http://www.arcimoto.com/rss.xml en 613 blog 237 1 2013-03-18T15:40:10-07:00 2013-03-18T15:40:10-07:00 617 237 <p>(Originally published Feb. 8, 2013)</p> <p>Ahoy loyal reader! Just a quick missive here to update you all on the progress of the design phase that bridges the launch of our Generation 6 prototype and the build of our upcoming pilot fleet of vehicles. We've collected solid data and feedback throughout last summer and fall and fine-tuned the vehicle's ride dynamics. All this learning has been applied towards the pilot design.</p> <p>You may have noticed the revised body design on the front page. Marcos has done an amazing job evolving the body design from that of Gen5, and we're excited to get to start building pilot vehicles and see it in reality! The overall frame design has been substantially refined, with clean lines and a sleeker stance that integrates seamlessly with the new nose. That design is locked in for the pilot fleet, as are the drive components we will be using in the build. Additionally, we are moving away from lead-acid batteries in our base model production vehicle (without affecting our target price of $17,500!). So, while the range option targets remain the same (40, 80, or 120 miles), that 40-mile range vehicle will now use a lithium chemistry battery pack.</p> <p><img src="/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/srkpilotcanvas-blackazurenf.jpg" alt="" class="imagecache-blog_image" /></p> <p>While the frame design is locked in, we are exploring options for building it using aluminum extrusions to save weight, and are plugging away on interior design items including the seats and dash. Testing with alternative drive components and battery packaging will be continuing concurrently with the build of the pilot fleet.</p> <p>In case you missed it, Discovery Channel Canada recently aired <a href="http://watch.discoverychannel.ca/daily-planet/november-2012/daily-planet---november-26th-2012/#clip814414">an Arcimoto piece</a> on Daily Planet. And last summer, we appeared on an <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTd2fCqulKM">episode of The Guild</a>, and got to hang out on set for the day and also appear in one of their <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_lF3V0rsig">Production Diaries</a>. As always, feel free to follow us on <a href="https://twitter.com/arcimoto">Twitter</a>, or like us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Arcimoto">Facebook</a>, to see these media updates in real-time.</p> <p><img src="/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/Discovery_NF.jpg" alt="" class="imagecache-blog_image" /></p> <p>Vehicle updates will come more periodically, as that is the nature of our feedback-design loop, though we will certainly keep you updated as we begin build, finish, and delivery of our first pilot vehicles very soon. As always, thanks to all of you for your continued patience and support!</p> <p>(Originally published Feb. 8, 2013)</p> <p>Ahoy loyal reader! Just a quick missive here to update you all on the progress of the design phase that bridges the launch of our Generation 6 prototype and the build of our upcoming pilot fleet of vehicles. We've collected solid data and feedback throughout last summer and fall and fine-tuned the vehicle's ride dynamics. All this learning has been applied towards the pilot design.</p> 1363646410 2 Eric Fritz sites/default/files/images/users/picture-237.jpg a:8:{s:12:"simplenews-3";i:1;s:13:"form_build_id";s:37:"form-5b8a6fefd9c63709b43dcbe9cfb1bca6";s:6:"mollom";a:2:{s:10:"session_id";s:29:"1277158879-100622b8e0b8a62010";s:7:"captcha";s:5:"sPNA2";}s:17:"mimemail_textonly";i:0;s:14:"picture_delete";i:0;s:14:"picture_upload";s:0:"";s:9:"nodewords";a:9:{s:8:"abstract";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:9:"canonical";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:9:"copyright";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:18:"@2011 Arcimoto LLC";}s:11:"description";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:8:"keywords";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:109:"arcimoto, EV, electric, vehicle, efficient, sustainable, SRK, Deliverator, Pulse, eugene, oregon, DriveOregon";}s:13:"revisit-after";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:1:"1";}s:6:"robots";a:2:{s:5:"value";a:6:{s:9:"noarchive";i:0;s:8:"nofollow";i:0;s:7:"noindex";i:0;s:5:"noodp";i:0;s:9:"nosnippet";i:0;s:6:"noydir";i:0;}s:11:"use_default";i:0;}s:8:"dc.title";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:8:"location";a:2:{s:8:"latitude";s:9:"34.416168";s:9:"longitude";s:10:"-81.383273";}}s:18:"htmlmail_plaintext";i:0;} journey/february-2013-newsflash 1363646410 542 237 srkpilotpoppynf.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/srkpilotpoppynf.jpg image/jpeg 49502 1 1363644935 SRKPilot_Poppy_NF.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"542";s:5:"width";i:580;s:6:"height";i:314;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:23:"February 2013 Newsflash";s:5:"title";s:23:"February 2013 Newsflash";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/srkpilotpoppynf.jpg 543 237 srkpilotcanvas-blackazurenf.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/srkpilotcanvas-blackazurenf.jpg image/jpeg 45018 1 1363645064 SRKPilot[CANVAS-black]_Azure_NF.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"543";s:5:"width";i:580;s:6:"height";i:317;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/srkpilotcanvas-blackazurenf.jpg February 2013 Newsflash 601 blog 237 1 2012-08-28T17:52:53-07:00 2013-03-17T23:05:03-07:00 605 1 <p>Summer has flown by at Arcimoto. We've traveled the west coast with our Generation 6 prototype, added some stellar members to our team, and geared up to build our pilot fleet. Amid a whirlwind of events and rigorous prototype testing, we are now finalizing our plans for building a fleet of 15 pilot vehicles.</p> <p>As I write this from a hotel room in San Jose, the Arcimoto engineering team is going full steam ahead (we need to create a new phrase: "full electricity ahead!") back at the shop, completing the pilot fleet design details and preparing for the build. We are identifying and developing partnerships with key suppliers and performing pre-award surveys of manufacturing companies that will carry us through the pilot build into production.</p> <p>A couple recent additions to the team are going to help us get there. Terry Becker joins us as our new Director of Operations to spearhead the ramp into production through the build of the pilot fleet. Terry holds degrees in Physics and Mechanical Engineering from Loma Linda University and Walla Walla University respectively. After attending the MBA program at the University of Massachusetts in 1986 he managed Engineering and Operations Departments for several successful companies on the global international level. Transportation companies include Arneson Marine and Country Coach. Peterson Corp, a manufacturer of wood waste recyclers, and JBT AeroTech are corporations significantly improved by Terry's process implementation. His passion for transportation, especially three-wheeled vehicles, and his team leading approach fit well with the Arcimoto team.</p> <p>Kate Blazar joins the team as our Business Development Lead. Kate graduated magna cum laude with honors and a degree in Environmental Studies and Geology from Whitman College in 2004. She completed the University of Oregon Graduate School's certificate in Nonprofit Management in 2006. Kate has more than a decade of experience in public relations and raising capital. Before joining Arcimoto she was the Executive Director of Cascadia Wildlands, a leading environmental advocacy group in the Pacific Northwest. Kate is excited to put her extensive experience to work raising awareness and garnering support for the vehicle and for the company.</p> <p><img src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/beckerblazar.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache-blog_image" /></p> <p>But let's rewind and recap the events of the summer. We attended <a href="http://events.ntpshow.com/evs26/public/enter.aspx">EVS26</a> back in May. Held in Los Angeles this year, EVS is the largest annual EV industry trade show in the world. We had a presence on the show floor as part of the <a href="http://driveoregon.org/">Drive Oregon</a> booth, but the real action was out front at the Ride, Drive & Charge event, where we ran test drives of Gen6 all day alongside the likes of Nissan, GM, Ford, and Mitsubishi. Responses to the drive were overwhelmingly positive. We made lots of good contacts at the show for vehicle parts, solidifying some of our component decisions as we head into pilot build.</p> <p>We returned to California in June to give a Tech Talk at the Google campus followed by test drives of Gen6. We stayed in the Bay for the remainder of that week and showed Gen6 at the Stanford vehicle showcase, which featured innovative vehicle designers <a href="http://www.getlocalmotion.com/">Local Motion</a>, <a href="http://www.swaymotorsports.com/">Sway Motorsports</a>, <a href="http://litmotors.com/">Lit</a>, <a href="http://www.kleenspeed.com/ev-x11/">Kleenspeed</a>, and several other cool vehicles in addition to ours.</p> <p><img src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/stanfordshowcase.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache-blog_image" /></p> <p>Towards the end of June we attended <a href="http://www.egrandprix.com/evlive.php">EV Live</a> at Portland International Raceway. It was quite possibly the first poor weather we've experienced when showing one of our prototypes, although the rain did clear up long enough for us to take two parade laps around the track. That didn't help when a virtual hurricane hit us about an hour later, blowing over several pop-up canopies and threatening to drench our as yet uncovered Gen6 prototype. Despite the lack of body panels, Gen6 suffered no ill effects from the torrential downpour. As an added bonus, Mark had the opportunity to shoot a <a href="http://www.englishbaby.com/lessons/5990/real_life/automotive_business_english_with_arcimoto_ceo_mark_frohnmayer">short educational video</a> for <a href="http://www.englishbaby.com/">English Baby</a> before we returned to Eugene.</p> <p><img src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/evlive.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache-blog_image" /></p> <p>We kicked off July with an EV caravan down I-5 led by Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley, then celebrated Independence Day by participating in the Hillsboro 4th of July parade, marching (err, driving) with the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/WashCoDems">Washington County Democrats</a>. Later that month, we were invited to display at <a href="http://www.intersolar.us/en/intersolar.html">Intersolar</a>, the largest solar conference in the world. We extend many thanks to <a href="http://www.ch2m.com/corporate/">C2HM Hill</a> for inviting us to participate in their booth, and giving us great exposure to a huge international audience of green technology innovators, investors, and consumers. The timing was such that we had to book it home in order to get Gen6 out to the <a href="http://www.oregoncountryfair.org/">Oregon Country Fair.</a></p> <p><img src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/countryfair.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache-blog_image" /></p> <p>Our current trip popped up as a surprise opportunity to feature Gen6 in an episode of a popular web series, and we're now proud to say that the vehicle has completed its <a href="https://twitter.com/arcimoto/status/236574871025500160">first acting gig</a>! We spent the following week up in the Bay Area connecting with potential and current investors and advisors, and are heading back to Eugene right about now, just in time for the <a href="http://www.eugenecelebration.com/">Eugene Celebration</a>!</p> <p>Thank you all for your support. Stay tuned for our next missive (whether by <a href="http://www.arcimoto.com/newsletter">newsletter</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Arcimoto">facebook update</a>, or <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/arcimoto">tweet</a>)!</p> <p>Summer has flown by at Arcimoto. We've traveled the west coast with our Generation 6 prototype, added some stellar members to our team, and geared up to build our pilot fleet. Amid a whirlwind of events and rigorous prototype testing, we are now finalizing our plans for building a fleet of 15 pilot vehicles.</p> 1363586703 2 Eric Fritz sites/default/files/images/users/picture-237.jpg a:8:{s:12:"simplenews-3";i:1;s:13:"form_build_id";s:37:"form-5b8a6fefd9c63709b43dcbe9cfb1bca6";s:6:"mollom";a:2:{s:10:"session_id";s:29:"1277158879-100622b8e0b8a62010";s:7:"captcha";s:5:"sPNA2";}s:17:"mimemail_textonly";i:0;s:14:"picture_delete";i:0;s:14:"picture_upload";s:0:"";s:9:"nodewords";a:9:{s:8:"abstract";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:9:"canonical";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:9:"copyright";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:18:"@2011 Arcimoto LLC";}s:11:"description";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:8:"keywords";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:109:"arcimoto, EV, electric, vehicle, efficient, sustainable, SRK, Deliverator, Pulse, eugene, oregon, DriveOregon";}s:13:"revisit-after";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:1:"1";}s:6:"robots";a:2:{s:5:"value";a:6:{s:9:"noarchive";i:0;s:8:"nofollow";i:0;s:7:"noindex";i:0;s:5:"noodp";i:0;s:9:"nosnippet";i:0;s:6:"noydir";i:0;}s:11:"use_default";i:0;}s:8:"dc.title";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:8:"location";a:2:{s:8:"latitude";s:9:"34.416168";s:9:"longitude";s:10:"-81.383273";}}s:18:"htmlmail_plaintext";i:0;} journey/august-2012-newsletter 1346201573 528 237 4thjuly.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/4thjuly.jpg image/jpeg 77440 1 1346199843 4thJuly.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"528";s:5:"width";i:580;s:6:"height";i:325;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:22:"August 2012 Newsletter";s:5:"title";s:22:"August 2012 Newsletter";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/4thjuly.jpg 529 237 stanfordshowcase.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/stanfordshowcase.jpg image/jpeg 32233 1 1346200044 StanfordShowcase.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"529";s:5:"width";i:580;s:6:"height";i:107;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/stanfordshowcase.jpg 530 237 evlive.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/evlive.jpg image/jpeg 57878 1 1346200568 EVLive.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"530";s:5:"width";i:580;s:6:"height";i:286;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/evlive.jpg 531 237 countryfair.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/countryfair.jpg image/jpeg 73874 1 1346200637 CountryFair.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"531";s:5:"width";i:580;s:6:"height";i:389;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/countryfair.jpg 532 237 beckerblazar.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/beckerblazar.jpg image/jpeg 16012 1 1346201488 beckerblazar.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"532";s:5:"width";i:580;s:6:"height";i:150;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/beckerblazar.jpg August 2012 Newsletter 587 blog 237 1 2012-04-23T18:33:10-07:00 2012-04-23T18:33:10-07:00 591 237 <p>(Originally published April 21, 2012)</p> <p>As Jim likes to say, it STILL doesn't suck. In fact, it's pretty darn awesome. At least that's what the preliminary reports are telling us.</p> <p>That's right, the Generation 6 pilot mule is on the road, and the few (but rapidly increasing number of) people that have driven it have given glowing reviews. Just yesterday we were lucky enough to attend a private test drive event at a large company. They have requested that we not blog or tweet about the event, or sneeze out a rorschach blob that resembles their logo. So we won't do that. I mean, we wouldn't want them finding out via a SEARCH ENGINE or something. Also, this photo may or may not have been taken on site:</p> <p><img src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/android2.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache-blog_image" /></p> <p>You may have noticed a few other changes around here. We have updated the front page with the money shot of Gen6 (which is how it will look once we put a bird on it). We have also updated the product page to more accurately describe exactly what it is we are building in all it's wordy glory. More updates will come soon, after we get back from our current road trip.</p> <p><img src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/srk-gen6-tandem-v3.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache-blog_image" /></p> <p>Speaking of which, we're down in the Bay Area for the next few days. We'll be at <a href="http://www.earthdaysf.org/earth-day.html">Earth Day San Francisco</a> on Sunday April 22 (yes, that's tomorrow, sorry for the short notice), so if you're in the area come say hello! Mark will also be speaking at the <a href="http://foundershowcase.com/">Founder Showcase</a> on Tuesday April 24, the quarterly mind meld of entrepreneurs and investors put on by the <a href="http://fi.co/">Founder Institute</a>. We'll be back down in Cali (southern, this time) in a couple weeks for <a href="http://www.evs26.org/">EVS26</a> in LA May 6-9.</p> <p>Lastly, in case you missed it, Mark recently gave a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbTApx7ItBQ">TEDx Talk</a> at Portland's Concordia University, discussing the past, present, and future of transportation. It's titled "Dude, Where's My Car?" and is also linked on our front page.</p> <p>That's it for now. Thank you all for your support and we'll talk (and by that I mean <a href="http://www.arcimoto.com/newsletter">email you another newsletter</a>, post <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Arcimoto">facebook updates</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/arcimoto">tweet</a>) again soon!</p> <p>(If you would rather be reading these in your email inbox, <a href="http://www.arcimoto.com/newsletter">sign up here!</a>)</p> <p>(Originally published April 21, 2012)</p> <p>As Jim likes to say, it STILL doesn't suck. In fact, it's pretty darn awesome. At least that's what the preliminary reports are telling us.</p> 1335231190 2 Eric Fritz sites/default/files/images/users/picture-237.jpg a:8:{s:12:"simplenews-3";i:1;s:13:"form_build_id";s:37:"form-5b8a6fefd9c63709b43dcbe9cfb1bca6";s:6:"mollom";a:2:{s:10:"session_id";s:29:"1277158879-100622b8e0b8a62010";s:7:"captcha";s:5:"sPNA2";}s:17:"mimemail_textonly";i:0;s:14:"picture_delete";i:0;s:14:"picture_upload";s:0:"";s:9:"nodewords";a:9:{s:8:"abstract";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:9:"canonical";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:9:"copyright";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:18:"@2011 Arcimoto LLC";}s:11:"description";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:8:"keywords";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:109:"arcimoto, EV, electric, vehicle, efficient, sustainable, SRK, Deliverator, Pulse, eugene, oregon, DriveOregon";}s:13:"revisit-after";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:1:"1";}s:6:"robots";a:2:{s:5:"value";a:6:{s:9:"noarchive";i:0;s:8:"nofollow";i:0;s:7:"noindex";i:0;s:5:"noodp";i:0;s:9:"nosnippet";i:0;s:6:"noydir";i:0;}s:11:"use_default";i:0;}s:8:"dc.title";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:8:"location";a:2:{s:8:"latitude";s:9:"34.416168";s:9:"longitude";s:10:"-81.383273";}}s:18:"htmlmail_plaintext";i:0;} journey/april-2012-newsletter 1338969684 2 523 237 srk-gen6-tandem-v3.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/srk-gen6-tandem-v3.jpg image/jpeg 53133 1 1335230698 srk-gen6-tandem-v3.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"523";s:5:"width";i:580;s:6:"height";i:352;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:21:"April 2012 Newsletter";s:5:"title";s:21:"April 2012 Newsletter";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/srk-gen6-tandem-v3.jpg 521 237 android2.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/android2.jpg image/jpeg 163168 1 1335230527 Android2.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"521";s:5:"width";i:580;s:6:"height";i:773;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/android2.jpg April 2012 Newsletter 586 blog 237 1 2012-04-23T18:32:14-07:00 2012-04-23T18:32:14-07:00 590 237 <p>(Originally published Feb. 10, 2012)</p> <p>Hello again friends of Arcimoto, and welcome to those joining the mailing list from the Portland International Auto Show or other sources. January was a busy build month for us, and we have made a lot of progress on the build of our Generation 6 pilot mule. Read on for the details!</p> <p><img src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/subframe2.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache-blog_image" /></p> <p>We have completed the sub-frame assembly and have several frame parts under construction, including the front suspension control arms; rear swing arm; the A, B, and C pillars; the side tubes; and the steering and braking bracketry. We are starting to receive several of the interior components, including the steering column, pedals, and seats. We will be testing out a Tillet carbon-fiber racing seat in Gen6, which is deceptively comfortable, in addition to being highly functional and stylish!</p> <p><img src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/wheel_seat.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache-blog_image" /></p> <p>Work continues on Gen6 battery pack development; we are now starting to wire up the battery bundle place holders and install the bus bars. The next step is to build the cell packs and ready them for chassis installation.</p> <p>We made some electrical updates to Gen4 to get a bit of testing in prior to building them into Gen6. These updates included a new I/O model that integrates a new upgraded motor controller, battery monitor, and a new main contactor, while making the I/O network more robust and resistant to electromagnetic interference. We also shortened up the main motive cables and rewired the harnesses, and overall optimized the drive system electronics into a safer, more well-contained space.</p> <p><img src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/PDX_auto_show2.