We checked out Arcimoto's $12,000 electric trike - here's what it was like
Arcimoto swung by our Manhattan office for a curbside briefing and test drive. It was a lovely day in mid-September. The Oregon-based startup has thus far taken about $8 million in funding and has worked through 8 prototypes of its vehicle.
They brought a pair of SRKs — one red and one blue.
That's Mark Frohnmayer, the founder. He's an entrepreneur who sold his previous company, GarageGames, before starting Arcimoto.
Another Arcimoto staffer piloted the second SRK.
The SRK is basically a tandem 3-wheeled motorcycle/maxi-scooter that can be operated open or with an enclosure. It has a pair of electric motors, one for each front wheel. Arcimoto says the top speed is 85 mph, with a range of 70 miles. That range can be bumped to 130 miles with an upgraded battery. The SRK can be charged at 110V or 220V, and owners can by a "briefcase" charger if they don't have, say a garage to charge the vehicle in.
There are basic motorcycle handlebars, a single information screen — and a cupholder!
The arrows indicate forward, reverse, and the dot is for park. Twist the right hand grip toward you to give it some juice. There's also a handbrake on this side, providing regenerative braking, plus an hydraulic foot brake for better stopping power and to hold the SRK on an incline.
The turn signal, horn, and hazard flashers are over on the other side. Price is $12,000. An additional $3,000 buys you an enclosure, to keep out the weather. Arcimoto is currently taking $100 deposits on its website.
Nothing fancy here, just the info. Gear, speed, charge. Do you need a motorcycle license or a helmet? It varies by state. No helmet needed in New York, and in California and Oregon — the first two markets for Arcimoto — no motorcycle license required.
The seats are relatively stylish and comfortable. They have criss-cross seat belts — you click twice.
Mark took the reigns first — it is his machine, after all. We were constantly asked by passers-by what it was and how much it costs.
Then I hopped on. Every time I check out an electric motorcycle-y kind of thing, I want to get one. The learning curve is practically non-existent.
Off we go! All we did was take the SRK — it stands for "Shark" — around the block. But I did enjoy some peppy electric-powered acceleration, and even though the front wheels stick out, it wasn't hard to negotiate turns. This thing is also a breeze to park just about anywhere. There's a small basket on the back to stash your stuff.
Frohnmayer says that the SRK was designed to be the ideal city vehicle. For me, it was pretty ideal for 15 minutes. It goes into production later this year.
We're starting to see a lot of these relatively inexpensive alternate transportation vehicles hit the road. However, only time will tell if there's really a market for them, but they sure are fun!
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