Arcimoto Demonstrates First Driverless FUV, Debuts Production Roadster and Arcimoto Flatbed at FUV and Friends Summer Showcase
- The company and partners exhibited new torque vectoring technology that will improve handling for all Arcimoto vehicles via future software update, among many other highlights.
Arcimoto, Inc.® (NASDAQ: FUV), makers of fun, affordable, and ultra-efficient electric vehicles for everyday drivers and fleets, and its partners debuted the first production Roadsters, demonstrated the first ever driverless FUV, unveiled new torque vectoring technology that will improve handling of all Arcimoto vehicles via a future software update, and revealed the Arcimoto Flatbed utility vehicle at this year’s FUV and Friends Summer Showcase at the Portland International Raceway on July 26.
Arcimoto Founder and CEO, Mark Frohnmayer, said:At the end of the day, sustainability is a social networking exercise: through dedicated collaboration with outstanding partners we believe we can make real the vision of a truly sustainable transportation system. It’s an honor to unveil the amazing work of our team and our partners as we push resolutely toward a clean transportation system that will work for everyone, everywhere. As the challenges of climate change mount seemingly every day, one thing is clear: the way forward is together.
The Arcimoto Roadster
Arcimoto unveiled the first production Roadsters, designed to be the ultimate on-road fun machines, which were outfitted with prototype accessories including a surf rack, a OneWheel carrier, and the Doge Carrier sidecar.
Frohnmayer, said:From the very first ride, I knew the Roadster would deliver a ride like no other machine on the road. It’s the purest incarnation of the Arcimoto Platform: low and forward center of gravity, the dual-motor front wheel drive system that pulls you down the road, and the ability to actively shift your weight in concert with the ride. The Roadster is an extension of your will to move, and we are very excited to bring it into the world.
Torque Vectoring and Drive-By-Wire
Stafl Systems, founded by brilliant electrical engineer and Arcimoto alum Erik Stafl, demonstrated a new torque vectoring technology that dramatically improves steering at low speeds. The improvements are planned for all Arcimoto vehicles via a software update expected to be released in 2022. The torque vectoring implementation is part of a broader effort to enable true drive-by-wire in order to lay the foundation for autonomous and remote-controlled Arcimotos.
Frohnmayer, declared:This is a game changer, and the single biggest improvement to the handling of our vehicles since we unveiled Arcimoto’s Generation 8 prototype in 2016.
Driverless Arcimotos
Faction Technology, based in South San Francisco, demonstrated the first ever driverless FUV using remote control, a step forward toward true ride-on-demand, where riders will be able to summon a vehicle to their location and then hop in and drive.
Faction Founder and CEO, Ain McKendrick, said:Our vision is very much in line with Arcimoto’s mission, which is to rightsize transportation for both delivery and ride on demand. Driverless combines autonomy with the ability to remote assist a vehicle when you need it, because the magic is really when the vehicle arrives driverlessly.
The Arcimoto Flatbed
Eugene-based SherpTek, makers of precision engineered truck decks and truck trays designed to be the lightest on the market, unveiled the first two prototypes of the Arcimoto Flatbed, built based on feedback from the City of Orlando following a joint municipal pilot program in 2020.
Ryan Goodwin, CEO and Founder of SherpTek, while demonstrating a fully loaded Flatbed said:We utilized every single square inch of space that we could. This thing is packed with all my mountain biking gear, all my kiteboarding gear, my stand-up paddleboard for whitewater... It's got a cooler full of drinks, a table, a chair, a yoga mat. It’s outfitted for a day full of activity.
Oregon Governor Kate Brown addressed the crowd to open the Showcase just prior to signing House Bill 2021 on Tuesday, which lays out one of the most aggressive timelines for eliminating carbon dioxide emissions in the country.
Oregon Governor, Kate Brown, said:House Bill 2021 will make sure Oregon will have the most progressive clean energy standard in the entire country— 100 percent clean, green by 2040. Clearly climate change is here and we have to do everything in our power to move forward and tackle it. Arcimoto is the only public EV company in Oregon, but it’s not going to be the last if I have anything to say about it.
Other partners that attended the Summer Showcase included the automotive legends at Munro & Associates, Sundberg-Ferar, Redivivus, UBCO, T3 Motion, JuiceBar, GT Automotive Design, and the Equal Vote Coalition. A full video recap of the Summer Showcase will be shared soon. Click here to watch our latest company video.
This article was originally published by Arcimoto, Inc..