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache-blog_image" /></p> <p>Those changes to Gen4 were on display last week at the Portland International Auto Show. We were part of the <a href="http://driveoregon.org/">Drive Oregon</a> display up on the second floor in the Eco Center. <a href="http://rynomotors6.wordpress.com/">RYNO</a>’s unicycle was there, along with the folding bike from <a href="http://www.consciouscommuter.com/">Conscious Commuter</a>, and fellow three-wheeled vehicle manufacturer <a href="http://www.greenlitemotors.com/">Green Lite Motors</a>. Also representing Drive Oregon was <a href="http://www.kerstech.com/">KersTech</a> and their hybrid drive system, and conversion outfits <a href="http://voltwagenepc.com/">Voltwagen</a> and <a href="http://www.raeev.com/">Rae EV</a>. To everybody who made it up to the Eco Center and checked out the vehicle, thanks for stopping by and saying hello!</p> <p>This Sunday, Feb. 12, is the annual <a href="http://www.bbbslane.org/2012-truffle-shuffle/">Truffle Shuffle</a> out at Alton Baker Park. We’ll have Gen4 out at the event, and hope to see all you Eugene runners out there. The event kicks off at 12:45pm, beginning with the 700m kids run and ending with the 4-mile run at 2:15pm. Entry fees are $15 for kids or $25 for adults (add $5 for “day of” registration). Purple long-sleeve tech shirts are an additional $20 ($25 "day of") and kid's cotton shirts are $10. All proceeds benefit <a href="http://www.bbbslane.org/">Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lane County</a>. Many thanks to Big Brothers Big Sisters for inviting us out, and we’ll hope for nice weather to punctuate a fun afternoon.</p> <p><img src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/bbbs.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache-blog_image" /></p> <p>As always, check our <a href="http://www.arcimoto.com/">website</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Arcimoto">Facebook page</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/arcimoto">follow us on Twitter</a> if these newsletters aren’t hitting you at regular enough intervals. Until next time, when we will be bringing you reports from our first experience with Gen6 on the road!</p> <p>(If you would rather be reading these in your email inbox, <a href="http://www.arcimoto.com/newsletter">sign up here!</a>)</p> <p>(Originally published Feb. 10, 2012)</p> <p>Hello again friends of Arcimoto, and welcome to those joining the mailing list from the Portland International Auto Show or other sources. January was a busy build month for us, and we have made a lot of progress on the build of our Generation 6 pilot mule. Read on for the details!</p> <p><img src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/subframe2.jpg" alt="" title="" class="imagecache-blog_image" /></p> 1335231134 2 Eric Fritz sites/default/files/images/users/picture-237.jpg a:8:{s:12:"simplenews-3";i:1;s:13:"form_build_id";s:37:"form-5b8a6fefd9c63709b43dcbe9cfb1bca6";s:6:"mollom";a:2:{s:10:"session_id";s:29:"1277158879-100622b8e0b8a62010";s:7:"captcha";s:5:"sPNA2";}s:17:"mimemail_textonly";i:0;s:14:"picture_delete";i:0;s:14:"picture_upload";s:0:"";s:9:"nodewords";a:9:{s:8:"abstract";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:9:"canonical";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:9:"copyright";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:18:"@2011 Arcimoto LLC";}s:11:"description";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:8:"keywords";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:109:"arcimoto, EV, electric, vehicle, efficient, sustainable, SRK, Deliverator, Pulse, eugene, oregon, DriveOregon";}s:13:"revisit-after";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:1:"1";}s:6:"robots";a:2:{s:5:"value";a:6:{s:9:"noarchive";i:0;s:8:"nofollow";i:0;s:7:"noindex";i:0;s:5:"noodp";i:0;s:9:"nosnippet";i:0;s:6:"noydir";i:0;}s:11:"use_default";i:0;}s:8:"dc.title";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:8:"location";a:2:{s:8:"latitude";s:9:"34.416168";s:9:"longitude";s:10:"-81.383273";}}s:18:"htmlmail_plaintext";i:0;} journey/february-2012-newsletter 1335231134 519 237 pdxautoshow2.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/pdxautoshow2.jpg image/jpeg 76423 1 1335229707 PDX_auto_show2.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"519";s:5:"width";i:580;s:6:"height";i:369;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:24:"February 2012 Newsletter";s:5:"title";s:24:"February 2012 Newsletter";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/pdxautoshow2.jpg 516 237 subframe2.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/subframe2.jpg image/jpeg 76074 1 1335229334 sub_frame2.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"516";s:5:"width";i:580;s:6:"height";i:375;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/subframe2.jpg February 2012 Newsletter 585 blog 237 1 2012-04-23T18:31:18-07:00 2012-04-23T18:31:18-07:00 589 237 <p>(Originally published Dec. 9, 2011)</p> <p>Season's greetings from Arcimoto!</p> <p>Depending on when you signed up for our mailing list, this may be the first Arcimoto newsletter you have actually seen. We intend to remedy that, and to make these a more regular occurrence, rather than a “when we have time for them” one (which roughly translates to “never”). Below the vehicle update we list some recent event updates and news items that are readily available on our site or social media outlets, so if you’re hungry for Arcimoto news next month and don’t want to wait for the next installment of this newsletter, be sure to visit the <a href="http://www.arcimoto.com/news">news page</a> on our site, our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/Arcimoto">Facebook page</a>, and <a href="http://twitter.com/arcimoto">follow us on Twitter</a>.</p> <p><strong>So what’s up with the vehicle?</strong><br> Work continues at a steady pace. Our engineering team has taken data from the ride experience and drive characteristics of Generation 5 and applied it toward design of the Generation 6 pilot mule. This will be the foundation of the pilot fleet and we have just recently locked the frame and begun build of the vehicle.</p> <p>The new frame has a reduced height, with a slimmer seat that sits a bit lower, lowering the center of gravity and reducing total curb weight. The front-end components have been tightened up, again adding to the overall weight reduction of the vehicle.</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/framecomparison2.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>The electrical team has started mocking up the harnesses on a full-size print of the vehicle layout and are testing out a new eco wire from Alpha Wire that is smaller and lighter. They have been working with our good buddy and controller creator Ives Meadors at Synkromotive, updating the motor controller and nailing down the programming for all of the I/O’s and network circuits in the vehicle. We will be testing the extended range LiFePO4 battery pack in the Generation 6 pilot mule, so work has begun building and testing the pack.</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/bench_battery.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>Steel pieces have started to arrive in preparation for frame assembly.</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/IMG_0027.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>Design iterations are coming along nicely; no photos for you there yet, but we will share some imagery on the look for Generation 6 soon.</p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/arcimoto/status/132630894505758721">World premiere of ‘Revenge of the Electric Car’</a><br> We traveled up to Portland for the world premiere of Chris Paine’s ‘Revenge of the Electric Car’, sequel to the eye-opening documentary ‘Who Killed the Electric Car?’ An EV caravan made its way through the northeast Portland neighborhood, and spotted up outside the theater. The film was great, with lots of good information once again, but was far more character-driven than its predecessor. Paine attended the premiere and was on hand for Q&A following the show.</p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/arcimoto/status/129247115158368257">Cafe Yumm! unveils their new solar-powered charging stations</a><br> Eugenians are no doubt familiar with Cafe Yumm!, but for the benefit of those reading this from elsewhere, Cafe Yumm! is a restaurant that specializes in delicious vegetarian fare, particularly beans and rice with their namesake Yumm! sauce and plenty of tasty fixin’s on top. Perhaps slighly less well known is their 'triple bottom line,' an integral piece of their company mission, which states that (and I’m paraphrasing here), whenever possible, their actions should do what’s best for the company, best for the community, and best for the planet. We think the installation of a 40-kw solar system powering two charging stations (the first of its kind at a restaurant in the Northwest) in their covered parking lot is certainly a success by any measure, but particularly with regards to their triple bottom line.</p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/arcimoto/status/125639777662930944">National Plug-In Day in Portland</a><br> Drive Oregon sponsored an event on Electric Avenue in front of Portland State University that brought out dozens of electric vehicles and featured a ceremonial plug-in at noon. If you’re looking for a place to charge up in Portland, Electric Avenue is awesome, with several different charging stations and EV-only parking spaces, which are typically free if you’re charging.</p> <p><a href="http://www.arcimoto.com/journey/know-what-we-did-last-summer">Know What We Did Last Summer?</a><br> I posted a blog describing the high points (and low points) of our summer, including the Stana Katic and Translogic test drives (videos of which are featured on our <a href="http://www.arcimoto.com/">front page</a>), as well as the event at Laguna Seca.</p> <p>Until next time, the team here at Arcimoto wishes all of you out there a very happy holiday season!</p> <p>(If you would rather be reading these in your email inbox, <a href="http://www.arcimoto.com/newsletter">sign up here!</a>)</p> <p>(Originally published Dec. 9, 2011)</p> <p>Season's greetings from Arcimoto!</p> 1335231078 2 Eric Fritz sites/default/files/images/users/picture-237.jpg a:8:{s:12:"simplenews-3";i:1;s:13:"form_build_id";s:37:"form-5b8a6fefd9c63709b43dcbe9cfb1bca6";s:6:"mollom";a:2:{s:10:"session_id";s:29:"1277158879-100622b8e0b8a62010";s:7:"captcha";s:5:"sPNA2";}s:17:"mimemail_textonly";i:0;s:14:"picture_delete";i:0;s:14:"picture_upload";s:0:"";s:9:"nodewords";a:9:{s:8:"abstract";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:9:"canonical";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:9:"copyright";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:18:"@2011 Arcimoto LLC";}s:11:"description";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:8:"keywords";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:109:"arcimoto, EV, electric, vehicle, efficient, sustainable, SRK, Deliverator, Pulse, eugene, oregon, DriveOregon";}s:13:"revisit-after";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:1:"1";}s:6:"robots";a:2:{s:5:"value";a:6:{s:9:"noarchive";i:0;s:8:"nofollow";i:0;s:7:"noindex";i:0;s:5:"noodp";i:0;s:9:"nosnippet";i:0;s:6:"noydir";i:0;}s:11:"use_default";i:0;}s:8:"dc.title";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:8:"location";a:2:{s:8:"latitude";s:9:"34.416168";s:9:"longitude";s:10:"-81.383273";}}s:18:"htmlmail_plaintext";i:0;} journey/december-2011-newsletter 1335231078 514 237 framecomparison3.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/framecomparison3.jpg image/jpeg 66651 1 1335229039 frame_comparison_3.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"514";s:5:"width";i:580;s:6:"height";i:238;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:24:"December 2011 Newsletter";s:5:"title";s:24:"December 2011 Newsletter";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/framecomparison3.jpg 512 237 framecomparison2.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/framecomparison2.jpg image/jpeg 62220 1 1335226326 frame_comparison_2.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"512";s:5:"width";i:540;s:6:"height";i:222;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/framecomparison2.jpg December 2011 Newsletter 578 blog 237 1 2011-10-21T11:25:40-07:00 2011-10-21T11:27:18-07:00 582 237 <p>Well it has been an eventful Summer.  It may not seem like it based on our website activity, but I will get to that a bit later.  We’ll start from where we left off in June.  We kicked off the summer with a trip down to Cali to show Red 5.  We had some great meetings and filmed a couple videos with <a href="http://translogic.aolautos.com/2011/07/04/translogic-61-arcimoto-srk/">Translogic</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8Xl85zQwN0&feature=player_embedded">Stana Katic</a> that are now on the front page.</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/20110613translogicshoot26-copy.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>The capper of the Cali trip was an all-day outing at the Laguna Seca Raceway for the annual <a href="http://www.refuelraces.com/">Refuel</a> event on June 26.  Mark and I had headed back home by then, and Jeremy was joined by the dynamic duo of C&C, Mechanical and Electrical Engineers Chris Angot and Chris Critchett.  Good news and bad news came out of Laguna Seca.  The good news is we had our first crash safety test.  The bad news is we had our first crash safety test.  Read on for the full story, but the short version is that Jeremy (as the driver) walked away from the rolled vehicle with nothing more than a bruised knee.</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/20110626lagunasecarefuel13-copy.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>The Refuel event was a Clean Power Motorsports Event and “EV fun day” at Laguna Seca.  Electric vehicles of every variety were invited to the event.  We decided to take the opportunity to test Red 5 at higher speeds.  As a three-wheeler, we were placed in the motorcycle class and took the track with a few other (traditional) motorcycles and three-wheelers.  One of the other motorcycle drivers appeared to take his “fun” a little too seriously, and aggressively passed Jeremy on his second lap after he had already begun the tightest turn of the track (turn 11 for those interested).  The motorcycle passed Jeremy and pulled wide, placing himself directly in front of our vehicle, and decelerated rapidly in the turn, forcing Jeremy to take heroic evasive action.  He simultaneously braked hard and cranked the wheel, and at full speed went sideways to the course.  Under extenuating stress that led to the failure of a critical suspension component, the vehicle fully rolled and spun 180 degrees before landing upright.  </p> <p>As noted above, Jeremy was uninjured and while the vehicle’s performance was a strong validation of the roll cage and safety cell, we certainly had some analysis to do to determine if mechanical improvements could be made to increase safety under extreme driving circumstances. Tom and the rest of the engineering team pored over data and video recorded from the crash as well as the buckled lower A-arm and frame parts.  The fruits of that analysis have made their way into the design of the Generation 6 pilot mule (code name “Phoenix”), resulting in a lower vehicular center of gravity, substantially increased suspension arm strength, decreased maximum height, and lower weight overall, all of which will improve handling and mechanical stability in a variety of driving conditions.  We plan to put the Phoenix through the same grueling paces once it is built to validate these improvements.</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/20110626_laguna_seca_refuel_22 copy.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>There is probably never a good time for an unintended crash, but in this case our timing was particularly poor.  Upon our return, we made some tough decisions to scale back several areas of the operation in order to conserve resources for the design and build of our pilot vehicles.  This is why you have heard so little from us over the summer, as yours truly along with the rest of the marketing team has been “on vacation.”  Fear not, dear reader, because we are back in the office now, and ramping up to build of the pilot fleet.</p> <p>Meanwhile, C&C (just call them the Music Factory) worked diligently all summer on platform refinement, and we are nearly ready to begin the build of the Generation 6 pilot mule.  I would also like to give a shout out to our marketing intern, Dylan Garrett, who put together two stellar videos (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=iRVHkY0N170">The platform</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RzSgpi9gyQ&feature=player_embedded">The idea</a> on the front page) over the summer.  We will have lots of information to share in the weeks to come.  Until then, check out the videos.</p> <p>Well it has been an eventful Summer.  It may not seem like it based on our website activity, but I will get to that a bit later.  We’ll start from where we left off in June.  We kicked off the summer with a trip down to Cali to show Red 5.  We had some great meetings and filmed a couple videos with <a href="http://translogic.aolautos.com/2011/07/04/translogic-61-arcimoto-srk/">Translogic</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8Xl85zQwN0&feature=player_embedded">Stana Katic</a> that are now on the front page.</p> 1319221638 6 Eric Fritz sites/default/files/images/users/picture-237.jpg a:8:{s:12:"simplenews-3";i:1;s:13:"form_build_id";s:37:"form-5b8a6fefd9c63709b43dcbe9cfb1bca6";s:6:"mollom";a:2:{s:10:"session_id";s:29:"1277158879-100622b8e0b8a62010";s:7:"captcha";s:5:"sPNA2";}s:17:"mimemail_textonly";i:0;s:14:"picture_delete";i:0;s:14:"picture_upload";s:0:"";s:9:"nodewords";a:9:{s:8:"abstract";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a 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265664 1 1319216186 20110617_stana_katic_87 copy.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"499";s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:683;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:29:"Know What We Did Last Summer?";s:5:"title";s:29:"Know What We Did Last Summer?";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/20110617stanakatic87-copy.jpg 500 237 20110613translogicshoot26-copy.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/20110613translogicshoot26-copy.jpg image/jpeg 357972 1 1319218797 20110613_translogic_shoot_26 copy.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"500";s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:683;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/20110613translogicshoot26-copy.jpg 501 237 20110626lagunasecarefuel13-copy.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/20110626lagunasecarefuel13-copy.jpg image/jpeg 353738 1 1319218884 20110626_laguna_seca_refuel_13 copy.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"501";s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:683;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/20110626lagunasecarefuel13-copy.jpg 502 237 20110626lagunasecarefuel22-copy.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/20110626lagunasecarefuel22-copy.jpg image/jpeg 267567 1 1319219112 20110626_laguna_seca_refuel_22 copy.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"502";s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:682;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/20110626lagunasecarefuel22-copy.jpg Know What We Did Last Summer 569 blog 888 1 2011-05-27T16:15:41-07:00 2011-05-28T14:29:53-07:00 573 1 <p> </p> <p id="internal-source-marker_0.1807523297611624" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><strong>Arcimoto Tour For Rational Vanity October 2010</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">In The Name Of National Sanity,  </p> <p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">An Electric Vehicle Entrepreneur Crosses the Country By Train</p> <p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><em>A retrospective travelogue by Jorah LaFleur </em></p> <p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"> </p> <p>PROLOGUE:</p> <p>Q: What  do you get when you cross electric vehicles, entrepreneurship, urban renewal, activism and train travel?</p> <p>A: The Arcimoto Tour For Rational Vanity 2010.</p> <p>While team Arcimoto works around the clock on their 5th generation EV prototype at their home base in Eugene, OR, company founder Mark Frohnmayer is setting out on a trip across the country.  This trip, which is to be conducted almost exclusively by train, will take Mark to Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Detroit, New York, and DC.  I will be traveling with him as a poet in reporter’s clothing; a privileged chronicler of the salient words, deeds and philosophical reflections of the journey.</p> <p>At the heart of the trip lies Mark’s involvement with a goodwill mission to Detroit as part of a delegation from Portland based group <a href="http://greenlightgreaterportland.com/">Greenlight Greater Portland</a>.  The delegation will be spending 3 days in Detroit fostering an exchange between the two cities; examining challenges, discussing strategies and sharing success stories.  After our time in Detroit, and a quick jaunt through New York, we will journey to Washington DC and participate in the John Stewart Rally To Restore National Sanity, after which Mark will meet Oregon representatives and auto officials in the Obama administration to discuss federal support for new EV designs and technologies.  Our brief stops in Portland, Seattle, and New York will also involve meetings with other potential Arcimoto allies.</p> <p>No matter what the forum or venue, Mark champions his belief that we need to make real and immediate movements towards addressing global climate change.  Given the available data, it seems to Mark that trading our habitual overuse of gas guzzling vehicles for EVs, public transportation, community car rental systems, and biking/walking is simply the rational response to an imminent problem.  But the folks at Arcimoto also acknowledge that in order to sell their product, and foster a new culture of greener transportation, they need to make something that looks really cool, handles great, and is super fun to drive.  In other words, it must appeal to what is vain, as well as what is sane in the modern American who is willing and able to purchase a new no-emission vehicle.  And so the Arcimoto Tour For Rational Vanity begins…</p> <p>PORTLAND:</p> <p>Bleary-eyed and excited, we board the early morning train in Eugene.  Our first Amtrak tickets will only carry us a couple hours Northward, but the tour has officially begun and it feels good to start rolling.  