghai, China, targeting to churn out vehicles before the end of 2019.

While Tesla caters to a different kind of customers, Arcimoto and other electric microcar makers do grab a share of consumers who value minimal environmental footprint. They also address the issues related to traffic congestion in Oregon by providing transportation that doesn't take up much road space.

According to Forbes, "the top-tier $19,900 Evergreen edition of the FUV features a full slate of options, including heated handgrips, heated seats, a very handy rear lockable mini-trunk that held a backpack and my full-face motorcycle helmet with room to spare and a Bluetooth stereo system." But Frohnmayer envisions to sell units for $12,000 or under $10,000 in the future.