Arriving around noon, we make our way to the Portland University campus.  The meeting we are attending here today is based around a discussion with Dr. Joachim Taiber, Research Professor of Automotive Engineering at <a href="http://www.clemson.edu/centers-institutes/cu-icar/">Clemson University’s ICAR program</a> in Greenville, South Carolina.  Around the table at this small meeting with Dr. Taiber are representatives from Portland’s business community, the city’s economic development office, Portland University, and the <a href="http://driveoregon.org/">Drive Oregon</a> coalition, with which Mark is heavily involved.  Drive Oregon describes itself as “a coalition of Oregon companies and interest groups engaged in the Electric Vehicle industry, and in issues surrounding transportation electrification.”</p> <p>The crux of the discussion lies in the potential for evolving relationships and cooperation between the elements represented by the meeting attendees.  Throughout the meeting Dr. Taiber espouses his view that the Southeast has manufacturing expertise and a nascent program in vehicle research and development.  In contrast, the Northwest is strong in market potential for next generation transportation and green design, but lacks the level of automotive manufacturing capability present in the Southeast.  Thus, there is an obvious base of complimentary needs and strengths between the regions.</p> <p>This evening we will board our second train of the day, and make our way to Seattle for one more day in the Northwest, before embarking on the first substantial leg of our long locomotion across the country.</p> <p>SEATTLE:</p> <p>When you’re a poet of my disposition, there’s nothing like a parade of bad puns in the morning.  While expertly fulfilling his order-taking and coffee-refilling duties, our breakfast waiter Todd (who sometimes loses the ‘T’ off his name tag) manages to work in such gems as “waffling over your decision,” “are the bananas apealing?” and “don’t let me egg you on.”</p> <p>After a healthy dose of caffeine and wordplay, we get down to business. Today Mark is making a pitch to the <a href="http://www.nwenergyangels.com/">Northwest Energy Angels</a>.  The Energy Angels are the Northwest’s premiere group of early stage technology investors focused on helping entrepreneurs with capital to seed new ideas in the marketplace.  In the brief time he has with the group today, Mark touches on the long term vision for Arcimoto, the company’s leadership team, the platform technology for the Arcimoto prototype, production and distribution plans, and the company’s funding history, needs, and milestones.  He also highlights the value proposition of the product, i.e. the Arcimoto EV is an affordable, stylish, efficient, functional form of pure electric fun which has familiar controls and handles much like a small sports car.</p> <p>The icing on the cake of today’s Arcimoto presentation is the appearance of the 4th generation prototype itself.  Jeremy Bronson, Arcimoto’s Creative Director, has brought the vehicle up from Eugene, and as the NWEA meeting wraps up he has the vehicle parked out in front of the building ready for viewing and test drives.  This is my favorite part.  I love watching people respond to the vehicle.  Before it’s even fully parked, there is a random passerby taking photos.  He tells us that he works with youth, and he is excited to share the pictures with them.  There’s obviously something about the Arcimoto design that captures the imagination.</p> <p>We are preparing to leave when a group of young professionals flag us down.  These guys got <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/arcimoto/status/28060951613">the tweet</a> Jeremy sent out about the vehicle being in town, and they‘re excited to catch it in person.  As they snap pictures on their phones and get some face time with the Arcimoto staff, another nicely dressed gentleman passes by and becomes captivated.  He takes a long appreciative look at the car and makes one simple statement: “That’s cool; I want one.”</p> <p>CHICAGO:</p> <p>There is something rather magical about falling asleep in Washington, and waking up in Montana.  We spend our first morning on the train to Chicago passing through Glacier National Park, before gliding into world that is endlessly flat and open.  We’ve added an observation car during the night; a moving lounge which offers extra large windows and swiveling seats.  The unobstructed view of our surroundings is glorious.</p> <p>With no wi-fi, and only occasional spotty cell reception, Mark is forced to take a break from working, and I’m afforded an opportunity to chat with him about his life, his work… and trains.  I ask Mark about his decision to do this trip by rail, despite the fact that he is extremely busy.  Given that he is the founder of an electric car company, it is not surprising to find that Mr. Frohnmayer takes the reduction of his personal carbon footprint more seriously than most people I know.  The way Mark sees it, he basically just makes it hard on himself to abusively consume fossil fuels.  Mark consistently abstains from flying, but does make reasonable exceptions for important circumstances such as family medical emergencies.</p> <p>Planes produce a higher level of CO2 emissions than trains, and burning carbon in the upper atmosphere is theorized to have a more damaging impact than burning an equivalent amount on the ground.  Beyond this fact, Mark finds that tracking the miles over the land gives a very real sense of the distance being traversed and a lovely link to the landscape.  There is both purpose and pleasure in the choice to travel by train.  Compared to most continental passenger planes,  the Amtrak Empire Builder is spacious and comfortable.  Our boarding experience is leisurely, and strikingly stress free.  There is no forced taking off of shoes, and giving up of liquids.  You just surrender your ticket, walk on board, and settle in. There seems to be a culture of friendliness and open communication aboard this train, that I haven’t encountered in other forms of travel.  Where one is headed, and where one is coming from top the charts as conversational kindling, and the flames of familiarity build from there.  The topic of cars arises frequently on the train because we see a lot of them; not cruising along at pace, but dead and motionless beside our track.  I’m amazed at how many rural car graveyards we pass throughout the days.  Pondering our global passage beyond peak oil, and talking with Mark about the future of EV technology, I wonder what will eventually become of all the millions of gas-powered vehicles we’ve created.</p> <p>After 45 hours aboard the Empire Builder, we stop off for a brief overnight in Chicago. Before the sun goes down, we take a moment to stretch our legs and walk through a waterfront park which is showcasing some very unique installation art.  Abstract and rustic, this series of sculptures seems to echo my question about the fate of old cars. The installation is aptly called Art and Automobiles, and the pieces seem to be composed entirely of old car parts.  Bumpers, exhaust pipes, and headlights look quite different out of context.  Marveling at these works of recycled creativity that speak of  ruin and innovation in the automotive world, I look forward to our time in ‘Motor City‘. <img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/img1508.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>DETROIT:</p> <p>As the sun rises over Chicago we are aboard a fierce mechanical animal chugging steadily towards Detroit. Today we are riding The Wolverine.</p> <p>I know I won’t meet any elderly couples who are riding this train just for fun like our friendly Texas cabin neighbors on the Builder.  This train speaks of heavy practical use, and long distance commuting.  We spend most of our 7 hour ride in the snack car taking advantage of the tables and hot beverages.  Mark drinks coffee.  I drink loose leaf yerba mate, carried with me across many states and steeped in a heart shaped tea strainer.  Apparently you can take the girl out of the Northwest, but you can’t take the NW out of the girl.  I snicker at myself and enjoy my tea.</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/20101024arcimototourdetroit3.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>The air is balmy and invitingly warm when we step off the Wolverine and find ourselves in Detroit.  This is a first time visit for both Mark and me.  Upon learning this, our friendly soft-spoken cab driver is happy to play tour guide as he takes us to the hotel.  He points towards the Motown Museum, the MGM Grand Casino, and notable architecture along our route such as a beautiful old stone church sitting next to a bright yellow Church‘s Chicken.  The hotel we are staying at is itself a historic icon.  The was perhaps the most significant hotel in the Western US in the 1920s and is the product of a monumental restoration project in downtown Detroit.</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/20101026arcimototourdetroit6.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>In the evening, we mix and mingle with other members of the Greenlight Greater Portland delegation.  This group is an assembly of business, education and civic leaders, including the mayors of Portland and Beaverton.  Greenlight Greater Portland groups have traveled to about a dozen other cities in the past, but this is Mark’s first time joining them, and it’s a great opportunity for networking and relationship building with folks from both Oregon and Michigan.  Mark doesn’t waste any time saying hello to those he knows and introducing himself and his company to those he doesn’t.  There are an abundance of interesting folks to talk with… and some good egg rolls.  We get name tags, and itineraries for the next three days.</p> <p>Early the next morning finds us sitting in the Founders Room on the 3rd floor of the immaculate Westin Book Cadillac Hotel looking at slides of the sadly decrepit state the building was in before restoration began.  Our first presenter of the day tells us the story of the many challenges that his real estate management/development firm faced in trying to restore the Book Cadillac to its former glory.  Sixty-three lenders declined funding because of the location, basically saying that they would have been interested in the project were it centered anywhere other than Detroit.</p> <p>From our next presenter Mr. George Jackson, CEO of the <a href="http://www.degc.org/">Detroit Economic Growth Corporation</a> we hear about efforts at revitalizing and beautifying the city.  Two of the greatest efforts are being concentrated along six miles of riverfront and down the city’s major thoroughfare, Woodward St, which divides Detroit into East and West sides (an important delineation for Detroit’s residents).  The simplified goal of these projects is to make Detroit a more attractive place to live and do business.  The most sought after demographic: young professionals.</p> <p>Our next speaker Kurt Metzger, director of <a href="http://datadrivendetroit.org/">Data Driven Detroit</a>, uses numbers to paint a vivid picture of Detroit’s current residents and the challenges they face.  The unemployment rate in Detroit is 25%.  Half of the population may be functionally illiterate; less than 11% hold college degrees.  In the 1950s  Detroit topped off its population at about 2 million people; today there are only 800,000.  Eighty-three percent of the current population is African-American, a little under 10% is Caucasian.  In stark contrast, only 10% of the population in the thriving suburbs that surround Detroit’s decayed urban core are African-American, and 80% are white.  The population of the city is spread out, and there are vast amounts of abandoned properties and unused land.  With a city boundary that encompasses 139 square miles, it would be possible to superimpose San Francisco, Manhattan, and Boston onto Detroit, and still have 20 square miles left over.</p> <p>The statistics we are presented with in the hotel conference room come to life when we board a charter bus in the late morning and set out to tour some of Detroit’s neighborhoods.  There are indeed large swathes of empty land which seem out of place in these residential areas.  Our tour guide points out a pheasant.  There is a strange sense of rural wildness creeping into these urban parcels of grass, brush and trees.  We see some grim scenes; there are many homes in various stages of disrepair and collapse.  Windows and doors are boarded, roofs are caving in, shingles are falling off, there is graffiti, broken glass, obvious abandonment.  What makes the vision of  these dilapidated homes even more striking is the fact that there are often functional inhabited homes alongside them, many of which look very new (mostly built by Habitat For Humanity our guide tells us).  The intimate juxtaposition of homes filled with life and homes that look as though they are just waiting to be torn down is incredible.  </p> <p>Our guided bus trip eventually winds us towards an afternoon presentation at the <a href="http://www.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/">College for Creative Studies</a>.  Like so many places in the city, CCS has very strong ties to the auto industry.  The donated building that houses this private college was originally a General Motors research facility.  CCS is credited with having one of the world’s most recognized programs in transportation design and for placing possibly more graduates in the automotive design field than any other school.  The first thing we see upon entering the lobby is an abstract art piece reminiscent of the installations we saw in Chicago.  It is an elaborate tower of multi-colored bumpers, wrapping around each other in a spiraling embrace.  </p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/20101024arcimototourdetroit99.jpg" alt=""> <img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/20101024arcimototourdetroit92.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>Over boxed lunches, we hear from a panel that speaks to the role of arts and education in reshaping Detroit’s future.  We are then taken on a tour of the college, and soon find ourselves in classroom full of futuristic electric vehicle designs.  There are 3-dimensional clay models, sketches, and slick full color poster-sized displays.  Many of the cars have a sci-fi feeling to them; the assignment was to design an EV for the year 2020.  Mark quickly strikes up an animated conversation with a group of students; the little crowd that surrounds him is obviously quite excited to hear from someone who is soon to put an EV design into production.</p> <p>Many of the presenters we hear from over our next day and a half in Detroit steer us further towards examining the future of EVs.  The Chairman of the Board of DTE Energy speaks to us from the perspective of a utility company trying to anticipate and accommodate the advancement of EV technology and the rate at which the people will begin using it.  He says that as things are right now in Detroit, if 4 houses on a block plugged in an electric car to charge overnight it would overload the circuit.  His presentation leaves me considering how much more attractive purchasing an electric vehicle will become for people when they can feel secure in knowing where and when they can conveniently charge it.  And further considering that in order for a city’s resources to be wisely spent on building a supportive infrastructure, more consumers will need to be driving EVs.  I suppose this is a very simple way of acknowledging that demand and supply will have to do their traditional tango.  There’s probably a very good reason that poets don’t typically become economists.</p> <p>Susan Cischke, Ford Motor Company’s Vice President for Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering begins her presentation by asking everyone in the room who used a cell phone last night to raise their hand, she then asks how many people got on the Internet last night.  In both cases, almost every hand is in the room is in the air.  Finally, she asks how many people plugged in their car last night.  No hands.  Her exercise serves to illustrate how quickly a technology that was barely in use a decade or two ago can become commonplace.  But, she also tells us that had she asked the same question in 1911, one-third of us would have reached skyward.  Though many people in the US consider EV technology to be futuristic, it has in fact been evolving for over a century.</p> <p>Susan tells us about Ford’s current hybrids and the company’s focus on creating a 100-mile range, mid-sized vehicle to be released next year.  We also hear from Kristin Zimmerman, GM’s manager of Environment and Energy Policy, who also played a key role on the Volt’s development team.  I am introduced to the idea of ‘smart charging,’ a computerized charging method which monitors and controls the charging rate in order to best match the energy availability of the grid.  We also hear from representatives of <a href="http://www.azuredynamics.com/">Azure Dynamics</a>, <a href="http://www.thinkev.com/">Think NA</a>, <a href="http://www.compactpower.com/">Compact Power</a>, and the <a href="http://www.roush.com/markets-we-serve/automotive.aspx">Roush Corporation</a>.</p> <p>Our Michigan-based presenters speak to the idea that Detroit is still interested in being an auto industry center for the world, and that investing the city’s existing capabilities in the evolution of EV technologies offers a possibility for reclaiming that position. That being said, one of the other recurring themes we‘ve heard is the need for Detroit to stop looking to the ‘Big Three’ auto makers for salvation — the need to shift to new industries and individual innovations.  This message is particularly clear during our visit to <a href="http://techtownwsu.org/">Tech Town</a>, the Wayne State University’s Research and Technology Park.  Tech Town is described as a business incubator, a project that offers training, space, resources, networking opportunities, and guidance to entrepreneurs and start-up companies.  Our touring of the city also takes us to the lovely Detroit Athletic Club, the Detroit Regional Chamber, and Ford Field (home of the Detroit Lions).  I take great pleasure in watching city official and business leaders become giddy and playful with the excitement of standing in the middle of a professional football field.</p> <p>Heads buzzing with all that we’ve seen and heard in Detroit, we wrap up our time here by bidding farewell to the wonderful group of Portlanders whose plane tickets will have them home by dinner; we remain the lone rail riders in the delegation.</p> <p>NEW YORK:</p> <p>Our commitment to train travel faces a serious challenge upon inspection of the route and time required to get from Detroit to New York via the available Amtrak choices.  We examine options, make calculations based on our need to get to DC in time for Saturday’s event, and.... rent a car. The process of renting a car takes us out of the urban core of Detroit, where we’ve spent all our time so far, and into the suburbs we’ve been hearing so much about.  The difference is indeed striking.  The most unfathomable thing to me about the current state of affairs in Detroit is that there are NO real grocery stores, only small convenience shops.  This was not only an observation I made on our tours, but a stated fact by several of our presenters.  There are also no chain stores selling other kinds of everyday household consumer goods.  In contrast, familiar corporate establishments of all kinds are easily visible on our cab ride to the suburban location of Hertz Rental Cars. Currently unable to rent an electric vehicle to transport us to New York, Mark opts for a small fuel-efficient Toyota Yaris.  Before hitting the highway, we make a stop at the Henry Ford Museum.  This museum is giant showcase of automotive innovations over the last century; history, technology and marketing captured in steel.  There are also some very impressive trains.  Perhaps it was an odd coincidence that the only electric vehicle we could find on display was a three-wheeler from the late 1800s.</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/img1539.jpg" alt=""> <img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/img1545.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>We spend the next day cruising across Pennsylvania in the Yaris.  The weather is divine, and the scenery is lovely.  Knowing that our hometown is getting soaked with fall rains, we relish the bright cloudless sky, and delight in catching the Northeastern trees putting on their final showcase of burnt orange vignettes.  The downside of driving a personal passenger vehicle is made apparent when we come within an hour of our Manhattan destination.  As Mark slowly maneuvers through the predictably heavy traffic we watch a train speed by unencumbered on a track parallel to the freeway.</p> <p>At the mouth of the Lincoln Tunnel we come to  a complete standstill, and wait our turn to merge with the other streams of traffic into the one shared passageway we all must traverse to reach the island.  As a visitor from the West coast, I find being gridlocked at the mouth of this iconic tunnel to be a bit of a novelty, but I cannot imagine going through this process on a regular basis.  As we are crawling slowly through the mile long expanse bumper to bumper, Mark makes a comment which viscerally reminds me that we are enclosed inside a little metal box, which is enclosed inside a giant cement tube, under a river!  My awe is mingled with a bit of sudden claustrophobia, and I am happy when we finally emerge into the city, say goodbye to the Yaris and make our way to the Pennsylvania Hotel on foot.   </p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/20101027arcimototourtravel27.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>I have never been to New York City before and I pass the brief 36 hours we have here in a state of childlike wonder.  Mark catches up on work and solidifies his planned meetings in DC.  I meet up with an old college buddy, and spend as much time as possible just walking the streets.  The buildings here are like redwood trees, towering architecture obscures the skyline.  I feel wonderfully small and anonymous; it’s the urban equivalent of facing the ocean, or confronting a huge expanse of starry sky in the desert.  Cruising down Broadway amongst a moving throng of humanity, I enjoy observing the interactions that take place at every intersection when highly purposeful pedestrians and cut-throat cabs are forced to negotiate for street space.  It’s like watching Capoeira, the Brazlilan martial art that is part dance, part fight.  I wonder what this city might look like in 20 years.  Will there be fleets of Arcimoto-esque 3-wheeled vehicles and charging stations on every corner?  In a dense metropolitan environment it seems like a large-scale transition to small everyday commuter EVs could be a very welcome development.</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/img1565.jpg" alt=""></p> <p> WASHINGTON DC:</p> <p>Everyone riding the sold-out early morning train from New York to DC on October 30th is going to the Rally For National Sanity.  I’m pretty sure this is only a slight exaggeration.  We are completely surrounded by animated, sign carrying rally-goers and a pervasive air of excitement.  After a quick dash to the hotel and a meet up with some friends of Mark’s, we make our way towards the Rally just as it is officially beginning at high noon.  The Capitol Mall is absolutely packed.  We navigate our way as close to the stage as we can, which is pretty darn far away.  With the rally in full swing and 100,000s of other people with the same objective, we manage to gain a side view of one of the giant monitors that are positioned along the length of the mall.</p> <p> <img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/img1585.jpg" alt=""> </p> <p>The weather could not be more ideal for this event.  Mark realizes that he left his umbrella on the train this morning, but with the gloriously warm Fall sun shinning down on us, it doesn‘t seem like too great a loss.  To the great delight of the crowd, Jon Stewart makes an animated entrance onto the stage with the theme music to his popular TV show blaring across the mall; he is soon joined on stage by fellow fake news pundit Stephen Colbert.  </p> <p>The first high point of the rally for Mark and I comes when Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens) comes on stage to sing the song Peace Train; we are both fans of his classic hits and seeing this one performed live is a privilege neither of us ever expected to have.  Part way into the song, Yusuf is interrupted by Steven Colbert who brings Ozzie Osborn on stage to perform his classic Crazy Train.  What follows is a back and forth musical battle between the two performers with Colbert and Stewart egging them on like boxing coaches on the edge of the ring.  As the conflict builds to a dissonant crescendo, the comedians make peace by bringing out the O’Jays to perform .  It is not lost on Mark and I that all these songs are about trains; it feels as though the Rally To Restore National Sanity has given a nod and a wink to the Tour For Rational Vanity.  </p> <p>Utilizing the widely appreciated style of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report, the rally winds it’s way through a series of bits; sometimes employing humorous ridicule to make commentary, sometimes just offering entertainment.  At the event’s close, Stewart becomes more serious and addresses the crowd about his purpose in calling for people to gather in the name of national sanity.  He speaks about how he sees the media doing a great disservice to the country by inflaming fears, and sensationalizing contentious differences, rather than speaking to shared solutions and unified goals.  “If we amplify everything, we hear nothing,” he says.  His speech is impassioned, articulate, and very funny.  “Most Americans don’t live their lives solely as Democrats or Republicans or conservatives or liberals.  Most Americans live their lives as people that are just a little bit late for something they have to do.”  </p> <p>In speaking about a need for individuals to sanely respect each others differing opinions in service to collective progress, Stewart uses a clever metaphor.  It is an analogy about driving through the Lincoln Tunnel; another synchronicity which Mark and I find delightful.  “Every one of the cars that you see is filled with individuals of strong belief and principles they hold dear - often principles in direct opposition to their fellow travelers.  And yet these millions of cars must somehow find a way to squeeze one by one into a mile-long 30-foot wide tunnel carved underneath a mighty river, and they do it.  Concession by concession.  You go.  Then I’ll go...Because we know instinctively as a people that if we are to get through the darkness and back into the light we have to work together...”</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/20101029arcimototourdc21.jpg" alt=""><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/20101029arcimototourdc27.jpg" alt=""><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/20101029arcimototourdc47.jpg" alt=""><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/20101029_arcimoto_tour_dc98.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>There can be no doubt that the Rally To Restore Sanity and the Tour For Rational Vanity share a common theme of looking for participatory solutions to large scale problems.  The dedication that Team Arcimoto pours into their work is grounded in a desire to be part of creating a sustainable future.  As we finish out the first decade of the 21st century, many of us no longer view the healthy survival of our species as a sure thing.  Our emission of carbon needs to drop, and it needs to drop fast and hard.  With this ultimate goal in mind Mark will spend the next 3 days on Capitol Hill discussing the future of electric vehicles.</p> <p>Mark speaks with the folks driving the <a href="http://www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/">Department of Energy’s Advanced Technology Vehicle Program</a> and members of Oregon’s congressional delegation.  Arcimoto’s ultra-efficient, all-electric, 2-passenger, 3-wheeled design is strongly aligned with the administration’s stated goals of improved vehicle efficiency, lighter weight, and lower cost.  However, most of the federal government’s focus has been on traditional form factor vehicles, i.e. cars with 4 doors, that can carry five to seven people, and travel long-range distances.  Arcimoto’s focus on the needs of everyday drivers presents a real opportunity for reducing the cost of electrified transportation and making that option available to a wider segment of the populace.  As Mark concludes his talks and we set our sights homeward, I look forward to seeing how this concept of rational vanity will be made manifest in the fifth Arcimoto prototype. </p> <p>EPILOGUE:</p> <p>Six months have passed since Mark and I made the three day return trek from DC back to Eugene, and Arcimoto has continued to run full steam ahead.  I recently attended <a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150568710365074.672782.254707685073" target="_blank">the unveiling</a> of the fifth generation prototype, the Arcimoto SRK.  </p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/srk_unveil.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>Aricimoto’s celebrity supporters Nathan Fillion and John Huertas drove the SRK ‘Red 5‘ out for its first viewing to uproarious applause from an enthusiastic crowd.  So, the first product prototype is ready to hit the road… and Mark is back on the train.  </p> <p>As a development of the relationship which began at our meeting in Portland, he is currently traveling again to the East Coast, meeting with Dr. Taiber as well as potential future partners in South Carolina about regional production and distribution of Arcimoto vehicles.  On this trip too is another stop in DC, advocating for continued federal support for the development, research and commercialization of the next generation of ultra-efficient electric vehicles.  This will be the third trip Mark has made to the capitol to lobby for sustainable energy policies and a movement away from dependency on foreign oil.  But for the first time, he has an electric vehicle product prototype to showcase.</p> <p>Behind Arcimoto’s push to move the country towards a bold redefinition of what it means to own a <a href="http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=define+car#sclient=psy&hl=en&tbs=dfn:1&source=hp&q=car&aq=f&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=fcc220935ab2e296&biw=1184&bih=739">‘car</a>,’ lies an earnest attempt to help develop a national strategy for weaning ourselves off of fossil fuel.  My time on the Arcimoto Rational Vanity Tour has left me convinced of this: in order to come out of the dark tunnel of an unsustainable future, we are going to have to change what we’re driving in.</p> <p>-------------------</p> <p><em>Jorah LaFleur is writer and performer currently living and working outside of Eugene, OR.</em></p> <p><em>Contact:</em><br><em><a href="mailto:jorahlafleur@gmail.com">jorahlafleur@gmail.com</a> </em><br><em><a href="http://jorahlafleur.com">www.jorahlafleur.com</a></em></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p id="internal-source-marker_0.1807523297611624" style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><strong>Arcimoto Tour For Rational Vanity October 2010</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">In The Name Of National Sanity,  </p> <p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;">An Electric Vehicle Entrepreneur Crosses the Country By Train</p> <p style="text-align: center; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;"><em>A retrospective travelogue by Jorah LaFleur </em></p> 1306618193 6 jorahlafleur 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rational.";s:3:"fid";s:3:"485";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:450;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/20101029arcimototourdc47.jpg Tour for Rational Vanity 547 blog 33 1 2011-04-28T18:57:46-07:00 2011-04-29T12:22:47-07:00 550 33 <p><em>These are the remarks I prepared for the unveiling of Arcimoto’s 5th generation and first product prototype.</em><br><br>Good evening. Tonight marks a milestone of significance for Arcimoto, where we will show you all what the Arcimoto team has been slaving away on for the better part of the last year: our fifth development generation and our first product prototype.<br><br>But before we get to that, I thought it might be useful to explain how we got here, and the motivation driving Arcimoto in the first place.  Every <a title="good company" href="http://www.goodcompany.com/" target="_blank">good company</a> has a reason for existing above and beyond the bottom line. In a venture capital pitch it might be framed in terms of a problem statement to solve, or a consumer pain point, or simply a clearly articulated mission.</p> <p>Arcimoto was founded to help solve this problem:<img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/image11.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>An antiquated, woefully inefficient, earth-paving transportation system guided by a set of assumptions that are more than a century old.  The pain point is experienced in the wallet of the consumer and country, and by the collected inhabitants of our fair planet.<br><br>Sustainable transportation is our mission.<br><br>People have asked me how it came to be that a computer software entrepreneur ended up in the vehicle biz and I have to answer quite honestly that it's because I made the mistake of looking for a product that didn't exist.<br><br>I was looking for a vehicle, something.. simple.<br><br>Surely in this fantastically modern time someone must have already created and made available at a reasonable price an efficient, functional vehicle for traveling around on daily trips.   And in fact somebody did invent it, more than a hundred years ago and it's called a bicycle, the most efficient form of transportation humanity has ever created.  Burrito-powered, calorie-burning, direct-drive, full environmental engagement.</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/image09.jpg" alt=""><br><br>Unfortunately this fine invention doesn't actually work as a solution to the first stated problem in as much as it hasn't solved it.  People still drive huge, polluting, inefficient cars, even though a radically more efficient, environmentally friendly option exists.<br><br>The reason is also quite simple, and can be summed up with the following second problem.<br><br>It's a cold, rainy night in Eugene and I'd like to visit my folks for dinner.<br><br>And while many people here in this neighborhood and in this room are hard core and bike anyway, this choice is not made by enough of the population to even begin to address the primary problem.<br><br>It's important to note two things about this example.  First, it's representative of the vast majority of car trips - one or two people, traveling a relatively short distance with a relatively small amount of stuff.  Whether it's to the grocery store to get a gallon of milk, to work, school or the golf course, our actual transportation requirements for ordinary trips are not that extraordinary.  If you think about a full-size car, it's really designed for extraordinary trips - 300 miles carrying 5-7 people.  When you tap some ground in Texas, oil geysers out and you're unconcerned with the external effects of torching it, the inefficiency of that extra capability is no big deal.  But in today's world, that excess of functional capacity creates systemic negative consequences, from the hassle of parking a behemoth in an urban core, to the national security consequences of importing the majority of our transportation energy.<br><br>So I started looking for a reasonable, efficient solution for every day travel, and it wasn't until I saw the <a title="BugE" href="http://www.bugev.net/" target="_blank">BugE</a> in the 2007 Eugene celebration parade that the light bulb really turned on.  Legendary aircraft designer <a title="Burt Rutan" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burt_Rutan" target="_blank">Burt Rutan</a> gave a lecture at the University of Oregon a while back and he said something that stuck - "The most important thing to do is to figure out what to do."  The BugE, designed by local transportation visionary Mark Murphy and sold as a kit, provided the inspiration and initial direction to get this project rolling.  It showed that a smaller form vehicle hybridization that landed in the vast gulf between a scooter and car was possible.  I bought a kit, talked some friends into helping to put it together and, after experimenting on that platform for a couple of months, incorporated a new company.<br><br>Originally Electromotion Design, the company was renamed to Arcimoto.  Arcimoto means, “Archetype I Drive.”  This name is our quest: to design the patterns for next generation mobility - Electric, efficient, practical and very fun.  Over the past 3 1/2 years we've recruited a stellar team, staffed heavily with pros from Oregon's existing vehicle industries and built, through five generations of iteration a new product, a new brand and a disruptive plan to enter the vehicle marketplace.<br><br>Looking at the team you see <a title="Arcimoto company" href="http://www.arcimoto.com/company" target="_blank">here</a> however is really just like looking at the part of an iceberg that's above water.  Arcimoto has been the beneficiary of tremendous goodwill and participation from a whole constellation of organizations.  If every one of you here that has designed or built a part, sourced a component, made marketing materials or helped push this endeavor forward in any of a myriad of ways would please raise your hand - on behalf of the Arcimoto team, I thank you.  Without your assistance we would not have been able to get to where we are today.<br><br>Our approach to building Arcimoto is simple, and is patterned after both agile software development methodology and the <a title="Toyota Way" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Toyota_Way" target="_blank">Toyota Way</a>.  Try stuff, see what works and what doesn't, get potential users in front of the concept early and often, collect internal and external feedback, and iterate.  Our plan for market entry calls for seven generations of development and tonight's celebration marks the completion of the fifth.  In order to set the stage for the unveiling of #5 I'll walk you through what lead up to it.</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/image06.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>Generation 1: Our first alpha.  This prototype was Arcimoto's first vehicle build from the ground up.  As such it most clearly illustrates the vision of the product line - Simple, fun, useful and configurable.  While our initial testing was positive in many ways, it had a little bit too much of the "I'm going to die" feeling, which we thought to be a significant market limiter, and no protection at all from this region's inclement weather.</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/image02.jpg" alt=""><br>Generation 2: Footprint.  This prototype generation established our target footprint on the road.  Single occupant, balanced between the three wheels, stable, zippy and fun to drive yet still a significant improvement in environmental efficiency compared to the standard automotive form.  #2 als featured a primitive safety cage and partial protection from the elements.  This prototype is currently on display in <a title="Charge Portland" href="http://www.chargeportland.com/" target="_blank">Portland's EV popup display</a> at 5th and Alder.  This display highlights some of the advanced vehicle development work going on here in Oregon, not just at Arcimoto, but amongst a whole cluster of collaborative companies.<br><br>With the footprint established, we began to define the essential characteristics of the first product:</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/image03.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>Two seats in tandem, a variety of enclosure options, established environmentally efficient footprint.  At the same time we began building a prototype that we would go on to use to ask a very simple question about our efforts and launch the company into public awareness.  That prototype was the <a title="Arcimoto concept" href="http://www.arcimoto.com/concept" target="_blank">Pulse</a>, our 3rd generation of product development.</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/image12.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>The Pulse was built from the final instance of our 2nd generation chassis design and a recycled Yaris.  The goal was to highlight, using very familiar materials and methods, the unique Arcimoto footprint and company story.  We launched the Pulse September 23rd, 2009 in Portland and from there showed it up and down the west coast, putting this concept in front of literally thousands of potential vehicle buyers at sustainability gatherings, trade shows and on street corners to answer one simple question.  Is the Arcimoto value proposition reasonable?<br><br>Is an ultra-efficient, cool-looking, affordable three-wheeled vehicle designed for the requirements of every day drivers reasonable?  Because in order to push forward and fully engineer a winning solution in this space we needed to have true confidence, at the outset, that there was a market for the product.  And in short what we discovered was that even in its very imperfect form that the Pulse struck a real chord with the folks that saw it.  It's not a solution for everybody - some folks need to cart multiple kids around, or take truck loads of materials to job sites.<br><br>But for the vast majority of drivers out there - statistically something like 76% of them, this concept actually fits with how they use cars now.  Driving alone to the grocery store for a gallon of milk.  Commuting to school, work or the gym.  Going golfing on the weekend.  And this reaction, in a time of increasing awareness of climate change and rising gas prices gave us the confidence to begin engineering the full <a title="Arcimoto platform" href="http://www.arcimoto.com/platform" target="_blank">Arcimoto platform</a>.</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/image07.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>Our 4th-generation prototype, code-named "Darkwing" established and validated a unique new electric vehicle platform.  #4 sports a front wheel drive system, comfortable ergonomics for two passengers and a very low center of gravity.  Our initial test drives went far better than we had hoped to expect.  <br><br>Still, when you're working on a project close to the heart with a passionate team, it can be easy to drink the kool-aid, so once again it would take unbiased, external validation to seal the concept.  And that's when these guys showed up:</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/image01.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>Not two weeks after #4 hit the road, the company received an unsolicited email from cult sci-fi legend and prime time TV star Nathan Fillion.  He and Castle co-star Jon Huertas were initially attracted to the concept imagery on our web site and reached out to the company to offer support to the endeavor.  I <a title="NY Times" href="http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/23/tv-star-puts-arcimoto-pulse-electric-vehicle-in-the-spotlight/" target="_blank">invited them up for a test drive</a> and their reaction after taking a spin totally confirmed our direction.  When they demanded we build them vehicles to commute in and take to star studded LA events, there was only one answer.<br><br>Yes we can.<br><br>Four generations down, three to go.  Generation 4 was a mule in automotive nomenclature, a proof-of-concept skeleton, but far from an actual product.  So we went back to work:<br><br>We refined the safety cage design to be lighter, stronger and easier to build.<br>We invented a new, ultra-efficient electric drive transaxle for low cost, light weight vehicles.<br>We integrated a refined, race-inspired suspension system designed by Oregon-based Palatov Motorsports.<br>And we engineered a compact electric drive control assembly.<br><br>At the same time we began to search for our first product's identity.  Our concept vehicle, Pulse, borrowed much from its part-harvested Yaris and the Pulse identity, while efficient, is generic.  So once again we turned to our friends from Hollywood for inspiration. <br><br>When Jon got back from his first drive he said, "Remember this, I'm the first one to say it.  It's like driving a shark!  You have such power and control on the road."  And Nathan, as Captain Hammer in <a title="Dr. Horrible" href="http://drhorrible.com/" target="_blank">Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog</a> referenced the chick-impressing powers of his Hammercycle.  As the engineering team dialed in on the 5th generation platform, the design team went through literally hundreds of concept ideas, style lines and faces for our product.  Which brings us to April 7th, when the body - the basic identity of the generation 5 prototype was locked down for fabrication and build.<br><br>After 3 1/2 years, 5 iterations of product development and the blood, sweat and tears of a team of brilliant, passionate designers, engineers and makers, 'Red 5' our first product prototype is now complete.<br><br>Ladies and gentlemen, it is my profound privilege to introduce the drivable shark, <a title="Arcimoto products" href="http://www.arcimoto.com/products" target="_blank">Arcimoto's SRK</a>.</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/image00.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>The SRK is Arcimoto's first product.  Spiritually designed as a hybrid of an electric motorcycle and an aerodynamic jeep on steroids, the SRK features multiple choices for range and body enclosure, a refined and exhilarating ride experience and is targeted to have an affordable base model price.<br><br>What you see here is the base model.  Partially shelled, functional, ultra-efficient.<br><br>We are currently planning 3 body options for enclosure, targeted at specific use patterns and needs.</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/image10.jpg" alt=""><br>First, the LT option.  Made of totally recyclable, ultra-light fabric, the LT is for the most environmentally efficient drivers that still want protection from the elements.  Company logos and branding can be printed directly on the LT shell during the manufacturing process, which eliminates the need for a separate vinyl wrap.</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/image08.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>Next, the Deliverator option.  Designed specifically for fleet applications, the Deliverator shell is paired with an extended storage compartment to replace the rear seat.  Perfect for item delivery, for around-town missions and perfect to highlight environmental efficiency as a core value of your brand.</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/image04.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>Finally, the Pulse option.  A full hard-shell enclosure for every day drivers.<br>Each of these enclosures will be interchangeable and affixed to the base SRK via a simple fastening system.<br><br>As of right now you can <a title="Arcimoto preorder" href="http://www.arcimoto.com/preorder/checkout" target="_blank">reserve your place in Arcimoto history</a> as one of our pioneer customers.  For a fully-refundable reservation fee of $100 you can get in line for our first run of production vehicles.  We don't use these funds for product development, rather they are kept and used as an indicator of market demand and help us ramp effectively into the marketplace.  We'll begin a launch tour, starting in several weeks, to drive pre-orders up and down the west coast, but we thought it only appropriate that we offer this opportunity first to our own home town residents.<br><br>So what's next?  5 down, 2 big steps to go.<br><br>First is to raise the funds necessary to bring the SRK into full production.  Arcimoto has successfully raised funds for the completion and launch of the product prototype and we've developed a network of interested individual and institutional investors to whom we will offer a chance to be a part of this unique opportunity.  We have also engaged in conversation with the state and federal governments to catalyze production and continue Arcimoto's development of ultra efficient vehicles.<br><br>Throughout the sixth generation of development we'll engage the community of our pioneer customers and enthusiasts in a tight feedback loop to fine tune our design and product offerings.  The engineering team will continue to refine every aspect of the vehicle experience, shaving weight, improving efficiency, buildability, reliability and safety.  After testing of the product prototype and design iteration conclude, Arcimoto will begin building the Generation 6 pilot fleet.  This is a very limited, exclusive pre-production run.  Only 11 will be built and sold to key early adopter customers up and down the west coast.  Arcimoto has already pre-sold 4 of these units - if you think you belong in this elite cadre, come talk to me.<br><br>Production line lay-in is planned to overlap with pilot vehicle testing and product finalization, and upon conclusion we'll enter generation 7, production.<br><br>Arcimoto's assembly plan is regionally localized.  We plan to leverage the advanced manufacturing capabilities here in the Willamette valley for custom part creation, and the existing automotive supply chain for the whole array of off the shelf components used in the vehicle.  We'll prototype the company's assembly model here, and begin licensing the design and manufacture plans to vehicle builders for sale in other regions worldwide.<br><br>We'll utilize existing capabilities as a baseline and integrate new technologies when they become cost effective, to help solve the basic problem of getting from A to B in a much more environmentally efficient and fun way.  We hope you will join us.  Thank you.</p> <p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/image05.jpg" alt=""></p> <p><em>These are the remarks I prepared for the unveiling of Arcimoto’s 5th generation and first product prototype.</em><br><br>Good evening. 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a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"438";s:5:"width";i:826;s:6:"height";i:518;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/image04.jpg 439 1 image05.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/image05.jpg image/jpeg 96691 1 1304091732 image05.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:18:"SRK Product Family";s:3:"fid";s:3:"439";s:5:"width";i:1017;s:6:"height";i:520;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/image05.jpg SRK: The Story So Far 546 blog 237 1 2011-04-28T18:32:57-07:00 2011-05-03T17:19:00-07:00 548 1 <p>Thank you to the hundreds of folks who attended the unveiling of ‘Red 5’ Arcimoto’s SRK product prototype!  We had a great time, and really appreciate the outpouring of support from our community and early adopters. For those who couldn’t make the event we have transcribed Mark’s remarks and will be putting that up in a blog post later today for your viewing pleasure.<br> <br> The rest of this post is going to be a long list of thank you’s, as this launch was truly a community effort and we would not have had a vehicle to show you if not for the amazingly hard work and quick turnaround of some key people and companies.  So, without further ado...<br> <br> Many thanks to Sig and Spencer Runyon and Dave Boyd for helping with body design and creation.  Thanks to Tom Smith Fiberglass for creating the front end, <a title="Cutting Edge Illusions" href="http://www.cuttingedgeillusions.com/" target="_blank">Cutting Edge Illusions</a> for body work and painting of our body panels, <a title="Foy Martin Sheet Metal" href="http://www.foymartin.com/" target="_blank">Foy Martin Sheet Metal</a> for the cut and fab of all of our sheet metal parts, Radius Pipe Bending for powder coating the frame, <a title="Enkei Wheels" href="http://www.enkei.com/" target="_blank">Einkei Wheels</a> for providing the wheels, and <a title="Bentley's Manufacturing" href="http://www.bentleysmfg.com/" target="_blank">Bentley’s Manufacturing</a> for creating the first soft panels for the door.<br> <br> Thank you to Chuck Dabney of <a title="Grote" href="http://www.grote.com/" target="_blank">Grote</a> for providing the lighting for the vehicle, and to Rich Totten of <a title="Allied Electronics" href="http://www.alliedelec.com/" target="_blank">Allied Electronics</a> for providing a bulk of the electrical systems.<br> <br> Thanks to <a title="Harris Design & Print" href="http://www.harrisd.com/" target="_blank">Harris Design & Print</a> for cranking out some much needed banners and marketing materials just in time for the event.  Thanks to Niko Mantele of <a title="Stretch Shapes" href="http://stretchshapes.net/" target="_blank">Stretch Shapes</a> for providing the lighting and decorations, and to Kyle Marx for helping us pull everything together and organize the event.  Thanks to <a title="Ninkasi Brewing" href="http://www.ninkasibrewing.com/" target="_blank">Ninkasi Brewing Co.</a> for donating beer and <a title="Territorial Vineyards" href="http://www.territorialvineyards.com/" target="_blank">Territorial Vineyards</a> for donating wine, and to <a title="Pizza Research Institute" href="http://www.pizzaresearchinstitute.com/" target="_blank">Pizza Research Institute</a> for providing food.<br> <br> Thanks to Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy for introducing Mark, and to Oregon State Representatives Nancy Nathanson and Val Hoyle for attending and showing their support. Thank you to Caitlin Baggot and the <a title="Oregon Bus Project" href="http://busproject.org/" target="_blank">Oregon Bus Project</a> for selecting the Red 5 launch as the first stop on the Bus Project's tour of Oregon innovation.  Thank you to Nathan Fillion and Jon Huertas for being rock stars and championing our cause for the last year.  And once again, thanks to all of you out there who attended, or who wanted to attend but couldn’t and are just now catching up on the news on our website.  Without your support we would not be in the position we are today.<br> <br> We’ll leave you with the thank you remarks Nathan Fillion wrote and read during the presentation.  We would like to extend his thanks to everyone involved in any way with this project.<br> <br> <em>“Thank you.  </em><br> <br><em> Thank you so much for simply yet so radically revolutionizing the auto industry, an industry that has seen so little change in the last century.  </em><br> <br><em> Thank you for making a cleaner vehicle for which the energy infrastructure already exists. </em></p> <p><em>Thank you for seeing a need facing a mere 90% of the population, and filling it.  </em><br> <br><em> Thank you for giving me a way to stick it to big oil and big auto companies.  Because... I am a vengeful man.  And they've been sticking it to me for a long time.  </em><br> <br><em> No matter how old I get, I don't think I'll ever get tired of the fact that it looks a little like a spaceship.  I'm kind of into spaceships, so thanks for that.  </em><br> <br><em> Thank you for keeping it in Eugene.  </em><br> <br><em> Thank you for taking this venture upon yourselves, through the long hours of hard work, the sacrifices that you and your families have endured.  Ladies and Gentlemen, you of Arcimoto have done something amazing and I hope that you are proud.</em><br> <br><em> P.S. Last time I was here I think I left my iPhone charger in your offices, give me a call if you find it.”</em></p> <p>Thank you to the hundreds of folks who attended the unveiling of ‘Red 5’ Arcimoto’s SRK product prototype!  We had a great time, and really appreciate the outpouring of support from our community and early adopters. For those who couldn’t make the event we have transcribed Mark’s remarks and will be putting that up in a blog post later today for your viewing pleasure.<br> 1304468340 6 Eric Fritz sites/default/files/images/users/picture-237.jpg a:8:{s:12:"simplenews-3";i:1;s:13:"form_build_id";s:37:"form-5b8a6fefd9c63709b43dcbe9cfb1bca6";s:6:"mollom";a:2:{s:10:"session_id";s:29:"1277158879-100622b8e0b8a62010";s:7:"captcha";s:5:"sPNA2";}s:17:"mimemail_textonly";i:0;s:14:"picture_delete";i:0;s:14:"picture_upload";s:0:"";s:9:"nodewords";a:9:{s:8:"abstract";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:9:"canonical";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:9:"copyright";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:18:"@2011 Arcimoto LLC";}s:11:"description";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:8:"keywords";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:109:"arcimoto, EV, electric, vehicle, efficient, sustainable, SRK, Deliverator, Pulse, eugene, oregon, DriveOregon";}s:13:"revisit-after";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:1:"1";}s:6:"robots";a:2:{s:5:"value";a:6:{s:9:"noarchive";i:0;s:8:"nofollow";i:0;s:7:"noindex";i:0;s:5:"noodp";i:0;s:9:"nosnippet";i:0;s:6:"noydir";i:0;}s:11:"use_default";i:0;}s:8:"dc.title";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:8:"location";a:2:{s:8:"latitude";s:9:"34.416168";s:9:"longitude";s:10:"-81.383273";}}s:18:"htmlmail_plaintext";i:0;} journey/thank-you 1304471547 3 424 237 nathanred5.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/nathanred5.jpg image/jpeg 125926 1 1304040733 Nathan_Red_5.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"424";s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:683;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:10:"Thank You!";s:5:"title";s:10:"Thank You!";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/nathanred5.jpg Thank You! 537 blog 237 1 2011-03-23T23:36:34-07:00 2011-04-23T14:15:43-07:00 1 539 1 <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120678434677340">Arcimoto Unveils 'Red 5' Facebook Event</a> UPDATE: We are excited to present our product prototype this Saturday, April 23. Because the substantial number of RSVPs we have received would put us over capacity at the Pizza Research Institute, we are changing the scene to a more suitable location just a few blocks away. Pizza Research will still be providing delicious eats for the event, and we’ll bump the schedule back a few minutes for those who miss this memo and show up at PRI. The updated location and schedule can be found below. -- Code named 'Red 5', our fifth-generation prototype is the culmination of 3 1/2 years of experience designing, engineering, and building the everyday electric. Improvements from previous iterations include an ultra-efficient drive system, race caliber suspension, a lighter yet stronger frame, and a newly designed lightweight body shell. Oh yes. It’s on. The gallery reception will begin at 5:30 followed by the unveiling presentation at 6:45. We hope you can join us in celebration of this milestone! Please RSVP via the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120678434677340">Facebook Event</a> or an email to info@arcimoto.com so we can plan accordingly. <strong>WHERE</strong> 990 W. 1st Ave. Eugene, OR 97402 <strong>WHEN</strong> Saturday, April 23, 2011 5:30 - Reception 6:45 - Unveiling presentation Thereafter: Celebration! <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120678434677340">Arcimoto Unveils 'Red 5' Facebook Event</a> UPDATE: We are excited to present our product prototype this Saturday, April 23. Because the substantial number of RSVPs we have received would put us over capacity at the Pizza Research Institute, we are changing the scene to a more suitable location just a few blocks away. 1303593343 1 Eric Fritz sites/default/files/images/users/picture-237.jpg a:8:{s:12:"simplenews-3";i:1;s:13:"form_build_id";s:37:"form-5b8a6fefd9c63709b43dcbe9cfb1bca6";s:6:"mollom";a:2:{s:10:"session_id";s:29:"1277158879-100622b8e0b8a62010";s:7:"captcha";s:5:"sPNA2";}s:17:"mimemail_textonly";i:0;s:14:"picture_delete";i:0;s:14:"picture_upload";s:0:"";s:9:"nodewords";a:9:{s:8:"abstract";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:9:"canonical";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:9:"copyright";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:18:"@2011 Arcimoto LLC";}s:11:"description";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:8:"keywords";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:109:"arcimoto, EV, electric, vehicle, efficient, sustainable, SRK, Deliverator, Pulse, eugene, oregon, DriveOregon";}s:13:"revisit-after";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:1:"1";}s:6:"robots";a:2:{s:5:"value";a:6:{s:9:"noarchive";i:0;s:8:"nofollow";i:0;s:7:"noindex";i:0;s:5:"noodp";i:0;s:9:"nosnippet";i:0;s:6:"noydir";i:0;}s:11:"use_default";i:0;}s:8:"dc.title";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:8:"location";a:2:{s:8:"latitude";s:9:"34.416168";s:9:"longitude";s:10:"-81.383273";}}s:18:"htmlmail_plaintext";i:0;} journey/arcimoto-unveils-red-5 1303608141 7 417 237 gen5teaserblog.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/gen5teaserblog.jpg image/jpeg 28774 1 1300948503 gen5teaser_blog.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"417";s:5:"width";i:580;s:6:"height";i:234;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:34:"Arcimoto Unveils 'Red 5'";s:5:"title";s:34:"Arcimoto Unveils 'Red 5'";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/gen5teaserblog.jpg Arcimoto Unveils 'Red 5' 536 blog 237 1 2011-03-23T18:01:41-07:00 2011-04-26T16:53:19-07:00 1 538 1 <p>Here it is March already and we haven't even talked about our January trip yet. After three weeks on the road, to Vegas of all places, you would think there would be stories to tell. Well, suffice it to say we've been quite busy since our return. We’re heavy into the build of prototype 5 and it is looking sweeeet. We’ve given up electric drive and the new model runs solely on tiger blood (winning!). But more on that later. Rewind to January.</p><p>We got a new (used, but new to us!) towing rig at the end of the year and I’m proud to say we are no longer running on irony! Our new truck is rocking the B99 biodiesel whenever humanly possible. We happen to have a very convenient filling station here in Eugene in <a href="http://www.sqbiofuels.com/retail">SeQuential Biofuels</a> (no muss no fuss fill-ups, just like a regular filling station as far as getting gas is concerned, plus a great organic cafe and mini-mart attached with delicious eats), and we would soon find out that most biodiesel filling stations are not nearly so prevalent or convenient. Reason #42 why Eugene is awesome.</p><p>We also had some brand-spanking new panels made up for the trip, in honor of our Ducks competing in the BCS college football national championship game on January 11 (#43). Of course, we were busy with finishing touches right up until (and then well past) our intended departure time on Sunday. So we drove straight through. To Vegas. That's a long drive. But we rolled in just in time to load in to the Expo Hall. I know, it's funny how we keep doing that. It's a gift.</p><p>We were exhibiting with the Higher Ed Tech Forum. What's the connection, you may ask? Well, we've worked closely with our local Universities (both University of Oregon and Lane Community College) on many aspects of the vehicle, we've had several interns from both Universities, and we plan on <a href="http://www.arcimoto.com/platform">licensing the Arcimoto platform</a> to higher ed institutions. Also, we know someone. They got us coveted floor space at the biggest consumer electronics show in the world for the right price.</p><p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/2.jpg" alt=""></p><p>So we scored a great spot for free right in the front of the hall. We got a lot of traffic, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ3nk0eUnU4">talked to a huge number of people</a>, and generally received a great deal of interest throughout the show. We made a ton of connections, both with future customers and potential partners, and would like to sincerely thank the Higher Ed Tech Forum for hosting us.</p><p>I personally counted 14 instances of, "This is the best thing I've seen at the show!" That means a lot coming from the consumer electronics mecca that is CES. Since we were heading to the BCS game immediately following close of the show, we were sporting the Duck panels and caught the eye of a lot of Duck fans at the show. Including <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=604417&id=254707685073#!/photo.php?fbid=10150368248495074&set=a.10150368244645074.604417.254707685073&theater">this woman</a>, who didn't know who the Ducks were, but we dubbed her an honorary Duck fan anyway by virtue of her green and yellow full-body paint.</p><p>Following the close of the show, we busted ass down to Arizona, and made it to Scottsdale just in time to cruise the downtown bars on the eve of the big game, to Duck cheers and Auburn jeers. There was one alley in particular that was literally divided in half, Duck fans on one side and Auburn fans on the other. Driving through that was like the parting of the Green and Orange sea. It could have been the abundance of alcohol or the shiny new Duck panels, but fans on both sides seemed overly enthusiastic about the vehicle. Or maybe it's just awesome.</p><p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/3.jpg" alt=""></p><p>We showed up early to the stadium on game day and secured ourselves a spot in the Tostitos "biggest tailgate party ever!" It drew such a crowd that ESPN <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=254707685073&aid=604706#!/photo.php?fbid=10150368676755074&set=a.10150368676150074.604706.254707685073&theater">featured the vehicle</a> with a crowd of hysterical Duck fans behind it on their pre-game show (and if anyone has recorded footage of that, we would love to get a hold of it!). A couple hours before game time, NFL quarterback and former Duck Joey Harrington <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=254707685073&aid=604706#!/photo.php?fbid=10150368677975074&set=a.10150368676150074.604706.254707685073&theater">drove the vehicle</a> up to the stadium.</p><p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/5.jpg" alt=""></p><p>Then we watched the game. You most likely know how that ended so I won't go into it here. The wounds are still raw. But it was a nail biter for sure, decided by a field goal in the final seconds of the game. We were prepared for a victory lap around the stadium in the vehicle, but it was not to be. Dejected, we headed back to the hotel.</p><p>We hit up <a href="http://www.local-motors.com/">Local Motors</a> the following day for their monthly "Burgers, Brews, and Welding" party. These guys are rock stars. Their <a href="http://www.local-motors.com/rallyFighter.php">Rally Fighter</a> is an amazing car, in exactly the opposite way that our vehicle is amazing. A huge desert racer, it is pretty much the antithesis of our vehicle, but we bonded over being a little fish in a big pond, and exploring novel approaches to breaking into the seemingly impregnable automotive market. They crowd-source the design of their vehicles, and sell the "ownership experience" to customers who travel to Phoenix to participate in the build of their car themselves at intensive 3-day workshops. We had a lot of fun at their shop, and wish Jay, Sarah, Ariel and the crew there nothing but the best.</p><p>The rest of the trip involved us heading back up to Vegas, then over to LA and down to Palm Springs for an investor conference. On our return trip to Vegas, we detoured via the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=254707685073&aid=604508">Grand Canyon</a> in hopes of getting a few pretty pictures with the vehicle, but we were running a little late (shocker!) and made it there just in time for sundown. So we had to settle for <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=254707685073&aid=604509">Red Rock Canyon</a> in Vegas as our scenic destination. The rest of "Vegas, Part Deux" can not be discussed in a public forum (what happens in Vegas...), but we had a great time with the fellas over at <a href="http://flyingmongooselabs.com/2011/01/hello-arcimoto/">Flying Mongoose Labs</a>, along with some more of our former <a href="http://www.garagegames.com/">GarageGames</a> co-workers.</p><p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/4.jpg" alt=""></p><p>We once again had a great reception in LA. Arcimoto Twitter follower <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/cdillonmh">C. Dillon</a>, who we had met at CES, found us in Santa Monica, took Proto4 for a test drive, and <a href="http://cdillon.net/gallery/arcimoto/">posted some pictures</a>. Thanks, C. Dillon! We continued south to Palm Springs, where we offered test drives alongside Tesla at the Cleantech Investors Forum.</p><p>As always, to view more photos than those shown here, feel free to visit our Facebook photo albums for <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=604417&id=254707685073">CES</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=254707685073&aid=604433">the night before BCS</a>, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=254707685073&aid=604706">game day</a>, and the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=254707685073&aid=604718">Local Motors visit</a>. And stay tuned to find out about our product prototype and our plans for unveiling!</p> <p>Here it is March already and we haven't even talked about our January trip yet. After three weeks on the road, to Vegas of all places, you would think there would be stories to tell. Well, suffice it to say we've been quite busy since our return. We’re heavy into the build of prototype 5 and it is looking sweeeet. We’ve given up electric drive and the new model runs solely on tiger blood (winning!). But more on that later. Rewind to January.</p> 1303861999 6 Eric Fritz sites/default/files/images/users/picture-237.jpg a:8:{s:12:"simplenews-3";i:1;s:13:"form_build_id";s:37:"form-5b8a6fefd9c63709b43dcbe9cfb1bca6";s:6:"mollom";a:2:{s:10:"session_id";s:29:"1277158879-100622b8e0b8a62010";s:7:"captcha";s:5:"sPNA2";}s:17:"mimemail_textonly";i:0;s:14:"picture_delete";i:0;s:14:"picture_upload";s:0:"";s:9:"nodewords";a:9:{s:8:"abstract";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:9:"canonical";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:9:"copyright";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:18:"@2011 Arcimoto LLC";}s:11:"description";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:8:"keywords";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:109:"arcimoto, EV, electric, vehicle, efficient, sustainable, SRK, Deliverator, Pulse, eugene, oregon, DriveOregon";}s:13:"revisit-after";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:1:"1";}s:6:"robots";a:2:{s:5:"value";a:6:{s:9:"noarchive";i:0;s:8:"nofollow";i:0;s:7:"noindex";i:0;s:5:"noodp";i:0;s:9:"nosnippet";i:0;s:6:"noydir";i:0;}s:11:"use_default";i:0;}s:8:"dc.title";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:8:"location";a:2:{s:8:"latitude";s:9:"34.416168";s:9:"longitude";s:10:"-81.383273";}}s:18:"htmlmail_plaintext";i:0;} journey/vegas-baby-vegas-consumer-electronics-show-and-bcs-football-game 1300928501 411 237 1.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/1.jpg image/jpeg 131523 1 1300928154 1.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"411";s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:683;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:67:"Vegas Baby, Vegas - Consumer Electronics Show and BCS Football Game";s:5:"title";s:67:"Vegas Baby, Vegas - Consumer Electronics Show and BCS Football Game";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/1.jpg 412 237 2.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/2.jpg image/jpeg 151339 1 1300928392 2.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"412";s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:683;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/2.jpg 413 237 3.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/3.jpg image/jpeg 170040 1 1300928405 3.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"413";s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:683;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/3.jpg 415 237 5.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/5.jpg image/jpeg 194199 1 1300928451 5.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"415";s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:683;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/5.jpg 416 237 4.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/4.jpg image/jpeg 198288 1 1300928467 4.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"416";s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:683;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/4.jpg Vegas Baby, Vegas 530 blog 237 1 2011-02-04T12:30:35-08:00 2011-04-26T16:36:00-07:00 1 532 1 <p>Well we just got back from three weeks on the road, and those trip reports will be up soon. However, now seems like a perfect time to take the opportunity to introduce one of our past interns at Arcimoto. Benjamin Narin interned with us last summer and fall as part of his senior project at South Eugene High School. We have several South Eugene grads working at Arcimoto, including Founder Mark Frohnmayer, and when Benjamin contacted us about the possibility of interning with us we were happy to accommodate a fellow Axeman.</p><p>South Eugene requires students at each class level to complete a class project related to potential career paths. They range from thinking and writing about fields of interest at the Freshman and Sophomore levels, to a required internship at a company of the student's choice as the Senior Project. Benjamin chose to apply for an internship at Arcimoto because he was "excited by the style and potential of the product, and the particular engineering challenges it presented."</p><p>As an engineering intern, we put him under the watchful eye of our Production Lead Joe Morgan, who immediately threw him to the wolves and set him to work learning SolidWorks and modeling the front and rear light packages of Prototype 4. Benjamin worked with Industrial Designer Marcos Nolan on the design, and received feedback from both Joe and Marcos on many iterations of the initial design. After finishing the model for the light packages, he repeated this process for the rear spoiler area.</p><p>He completed his internship and conducted his final presentation last November to a panel of judges here in the Arcimoto shop, including South Eugene Assistant Principal John Wayland, School-to-Career Program Coordinators Ellen Brunson-Newton and Jocelyn LaMar, and Teachers JoAnn Sanesi and Asher Tubman. The presentation detailed his projects and processes, as well as what he learned with regards to his chosen field of engineering and running a small business in general, and how he intended to apply them towards his career goals. The presentation ended with a tour of the shop and display of the prototypes.</p><p>Benjamin was a pleasure to work with and we wish him nothing but the best in his future engineering endeavors. <img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/20101026bensehspresentation42.jpg" alt=""><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/20101026bensehspresentation28.jpg" alt=""><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/20101026bensehspresentation3.jpg" alt=""></p> <p>Well we just got back from three weeks on the road, and those trip reports will be up soon. However, now seems like a perfect time to take the opportunity to introduce one of our past interns at Arcimoto. Benjamin Narin interned with us last summer and fall as part of his senior project at South Eugene High School. We have several South Eugene grads working at Arcimoto, including Founder Mark Frohnmayer, and when Benjamin contacted us about the possibility of interning with us we were happy to accommodate a fellow Axeman.</p> 1303860960 6 Eric Fritz sites/default/files/images/users/picture-237.jpg a:8:{s:12:"simplenews-3";i:1;s:13:"form_build_id";s:37:"form-5b8a6fefd9c63709b43dcbe9cfb1bca6";s:6:"mollom";a:2:{s:10:"session_id";s:29:"1277158879-100622b8e0b8a62010";s:7:"captcha";s:5:"sPNA2";}s:17:"mimemail_textonly";i:0;s:14:"picture_delete";i:0;s:14:"picture_upload";s:0:"";s:9:"nodewords";a:9:{s:8:"abstract";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:9:"canonical";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:9:"copyright";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:18:"@2011 Arcimoto LLC";}s:11:"description";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:8:"keywords";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:109:"arcimoto, EV, electric, vehicle, efficient, sustainable, SRK, Deliverator, Pulse, eugene, oregon, DriveOregon";}s:13:"revisit-after";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:1:"1";}s:6:"robots";a:2:{s:5:"value";a:6:{s:9:"noarchive";i:0;s:8:"nofollow";i:0;s:7:"noindex";i:0;s:5:"noodp";i:0;s:9:"nosnippet";i:0;s:6:"noydir";i:0;}s:11:"use_default";i:0;}s:8:"dc.title";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:8:"location";a:2:{s:8:"latitude";s:9:"34.416168";s:9:"longitude";s:10:"-81.383273";}}s:18:"htmlmail_plaintext";i:0;} journey/best-wishes-former-intern-benjamin-narin 1296851435 397 237 20101026bensehspresentation47.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/20101026bensehspresentation47.jpg image/jpeg 194195 1 1296851217 20101026_ben_sehs_presentation_47.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"397";s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:683;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:43:"Best Wishes to Former Intern Benjamin Narin";s:5:"title";s:43:"Best Wishes to Former Intern Benjamin Narin";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/20101026bensehspresentation47.jpg 398 237 20101026bensehspresentation3.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/20101026bensehspresentation3.jpg image/jpeg 162834 1 1296851235 20101026_ben_sehs_presentation_3.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"398";s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:683;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/20101026bensehspresentation3.jpg 399 237 20101026bensehspresentation28.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/20101026bensehspresentation28.jpg image/jpeg 249049 1 1296851245 20101026_ben_sehs_presentation_28.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"399";s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:683;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/20101026bensehspresentation28.jpg 400 237 20101026bensehspresentation42.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/20101026bensehspresentation42.jpg image/jpeg 235351 1 1296851254 20101026_ben_sehs_presentation_42.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"400";s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:683;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/20101026bensehspresentation42.jpg Best Wishes, Benjamin Narin 528 blog 237 1 2010-12-29T12:44:55-08:00 2011-04-26T16:49:04-07:00 1 530 1 <p>One of the things Nathan told us in his initial communique was that he wanted to be driving an Arcimoto to events by the end of the year. We're all about keeping the Captain happy, so we resolved to make our best effort to comply with that request. In typical scientific fashion, we thoroughly examined our development schedule and determined how and when it aligned with a list of potential events down in the LA area. Ha! Right.</p><p>Back in August when Nathan visited us and we <a href="http://twitter.com/NathanFillion/status/21812160112">"Tron'd it out!"</a>, we got the idea that it might be cool to roll up to the red carpet of the exclusive Hollywood premiere of <em>Tron: Legacy</em>. Not content with our previous slapdash EL-wire effort, we went full out this time, with LED-illuminated laser-etched side and rear panels. You can see the effect in the pictures below and on our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/Arcimoto?v=photos">Facebook</a> page.</p><p>As it turns out, Nathan was nominated for a Video Game Award (VGA) and was offered a position as a presenter at the awards show, put on by SpikeTV. It just so happens that the VGA show was scheduled the same night as the Tron premiere. Well, an event is an event, so we decided to just let Nathan drive to the VGA in lieu of Tron.</p><p>When we got there on Saturday afternoon, we learned that SpikeTV had given Nathan a Flip camera to film his preparation for the show. He suggested we film a little gag where he gets lost driving to the show, the results of which went up in a hastily cut (Jeremy was literally editing from the back seat on the way to the event) video on SpikeTV that he later cleaned up for worldwide release as the director's cut <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0iHTaoXW4TA">here</a>.</p><p>While Mark and Jeremy attended the VGA, I rolled over to Hollywood Boulevard to check out the Tron premiere. Apparently, Hollywood premieres are a big deal. It was held at the El Capitan theater, and an entire block of Hollywood Boulevard was blocked off to traffic, with a plethora of traffic officers and security guards holding fort.</p><p>So I flipped on the Tron lights and drove in like I owned the place. They waved me through, because <em>obviously</em> the vehicle was <em>supposed</em> to be there. Security eventually caught on, and realized that I was not actually a celebrity, nor was there one in or around the vehicle, and they finally stopped me and turned me around as I approached the red carpet. However, they very kindly allowed me to park on the corner, right by the entrance to the red carpet area. It might have had something to do with my story about meeting a certain celebrity there to drive into the event. I can't be sure though.</p><p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/tron2.jpg" alt=""></p><p>The excitement from the seething throng of people on that corner was palpable. Mark and Jeremy joined me there after leaving the VGA, and Mark says that was the first time he sincerely feared for the safety of Proto4. It actually felt possible that people would pick up the vehicle and walk off with it, that was how excited people were about it. People were taking pictures of the vehicle, of themselves standing by or sitting in the vehicle, and of themselves <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150340160135074&set=a.10150340159565074.585356.254707685073">climbing on the vehicle</a>. If we had charged $5 a head to have your picture taken with it, we probably could have funded the trip.</p><p>The following day was the annual <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=585363&id=254707685073">Canal Christmas Floats Parade</a>. I, for one, had no idea that the Venice neighborhood of LA had actual canals. The name makes so much more sense now. Anyway, the parade was a lot of fun. Among the highlights: a full band playing on a raft barely large enough to hold them all, who did not seem at all concerned about alcohol consumption leading to the possibility of equipment (or people) pitching over the side; a group hucking candy at the crowd on the shores while one of their members sang lounge-style Christmas tunes; and a couple roasting marshmallows over a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150340164765074&set=a.10150340164590074.585363.254707685073">campfire <em>in</em> their canoe</a>, apparently taking the stance that if their canoe caught on fire, hey, they were <em>in</em> water already.</p><p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/tron3.jpg" alt=""></p><p>Once again, we took advantage of the mass of people and coerced Nathan into driving through the canal crowds with full Tron lights. The next destination was a bona fide Hollywood party at a house on the canals. We parked Proto4 right out front; it made for a great party conversation piece.</p><p>The next day we got to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?fbid=10150345721695074&id=254707685073&aid=589122">visit the set of Castle</a>! And by that I mean Mark and Jeremy got to visit the set of Castle while I had to fix our stupid POS ironymobile. I want to shake the hand of the genius designer who linked the hydraulic brakes to the power steering system. If anyone knows of a good used diesel towing vehicle, we're in the market for one. But I digress. I hear the set of Castle was awesome!</p><p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/tron4.jpg" alt=""></p><p>After a relatively quiet night, we headed back up to the Bay the following morning. We had several quality meetings in the Bay over the next three days, then braved a snowstorm in the pass to make it home late Friday night. We're home for the holidays, but will hit the road again in the new year for the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and to see our very own Ducks take the college football national title in Glendale, Arizona.</p><p>Happy holidays everyone!</p><p> </p><p> </p> <p>One of the things Nathan told us in his initial communique was that he wanted to be driving an Arcimoto to events by the end of the year. We're all about keeping the Captain happy, so we resolved to make our best effort to comply with that request. In typical scientific fashion, we thoroughly examined our development schedule and determined how and when it aligned with a list of potential events down in the LA area. Ha! Right.</p> 1303861744 6 Eric Fritz sites/default/files/images/users/picture-237.jpg a:8:{s:12:"simplenews-3";i:1;s:13:"form_build_id";s:37:"form-5b8a6fefd9c63709b43dcbe9cfb1bca6";s:6:"mollom";a:2:{s:10:"session_id";s:29:"1277158879-100622b8e0b8a62010";s:7:"captcha";s:5:"sPNA2";}s:17:"mimemail_textonly";i:0;s:14:"picture_delete";i:0;s:14:"picture_upload";s:0:"";s:9:"nodewords";a:9:{s:8:"abstract";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:9:"canonical";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:9:"copyright";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:18:"@2011 Arcimoto LLC";}s:11:"description";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:8:"keywords";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:109:"arcimoto, EV, electric, vehicle, efficient, sustainable, SRK, Deliverator, Pulse, eugene, oregon, DriveOregon";}s:13:"revisit-after";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:1:"1";}s:6:"robots";a:2:{s:5:"value";a:6:{s:9:"noarchive";i:0;s:8:"nofollow";i:0;s:7:"noindex";i:0;s:5:"noodp";i:0;s:9:"nosnippet";i:0;s:6:"noydir";i:0;}s:11:"use_default";i:0;}s:8:"dc.title";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:8:"location";a:2:{s:8:"latitude";s:9:"34.416168";s:9:"longitude";s:10:"-81.383273";}}s:18:"htmlmail_plaintext";i:0;} journey/we-trond-it-out-again 1293655495 388 237 tron.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/tron.jpg image/jpeg 92342 1 1293654787 tron.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"388";s:5:"width";i:720;s:6:"height";i:480;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:30:"We Tron'd It Out! Again!";s:5:"title";s:30:"We Tron'd It Out! Again!";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/tron.jpg 389 237 tron2.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/tron2.jpg image/jpeg 69035 1 1293655407 tron2.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"389";s:5:"width";i:720;s:6:"height";i:480;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/tron2.jpg 390 237 tron3.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/tron3.jpg image/jpeg 61422 1 1293655426 tron3.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"390";s:5:"width";i:720;s:6:"height";i:480;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/tron3.jpg 391 237 tron4.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/tron4.jpg image/jpeg 73846 1 1293655471 tron4.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"391";s:5:"width";i:720;s:6:"height";i:480;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/tron4.jpg We Tron'd It Out! Again! 527 blog 984 1 2010-12-16T10:36:36-08:00 2011-04-26T16:38:40-07:00 1 529 1 <p><em><strong>Editor's Note:</strong> We don't often have the opportunity to allow guest bloggers to express their thoughts on our site, but when Nathan Fillion sent us the following thank you letter in an email and requested we share it with the class, we figured it was just such an opportunity.</em></p><p><strong><em></em></strong></p><strong><em><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;"> </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">Arcimoto,</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">I have been looking for you. I drive less than twenty miles to work. I rarely, very rarely, have more than two people in my car. So often, it's only me. Admittedly, my last car seated eight, which came in handy twice in the eight years I owned it.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">Recently, the fact dawned on me that I pay oil companies to carry their finite, explosive, poisonous fuel just to burn it into another form of poison and pollution. I'm not an idiot, I know that car and oil companies are not bound to work for the best interests of people; they are in the business of making money.  We've all replaced components of our vehicles, our engines, because they are designed to be replaced. Fuel efficiency could be phenomenal, but instead has stagnated. I'm tired of someone else controlling my choices. I don't want another car. I don't NEED another car. I need what comes next.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">I need a small vehicle, just for me to get to work in. I need a vehicle that uses cleaner energy. I need a more efficient vehicle. I need a practical vehicle, but I don't want to sacrifice speed, power, or cool factor. I need a Pulse.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">Thank you for what you are doing. Thank you for simply seeing the need and taking it upon yourselves to fulfill it.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">The future I've been waiting for is here, and I can't wait to get it.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">Nathan Fillion</p></em></strong><p></p><p> </p><p><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/vid00010.jpg" alt=""><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/vid00015-1.jpg" alt=""></p> <p><em><strong>Editor's Note:</strong> We don't often have the opportunity to allow guest bloggers to express their thoughts on our site, but when Nathan Fillion sent us the following thank you letter in an email and requested we share it with the class, we figured it was just such an opportunity.</em></p><p><strong><em></em></strong></p><strong><em><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;"> </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">Arcimoto,</p> 1303861120 6 Nathan Fillion a:9:{s:12:"simplenews-3";i:0;s:13:"form_build_id";s:37:"form-addbb8b2965b8d1a2c179ea6e3e2e8c9";s:6:"mollom";a:2:{s:10:"session_id";s:29:"1292489607-1012165b53280ad68c";s:7:"captcha";s:5:"uMCs4";}s:8:"new_role";i:0;s:12:"new_role_add";s:1:"9";s:16:"new_role_add_qty";s:0:"";s:24:"new_role_add_granularity";s:3:"day";s:14:"picture_delete";s:0:"";s:14:"picture_upload";s:0:"";} journey/thank-you-arcimoto 1293187935 12 377 984 vid00017.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/vid00017.jpg image/jpeg 255513 1 1292523999 VID00017.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"377";s:5:"width";i:1280;s:6:"height";i:720;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:18:"Thank You Arcimoto";s:5:"title";s:18:"Thank You Arcimoto";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/vid00017.jpg 378 984 vid00010.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/vid00010.jpg image/jpeg 236930 1 1292524027 VID00010.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:22:"Nathan in Proto4 in LA";s:3:"fid";s:3:"378";s:5:"width";i:1280;s:6:"height";i:720;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/vid00010.jpg 379 984 vid00015-1.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/vid00015-1.jpg image/jpeg 252746 1 1292524052 VID00015 (1).jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:22:"Nathan in Proto4 in LA";s:3:"fid";s:3:"379";s:5:"width";i:1280;s:6:"height";i:720;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/vid00015-1.jpg Thank You Arcimoto 526 blog 237 1 2010-12-12T00:27:40-08:00 2011-04-26T16:56:26-07:00 1 528 1 <p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">So, we had a good solid two weeks of down time following our last California trip leading into the <a href="http://cleantechopen.com">Cleantech Open (CTO)</a> finals in San Jose the week before Thanksgiving.  Mark was out of the office on his trip to Detroit and DC (the Tour for Rational Vanity... and yes, that trip blog is still coming).  We figured that would be the ideal time to slap some paint on Proto4, as we're moving into 9 months of rain here in Eugene and the general consensus is that it would look much better black than bright orange from rust.  In order to powder coat the frame, the entire vehicle would need to be disassembled, painted, then reassembled.  Our lead designer Byron Bocian suggested that as long as we were going through the painting process, it would also be a great time to experiment with some body panel options.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">Three weeks is plenty of time to do all of that, right?  Well, yes, except when you also are trying to stay on-task with design and development of Prototype 5, ongoing marketing, and other day-to-day activities.  Anyone else see where this is going?  We tightened up the final bolts at 8pm Sunday night and hit the road, looking forward to a good 3-4 hours of sleep that night on our way down to San Jose for our 12:30pm CTO judging appointment.  The results, however, were impressive.  Paint and panels transformed Proto4 into The Black Stallion (though Mark grimaces every time I call it Shétân), as you can see from the photos.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">Following the judging, and a few last minute tweaks, we made our way to the Google campus.  In addition to being an internet search giant, Google has made a strong push for sustainability.  Their RechargeIT initiative aims to reduce CO2 emissions, cut oil use, and stabilize the electrical grid by accelerating the adoption of plug-in electric vehicles.  We brought proto4 to the RechargeIT HQ and a couple of the brains behind the initiative gave it a quick spin around the campus.  They liked the concept enough to suggest we give a tech talk at Google once we have Proto5 on the road.  After a couple more quick tune-ups and some parking lot testing/joy riding/footage filming, we hit the sack and prepared for another early morning.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">The following morning we loaded up and drove to downtown San Francisco, where we parked right outside the SF Chronicle to let Twitter Founder Jack Dorsey (known simply as <a href="http://twitter.com/jack">@jack</a> to his millions of followers) take a look and a ride.  As usual, we had several passersby stopping to take pictures and ask questions while we were parked on 5th and Mission.  @jack and Mark hopped in the vehicle to take a spin around the block (or so we thought).  About 20 minutes later, we figured that the test drive was either going really well or horribly.  When they returned a  few minutes later we found out that they decided to stop for a cappuccino at Sightglass coffee, one of @jack's favorite spots.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;"> </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Verdana, 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'Lucida Grande', Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/20101116testdrivejackdorsey21.jpg" alt=""></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">Next up was the Global Technology Leaders Conference in Berkeley, whose focus was Energy Innovation for a Greener Economy.  Mark was invited as a Berkeley Electrical Engineering and Computer Science alum, and since it fit perfectly within our existing bay area schedule, we decided it would be an ideal place to show off Proto4 to a gaggle of Berkeley engineers.  We once again took the opportunity to drive the vehicle into inappropriate places, driving right up onto the sidewalk and parking in front of the steps to Clark Kerr Conference Hall.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">The next day was the big CTO Awards Gala, with events scheduled throughout the day.  The expo hall was open with exhibits on display in the afternoon, followed by a series of presentations and on-stage demos from Cleantech and each of the finalists across the street at the Performing Arts Center, and ending with hors d'oeuvre and exhibits back at the expo hall.  So we first had to negotiate getting the vehicle into the exhibit hall, then getting it out of the hall, into the Performing Arts Center (and hopefully on stage), then back into the expo hall.  The first part was easy.  The second, not so much.  After being repeatedly told "there's no way you're taking that on stage," we were forced to break out the Jedi mind tricks.  To be fair, they had a valid concern, as the "loading dock" was four feet off the ground with no ramp.  Like that would stop us.</p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;"> </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;"><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/20101117ctofinals239.jpg" alt=""></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">Luckily, Ed the grizzled stage manager was on duty, and that man loves a challenge.  Soon we had a forklift delivered and a plan in place to lift it onto the dock in the hour break between expo hall closing and the presentations.  Ed executed the plan flawlessly, lifting it sideways on the dock, and the roughly 14 foot wide loading dock door gave us about a foot and change to work with on the sides.  We just picked up the back end and swung in around.  Ed then regaled us with various stage production stories and bawdy jokes while Mark drove Proto4 onto the stage to deliver his 3-minute presentation.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;"> </p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;"><img class="imagecache-blog_image" src="http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/blog_image/images/blog/20101117ctofinals109.jpg" alt=""></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">With easily the best on-stage prop (not that I'm biased or anything), we were one of the few to elicit spontaneous cheers from the audience.  Of course, it could have been the music, as I'm pretty sure we were also the only company to incorporate AC/DC (Back in Black, natch) into our multimedia presentation.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">As soon as we got offstage, we got a request for Kauffman CEO Carl Schramm to drive it back on stage for his upcoming keynote.  Naturally, we obliged.  So we got the prototype on stage not once but twice, much to the consternation of the CTO logistics manager (we love ya, Gerri!).  After the presentations we lifted the vehicle back off the dock like old pros.  By that, I mean we pretty much stood around while Ed made it look easy.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">And after all that did we win?  Well, no.  But fellow Oregon company <a href="http://www.puralytics.com">Puralytics</a> not only took the Northwest top spot, they took down the national prize as well.  Many congratulations to them for a well-deserved win!</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">We finished off the trip with a handful of additional meetings and test drives on Thursday and Friday morning before heading back up to Oregon.  An uneventful ride back got us home before midnight, in plenty of time for the Thanksgiving holiday.</p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px;"> </p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica;">We're back in California now, so look for another road report shortly after we return.</p><p> </p><p> </p> <p><span style="font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal;">So, we had a good solid two weeks of down time following our last California trip leading into the <a href="http://cleantechopen.com">Cleantech Open (CTO)</a> finals in San Jose the week before Thanksgiving.  Mark was out of the office on his trip to Detroit and DC (the Tour for Rational Vanity... 1303862186 6 Eric Fritz sites/default/files/images/users/picture-237.jpg a:8:{s:12:"simplenews-3";i:1;s:13:"form_build_id";s:37:"form-5b8a6fefd9c63709b43dcbe9cfb1bca6";s:6:"mollom";a:2:{s:10:"session_id";s:29:"1277158879-100622b8e0b8a62010";s:7:"captcha";s:5:"sPNA2";}s:17:"mimemail_textonly";i:0;s:14:"picture_delete";i:0;s:14:"picture_upload";s:0:"";s:9:"nodewords";a:9:{s:8:"abstract";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:9:"canonical";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:9:"copyright";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:18:"@2011 Arcimoto LLC";}s:11:"description";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:8:"keywords";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:109:"arcimoto, EV, electric, vehicle, efficient, sustainable, SRK, Deliverator, Pulse, eugene, oregon, DriveOregon";}s:13:"revisit-after";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:1:"1";}s:6:"robots";a:2:{s:5:"value";a:6:{s:9:"noarchive";i:0;s:8:"nofollow";i:0;s:7:"noindex";i:0;s:5:"noodp";i:0;s:9:"nosnippet";i:0;s:6:"noydir";i:0;}s:11:"use_default";i:0;}s:8:"dc.title";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:8:"location";a:2:{s:8:"latitude";s:9:"34.416168";s:9:"longitude";s:10:"-81.383273";}}s:18:"htmlmail_plaintext";i:0;} journey/proto4-gets-makeover-cleantech-open-finals 1292142460 369 237 20101117ctofinals4-1.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/20101117ctofinals4-1.jpg image/jpeg 319818 1 1292141679 20101117_cto_finals_4 (1).jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"fid";s:3:"369";s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:683;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:48:"Proto4 Gets a Makeover for Cleantech Open Finals";s:5:"title";s:48:"Proto4 Gets a Makeover for Cleantech Open Finals";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/20101117ctofinals4-1.jpg 370 237 20101116testdrivejackdorsey21.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/20101116testdrivejackdorsey21.jpg image/jpeg 282083 1 1292141802 20101116_testdrive_jack_dorsey_21.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:23:"@jack in the new Proto4";s:3:"fid";s:3:"370";s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:683;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/20101116testdrivejackdorsey21.jpg 371 237 20101116ucberkeley22.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/20101116ucberkeley22.jpg image/jpeg 265513 1 1292141819 20101116_uc_berkeley_22.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:17:"Proto4 in Berkley";s:3:"fid";s:3:"371";s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:683;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/20101116ucberkeley22.jpg 372 237 20101117ctofinals109.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/20101117ctofinals109.jpg image/jpeg 158546 1 1292141856 20101117_cto_finals_109.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:19:"Mark presents @ CTO";s:3:"fid";s:3:"372";s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:683;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/20101117ctofinals109.jpg 373 237 20101117ctofinals239.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/20101117ctofinals239.jpg image/jpeg 296228 1 1292141898 20101117_cto_finals_239.jpg a:13:{s:11:"description";s:22:"Getting a lift from Ed";s:3:"fid";s:3:"373";s:5:"width";i:1024;s:6:"height";i:683;s:8:"duration";i:0;s:12:"audio_format";s:0:"";s:17:"audio_sample_rate";i:0;s:18:"audio_channel_mode";s:0:"";s:13:"audio_bitrate";i:0;s:18:"audio_bitrate_mode";s:0:"";s:4:"tags";a:0:{}s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/20101117ctofinals239.jpg Cleantech Open Finals 523 blog 237 1 2010-11-04T10:54:48-07:00 2010-11-04T17:57:06-07:00 525 237 On to the City of Angels! We made it in one go, with a brief stop for irony (gas), bladder relief, and the culinary delights of Taco Bell. We crossed the Grapevine around sundown, and braved the LA highways (and drivers) as we rumbled down to Santa Monica. There we met with Rhett Reese for dinner & a test drive. Rhett is a longtime acquaintance of Mark's, starting out as a fan of <em>Tribes</em> (one of Mark's first commercial games and a cult hit). His most recent Hollywood credit is as writer and producer of <em>Zombieland</em>. Following dinner we cruised Santa Monica Boulevard, marketers (aka desperate attention seekers) that we are. We holed up that night at the Encino Marriott. They had a nice little outdoor lot for oversized vehicles. After parking there, we started looking around for a place to plug in the trailer so we could charge Proto4 overnight. Lo and behold, they had an actual EV parking spot and charging station, circa 1998! Unfortunately, the decrepit station, unused for a decade, was not in proper working order. Instead we found a standard outlet and plugged in. We also put Jim's MacGyver skills to use as he strapped the generator to the front of the trailer and rigged it so the generator could power the trailer, so Proto4 could be plugged in while we drove. Voila! Our own hybrid system! We wanted to make sure we had plenty of juice for the upcoming celebrity test drives. The next morning we met with Heather Thomas, who played stunt woman Jody Banks in the 80's classic <em>The Fall Guy</em>, and is currently an active champion of green businesses and environmental issues. As Mark and Jeremy waited to meet Heather, they nibbled cheese and sipped grape drink on the veranda while enjoying the amazing view of one of Santa Monica's many golf courses. Heather's test drive went swimmingly, and she was quite impressed with the affordability of the vehicle's target price tag. Then we headed over to Nathan Fillion's pad, where he had assembled a group of family and friends to check out our ride. He neglected to mention, however, that his driveway is roughly a 78 degree incline. No problem, this would give us a chance to test out performance on a drastic slope. And testing was... inconclusive. Ah, who am I kidding, it was quite conclusive. After taking two runs at it, we had to give it a good shove to get it the rest of the way up the driveway. This process was captured for posterity as Zachary Levi of <em>Chuck</em> fame <a href="http://twitcasting.tv/zacharylevi/movie/574511">TwitCasted</a> the whole affair. We have since switched out the differential, modifying the ratio from 5:1 to 6.13:1, which drastically improves low-end torque. We need to find ourselves a comparable hill to test on, but we are confident that it would be able to make it up now with no problems. When we finally made it up to the house we were greeted by Nathan's parents and a host of celebs. In addition to the aforementioned Mr. Levi, the main stars of Castle (Stana Katic, Jon Huertas, and Seamus Dever) were all there, as well as several single- or multi-episode guest stars: Perrey Reeves, who also stars in <em>Entourage</em>, Abigail Spencer, who had a major role in the last season of <em>Mad Men</em>, and Michael Trucco, who played played Anders in <em>Battlestar Galactica</em>. Alan Tudyk from <em>Firefly</em> and Dave Foley from <em>Kids in the Hall</em> and <em>News Radio</em> rounded out the cast. So, naturally, we just stood around star struck for a while and answered questions as best we could. Stana, Seamus, Alan, and Zachary all got a chance in the driver’s seat for the first set of drives. Stana and Seamus had a film crew with them and were creating a piece for the Alternative Travel Project. Unfortunately, in addition to the really steep driveway, the area around Nathan's place is one big hill, and after a few drives the motor controller had decided it had had enough for a while. If you were following @ZacharyLevi at the time, you may have <a href="http://twitter.com/ZacharyLevi/status/26884818177">heard about it</a>. So, back at the shop, we have added some thermal baffling and re-routed the cooling airflow around the power train. These changes should address all the problems we saw down in LA. Additionally, Proto5 will sport a more robust motor and controller and make use of the full 144-volt battery pack (Proto4 uses a 108-volt pack). Notably, while we felt these hiccups very acutely and were suitably embarrassed, it did not seem to diminish everyone else's enthusiasm for the vehicle, and after a brief rest to cool down, the motor controller was ready for another set of drives. Everyone there was very encouraging, and basically a joy to talk to. While there, Stana Katic and Perrey Reeves also clued us in to a 10/10/10 event created by <a href="http://ciclavia.wordpress.com/">CicLAvia</a> going on downtown the following day, and we decided to hit it up with Proto4. We showed up not knowing quite what to expect, but were treated to the surreal experience of a 7.5 mile stretch of downtown streets completely closed off to motorized vehicles. In fact, officials made us park and turn off the (electric!) vehicle despite the absence of emissions. We got on the road heading home around noon, with the intention of making it back to Eugene by about 5am Monday morning, as Mark had to catch a train to Portland at 8am for a meeting later in the day. We were in for (what we thought would be) a long night of driving. That is, until the check engine light popped on around Redding. Shortly after, the rig started shaking unnaturally, began producing strange sounds from forward of the dash and lost accelerating power. We pulled off the highway into a gas station, whose mini-mart was coincidentally titled "Time to Stop." We popped the hood to have a look, but we're electric car guys! We deal with a single moving part, and the 350 moving parts of the internal combustion engine baffle us, so we were fairly lost. There was one car parked off in the shadows of the gas station as we pulled up. Minutes after we arrived, two more cars showed up and parked next to the first. Visions of nefarious back-alley dealings popped into our heads, but there wasn't much we could do about it; we certainly weren't going anywhere. We watched with trepidation as one of the kids popped out of his car and sauntered over. "Car trouble?" he asked. I nodded sheepishly and handed him a flashlight. After a bit of poking around, he had our problem diagnosed (spark plugs) and gave us a way to test it (start it up with one of the plugs out and listen for a rev difference). We looked over to the other cars after this exchange and all three had their hoods up. Apparently we started a little midnight tune-up party. As we started testing plugs, the other cars took off. Unfortunately, we had an entirely separate issue with our starter, and after a few stops/starts for the plug tests, it refused to kick over at all. We resigned ourselves to a night in Redding, had the truck towed to Perry’s Auto Repair (highly recommended), and walked next door to the Motel 6, who left the light on for us, but neglected to do the same with the hot water. The following morning we found a lovely restaurant with some tasty BBQ called Fatboy's, conveniently located across the street from Perry's, and we posted up there from about 11am on while we waited for our truck to be fixed. We turned their patio into a temporary office as we pulled out laptops and got to work. Mark took a conference call for the meeting he was supposed to be at in Portland. We had Proto4 parked out front, and fielded a bunch of questions from the locals as we ate lunch. The truck's problem turned out to be the distributor cap (the kid was mostly right, as the distributor cap routes voltage to the spark plugs), and Perry's had that fixed by mid-afternoon. The starter issue would take another few hours, but we decided to fill the tank and chance it, planning not to turn the engine off at all for the final stretch. Well, we made it home no problem, with a good gallon or two of irony in the tank to spare. That's it! That's our whirlwind West Coast tour. Check out all the photos on our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=254707685073#!/photos.php?id=254707685073">Facebook page</a>. We made some good contacts, got a lot of test drives in, and got some great (ahem) testing in! Stay tuned for reports from Mark's East Coast tour coming up from guest correspondent Jorah LeFleur. On to the City of Angels! We made it in one go, with a brief stop for irony (gas), bladder relief, and the culinary delights of Taco Bell. We crossed the Grapevine around sundown, and braved the LA highways (and drivers) as we rumbled down to Santa Monica. There we met with Rhett Reese for dinner & a test drive. Rhett is a longtime acquaintance of Mark's, starting out as a fan of <em>Tribes</em> (one of Mark's first commercial games and a cult hit). His most recent Hollywood credit is as writer and producer of <em>Zombieland</em>. 1288918626 1 Eric Fritz sites/default/files/images/users/picture-237.jpg a:8:{s:12:"simplenews-3";i:1;s:13:"form_build_id";s:37:"form-5b8a6fefd9c63709b43dcbe9cfb1bca6";s:6:"mollom";a:2:{s:10:"session_id";s:29:"1277158879-100622b8e0b8a62010";s:7:"captcha";s:5:"sPNA2";}s:17:"mimemail_textonly";i:0;s:14:"picture_delete";i:0;s:14:"picture_upload";s:0:"";s:9:"nodewords";a:9:{s:8:"abstract";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:9:"canonical";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:9:"copyright";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:18:"@2011 Arcimoto LLC";}s:11:"description";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:8:"keywords";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:109:"arcimoto, EV, electric, vehicle, efficient, sustainable, SRK, Deliverator, Pulse, eugene, oregon, DriveOregon";}s:13:"revisit-after";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:1:"1";}s:6:"robots";a:2:{s:5:"value";a:6:{s:9:"noarchive";i:0;s:8:"nofollow";i:0;s:7:"noindex";i:0;s:5:"noodp";i:0;s:9:"nosnippet";i:0;s:6:"noydir";i:0;}s:11:"use_default";i:0;}s:8:"dc.title";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:8:"location";a:2:{s:8:"latitude";s:9:"34.416168";s:9:"longitude";s:10:"-81.383273";}}s:18:"htmlmail_plaintext";i:0;} journey/west-coast-pre-tour-hollywood 1288893288 356 237 stana-driveway.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/stana-driveway.jpg image/jpeg 112589 1 1288892816 stana driveway.jpg a:3:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"alt";s:31:"West Coast Pre-Tour: Hollywood!";s:5:"title";s:31:"West Coast Pre-Tour: Hollywood!";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/stana-driveway.jpg 358 237 parking-spot.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/parking-spot.jpg image/jpeg 102954 1 1288892885 parking spot.jpg a:3:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/parking-spot.jpg 359 237 hybrid.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/hybrid.jpg image/jpeg 89970 1 1288892905 hybrid.jpg a:3:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/hybrid.jpg 360 237 fillion-crowd.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/fillion-crowd.jpg image/jpeg 110851 1 1288892943 fillion crowd.jpg a:3:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/fillion-crowd.jpg 361 237 foley-huertas.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/foley-huertas.jpg image/jpeg 90927 1 1288893105 foley huertas.jpg a:3:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/foley-huertas.jpg 362 237 fillion.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/fillion.jpg image/jpeg 79889 1 1288893134 fillion.jpg a:3:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/fillion.jpg Hollywood! 521 blog 237 1 2010-10-28T13:41:01-07:00 2010-11-01T11:25:24-07:00 1 523 1 After one luxurious night in our own beds, Mark, Jeremy, and I once again loaded Proto4 into the trailer and climbed into the truck. This time we had a new recruit to team marketimoto; Mechanical Designer Jim Jordan joined us on the trip south, whose MacGyver skills ensured that everything would run smoothly. The four of us set out Wednesday evening and arrived in Redding sometime after midnight. We like to say that our marketing trips are fueled by irony, as we roll down the highway towing our ultra-efficient electric vehicle behind our gas guzzling SUV. Perhaps secondary to gas consumption, but painfully obvious to the primary driver (that would be me) is the disparity in bulk as well. Throwing our small, aerodynamic three-wheeler in the back of our 20-foot trailer turns a nimble driving machine into an unwieldy behemoth. It gets a bit dicey on busy interstate traffic with crazy drivers darting in front of you, and even worse on narrow city streets with cars parked along the curb, but nowhere is it more apparent than parking. The Redding Travelodge is a lovely place and a great value, with helpful staff that saved us a (tiny) spot in their (tiny) lot for our trailer, close to an outdoor outlet so that we could charge the vehicle overnight. Even with the other three fellas directing me, we determined after about 20 minutes that we would not be able to back the trailer into the spot. Suffice it to say that I have not yet mastered the art of backing up with the trailer attached. Instead, in typical fashion, we took up six parking spots and strung an extension cord across the length of the parking lot. Another fine display of efficiency. After a pleasant few hours of sleep at the Travelodge, we continued south to downtown San Francisco, where we met entrepreneur and angel investor Ariel Poler for a test drive at Moscone Center. Downtown San Francisco was also not conducive to parking (go figure), and I spent about 45 minutes driving around downtown until I found a suitable curb to park at for the remaining 15 minutes before rolling back over to Moscone to pick the guys up. According to the guys, Ariel enjoyed the ride and, naturally, Proto4 caught the eyes of a few passersby as well. Our next stop was <a href="http://www.dfj.com/">DFJ</a> in Los Altos, where we met with some of the fine folks from DFJ including Tim Draper and Steve Jurvetson (the D and J). DFJ has already invested in Tesla Motors, and as such were very educated on the EV industry and asked some very astute questions regarding battery chemistry options and availability, as well as go to market strategy. Then they zipped around the lot in Proto4 and promptly forgot all further technical questions. Following an uneventful night (yay for big outdoor hotel parking lots where taking up 6 spaces is not an issue), we headed over to Mountain View in the morning to meet with former Chairman and CEO of Intel and current EV advocate Andy Grove. The man that <a href="http://www.calcars.org/calcars-news/967.html">said in 2008</a>, "Electricity in transportation has to be done. It is urgent. It is so important that everything else is secondary." finally got a chance to check out our implementation of that mandate and ask some pointed questions. He immediately sent us over to <a href="http://www.bloomenergy.com/">Bloom Energy</a> to meet with KR Sridhar, PhD, an actual rocket scientist (former professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering and Director of the Space Technologies Laboratory at the University of Arizona). Apparently when Andy Grove talks people listen, because KR took time out of his busy day to come talk to us. KR confirmed this suspicion with us, calling Grove "the Yoda of Silicon Valley." Bloom Energy is creating high-capacity energy storage and generation devices which use fuel cell technology to create clean electricity from a variety of fuel sources. Very cool stuff, and they are already working with companies the likes of Google, ebay, and Adobe to install their Bloom Energy Servers on site. After that enlightening meeting, it was time to get back on the road and head south. We'll move on to LA in the next blog. After one luxurious night in our own beds, Mark, Jeremy, and I once again loaded Proto4 into the trailer and climbed into the truck. This time we had a new recruit to team marketimoto; Mechanical Designer Jim Jordan joined us on the trip south, whose MacGyver skills ensured that everything would run smoothly. The four of us set out Wednesday evening and arrived in Redding sometime after midnight. 1288635924 1 Eric Fritz sites/default/files/images/users/picture-237.jpg a:8:{s:12:"simplenews-3";i:1;s:13:"form_build_id";s:37:"form-5b8a6fefd9c63709b43dcbe9cfb1bca6";s:6:"mollom";a:2:{s:10:"session_id";s:29:"1277158879-100622b8e0b8a62010";s:7:"captcha";s:5:"sPNA2";}s:17:"mimemail_textonly";i:0;s:14:"picture_delete";i:0;s:14:"picture_upload";s:0:"";s:9:"nodewords";a:9:{s:8:"abstract";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:9:"canonical";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:9:"copyright";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:18:"@2011 Arcimoto LLC";}s:11:"description";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:8:"keywords";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:109:"arcimoto, EV, electric, vehicle, efficient, sustainable, SRK, Deliverator, Pulse, eugene, oregon, DriveOregon";}s:13:"revisit-after";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:1:"1";}s:6:"robots";a:2:{s:5:"value";a:6:{s:9:"noarchive";i:0;s:8:"nofollow";i:0;s:7:"noindex";i:0;s:5:"noodp";i:0;s:9:"nosnippet";i:0;s:6:"noydir";i:0;}s:11:"use_default";i:0;}s:8:"dc.title";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:8:"location";a:2:{s:8:"latitude";s:9:"34.416168";s:9:"longitude";s:10:"-81.383273";}}s:18:"htmlmail_plaintext";i:0;} journey/west-coast-pre-tour-investor-meetings-and-parking-struggles-bay-area 1288298461 352 237 20101007sfmosconecenter36.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/20101007sfmosconecenter36.jpg image/jpeg 267395 1 1288298106 20101007_sf_moscone_center_36.jpg a:3:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"alt";s:76:"West Coast Pre-Tour: Investor Meetings and Parking Struggles in the Bay Area";s:5:"title";s:76:"West Coast Pre-Tour: Investor Meetings and Parking Struggles in the Bay Area";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/20101007sfmosconecenter36.jpg 353 237 20101008andygrovefoundation11.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/20101008andygrovefoundation11.jpg image/jpeg 289104 1 1288298123 20101008_andy_grove_foundation_11.jpg a:3:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/20101008andygrovefoundation11.jpg 354 237 20101008andygrovefoundation12.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/20101008andygrovefoundation12.jpg image/jpeg 311296 1 1288298136 20101008_andy_grove_foundation_12.jpg a:3:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/20101008andygrovefoundation12.jpg 355 237 20101008draperfisherjurvetson13.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/20101008draperfisherjurvetson13.jpg image/jpeg 317329 1 1288298147 20101008_draper_fisher_jurvetson_13.jpg a:3:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"alt";s:0:"";s:5:"title";s:0:"";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/20101008draperfisherjurvetson13.jpg Goin' Back to Cali 520 blog 237 1 2010-10-26T12:07:53-07:00 2010-10-29T16:29:54-07:00 1 522 237 Mark is off gallivanting on the East Coast on what has been dubbed by guest correspondent Jorah LeFleur as "The Tour for Rational Vanity." It's an apt name and I’ll let her expound further, which she will be doing in a series of guest blogs in the coming days. However, I figured I would take this opportunity to talk about some of the events of the past few weeks that have led up to the Tour. The Pre-Tour, if you will, began October 4 in Seattle for the Northwest Regional Finals Awards Gala for the <a href="http://www.cleantechopen.com">Cleantech Open</a> (CTO). You may recall that we were selected as one of 15 Semi-Finalist in the green business competition. The ceremony on October 4 was to crown three of those semi-finalists to advance to the national finals in San Jose on November 17. That event kicked off a week-long jaunt down the West Coast, ending up in Los Angeles before returning home on October 10 (we actually arrived October 11, but that's part of the story... ). Anyway, we got an early start and cruised up to Seattle the morning of October 4. As Mark was inside giving his pitch, Jeremy and I spotted up outside the venue with Proto4 and gave impromptu test drives. Byron McCann, co-chair of the CTO for the Pacific Northwest region, took it for a spin around Seattle's waterfront district while I rode shotgun. As we zipped down Alaskan Way and up Western Avenue, we turned quite a few heads and got a few shouts of encouragement and thumbs-up signs. One particular gentleman started out a conversation as we were stopped at a light with, "Woah, that's awesome" and then quickly followed up with, "Hey, are you guys Mormon?" The non sequitur caught us entirely off guard, so much so that we really could not come up with a reasonable answer. Maybe we <em>are</em> Mormon. I mean, Byron <em>was</em> wearing a suit. In <em>Seattle</em>. Driving into the second-floor hall was an exercise in geometry. The manual steering gave me a workout as we navigated a 10-point turn out of the freight elevator and around a tight corner into the main exhibit area. We have since loosened up the steering and adjusted the vertical alignment of the front wheels, and the manual steering is no longer a chore at low speeds. Shout out to Western Washington University's <a href="http://vri.etec.wwu.edu/">Vehicle Research Institute</a> group who participated in the <a href="http://www.progressiveautoxprize.org/">Progressive X-Prize Challenge</a> and brought their <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31A73IyAkYE">Viking 45</a> plug-in hybrid to the event and parked it out front. We had a lot of fun talking shop with those guys during the show. We were also happy to see fellow <a href="http://driveoregon.org/">DriveOregon</a> companies <a href="http://www.greenlitemotors.com/">Green Lite Motors</a> and <a href="http://www.shorepower.com/">Shorepower Technologies</a> exhibiting as 2009 CTO alumni. Anticipation mounted through drinks and hors d’oeuvre as the finalist announcement approached. Byron took the mic as master of ceremonies, and made some introductory comments before ripping the envelopes, anecdotally noting our earlier test drive and the awkward assertion that we must be Mormon. The first finalist announced was <a href="http://www.nanocelinc.com/">Nanocel</a> from Seattle, Washington, a manufacturer of liquid cooling solutions. Water purification company <a href="http://www.puralytics.com">Puralytics</a> of Beaverton, Oregon was the company named in the second envelope. This was it. Our moment of truth. Only one slot left. And we emerged victorious! We are a CTO Northwest Regional Finalist and will be attending the national finals in San Jose on November 17! The win nabs us $30k in cash and services, with a chance at the $250k awarded to the national finalist. Congratulations to our fellow finalists Nanocel and Puralytics, and to all the semi-finalists who competed in this year's CTO. The show started winding up around 8pm, and we loaded up the trailer and got back on the road down to Portland. The following day we exhibited at the GoGreen Conference in downtown Portland. Mark spoke on a panel titled "Green Transportation: Alternative Vehicle Strategies for Business." Green Lite Motors and Shorepower Technologies joined us out front of the venue with their vehicle and charging station, respectively, and several other DriveOregon companies were represented at a table inside. Following the conference we headed home for a 24-hour pit stop before 'Goin' Back to Cali.' I'll pick up there with the next blog. Mark is off gallivanting on the East Coast on what has been dubbed by guest correspondent Jorah LeFleur as "The Tour for Rational Vanity." 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Having undergone several code names around the office, from <em>Fundvertising</em> to <em>Crowdsourcing Awesome</em>, it allows regular folk (and by that I mean those that don't meet accreditation requirements) to contribute to the transportation revolution. These virtual wings are available in a variety of dollar amounts, corresponding to materials from bronze to the coveted wonderflownium, to accommodate our supporters' varying levels of enthusiasm and capacity. Crashing our servers for the second time in as many months, Fillion tweeted the start of the program last week, pledging to match the first $5k donated. We have been overwhelmed by the support shown since then, and are extremely gratified that so many others share our dream of a sustainable transportation future. We received more than 1,500 contributions in two days, and reached the Captain's matching goal within the first 8 hours. We now have milestones listed on the <a href="http://www.arcimoto.com/angels">Angel Wings page</a> so you can see exactly what you are contributing towards on our development timeline. Check it out, we're already over a quarter of the way to the Prototype 5 Design and Engineering Refinement milestone. We fielded several tweeted inquiries since Fillion announced the start of the program, mostly about the possibility of getting physical wings and/or affixing them as an emblem to the contributor's Pulse once they're available. We're looking into it. Many thanks to Twitter user lonelydotgeek who pushed us over the $5k mark; we'll be in touch to send you some Arcimoto goodies. "My little five year old nephew is giving $5 out of his piggy bank so that he can drive his own spaceship some day," tweeted Kimberly Mahoney (<a href="http://twitter.com/Thundrbrd70">@Thundrbrd70</a> on Twitter). Putting a car on the road by the time Kimberly's nephew is able to drive is a much more forgiving timeline than the one we're currently operating on, but we certainly appreciate the support from a future star pilot. Maybe he can co-pilot Kimberly's spaceship until then. If you're not one of the many followers of Nathan Fillion on Twitter, you may not yet have heard about the <a href="http://www.arcimoto.com/angels">Arcimoto Angel Wings</a> program. Having undergone several code names around the office, from <em>Fundvertising</em> to <em>Crowdsourcing Awesome</em>, it allows regular folk (and by that I mean those that don't meet accreditation requirements) to contribute to the transportation revolution. 1284601492 1 Eric Fritz sites/default/files/images/users/picture-237.jpg a:8:{s:12:"simplenews-3";i:1;s:13:"form_build_id";s:37:"form-5b8a6fefd9c63709b43dcbe9cfb1bca6";s:6:"mollom";a:2:{s:10:"session_id";s:29:"1277158879-100622b8e0b8a62010";s:7:"captcha";s:5:"sPNA2";}s:17:"mimemail_textonly";i:0;s:14:"picture_delete";i:0;s:14:"picture_upload";s:0:"";s:9:"nodewords";a:9:{s:8:"abstract";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:9:"canonical";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:9:"copyright";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:18:"@2011 Arcimoto LLC";}s:11:"description";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:132:"Arcimoto designs and builds the ultra-efficient SRK electric three-wheeled vehicle and EV platform for a sustainable every day ride.";}s:8:"keywords";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:109:"arcimoto, EV, electric, vehicle, efficient, sustainable, SRK, Deliverator, Pulse, eugene, oregon, DriveOregon";}s:13:"revisit-after";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:1:"1";}s:6:"robots";a:2:{s:5:"value";a:6:{s:9:"noarchive";i:0;s:8:"nofollow";i:0;s:7:"noindex";i:0;s:5:"noodp";i:0;s:9:"nosnippet";i:0;s:6:"noydir";i:0;}s:11:"use_default";i:0;}s:8:"dc.title";a:1:{s:5:"value";s:0:"";}s:8:"location";a:2:{s:8:"latitude";s:9:"34.416168";s:9:"longitude";s:10:"-81.383273";}}s:18:"htmlmail_plaintext";i:0;} journey/arcimoto-angels-show-their-support 1285929876 1 336 237 arcimotologo1colorwingsill8sm.jpg sites/default/files/images/blog/arcimotologo1colorwingsill8sm.jpg image/jpeg 21288 1 1284426083 Arcimoto_Logo_1color_wings_ill8_sm.jpg a:3:{s:11:"description";s:0:"";s:3:"alt";s:34:"Arcimoto Angels Show Their Support";s:5:"title";s:34:"Arcimoto Angels Show Their Support";} 1 http://www.arcimoto.com/sites/default/files/images/blog/arcimotologo1colorwingsill8sm.jpg Arcimoto Angel Wings 508 blog 237 1 2010-08-26T12:54:10-07:00 2010-09-15T10:34:13-07:00 1 510 1 Dude. I enjoyed a pint of Ninkasi Total Domination and a slice of P3 across the table from Captain gorram Mal Reynolds this weekend. [/fanboy] On August 12 he crashed our servers when he tweeted to the world (or at least the 600,000 of them that follow him on Twitter) <a href="http://twitter.com/NathanFillion/status/21030824622">about our vehicle</a>. Just a week later, Actor Nathan Fillion and <em>Castle</em> co-star Jon Huertas flew up to our little city of Eugene early Saturday to kick the tires and take our latest prototype out on the road. Fillion is perhaps best known as the aforementioned Captain of the (criminally) single-season cult hit TV show <em>Firefly</em> and movie <em>Serenity</em>, though he also starred as Captain Hammer in the Whedon online phenomenon <em>Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog</em> and is currently playing the titular character in ABC's <em>Castle</em>. Huertas plays Detective Esposito on <em>Castle</em> and starred as Sergeant Espera in the HBO series <em>Generation Kill</em>. Happily, they both seemed just as excited to be visiting Eugene and driving our vehicle as we were to have them here. After a tweet disclosed that they were hanging out at the <a href="http://twitter.com/NathanFillion/status/21773327692">Saturday Market</a>, we dropped by to pick them up in Proto4, which we have recently taken to calling the shark (for reasons which will soon become evident). A crowd had formed by the time we got back to the shop, made of up Arcimoto employees, local media, and twitter-savvy fans. Both stars were very unassuming and genial, with photo ops and scrawled autographs peppering their thoughtful discussion with Mark Frohnmayer about Arcimoto and the Pulse. Additionally, they engaged with reporters from <a href="http://kezi.com/news/local/186030">KEZI</a>, <a href="http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/25206555-41/fillion-car-arcimoto-electric-huertas.csp">The Register-Guard</a>, <a href="http://blogs.eugeneweekly.com/content/captain-tightpants-and-electric-car-nathan-fillion-comes-arcimoto">Eugene Weekly</a>, and the <a href="http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/23/tv-star-puts-arcimoto-pulse-electric-vehicle-in-the-spotlight/">New York Times</a> throughout the day. After a quick tour of the shop, it was time to get them behind the wheel and out on the road. We loaded up a jeep with photographers and led them on a merry chase around the streets of Eugene, over to campus, up to Amazon Parkway, and out Dillard Road. Fillion and Huertas switched off between driving and riding passenger (and by that I mean tweeting), <a href="http://twitter.com/NathanFillion/status/21779744989">deriding Prius owners</a> for their quaint gas guzzlers along the way, and eventually leading to our favorite comment of the weekend from Huertas: "I feel like I’m driving a shark!" I'm pretty sure that means the handling feels good. After the ride we adjourned to the Pizza Research Institute next door for brews 'n pies. Fillion held an impromptu Arcimoto and Pulse Q Dude. I enjoyed a pint of Ninkasi Total Domination and a slice of P3 across the table from Captain gorram Mal Reynolds this weekend. [/fanboy] On August 12 he crashed our servers when he tweeted to the world (or at least the 600,000 of them that follow him on Twitter) <a href="http://twitter.com/NathanFillion/status/21030824622">about our vehicle</a>. 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