Congress approves three-wheelers for DOE funds
by Jeremy Korzeniewski on Oct 18th 2009 at 4:29PM 
Aptera 2e final design rendering - Click above to enlarge
Following months of debate, Congress has approved a bill that will pave the way for three-wheeled vehicle manufacturers like Aptera to qualify for funding from the Department of Energy. Next step: President Obama's desk, and the Commander-in-Chief is reportedly expected to sign the bill into law in short order. Rep. Brian Bilbray, a Republican from California who co-sponsored the bill, says:
Indeed, three-wheeled vehicle platforms sometimes have the potential to use less energy to operate than their four-wheeled siblings, though some still question the inherent safety of such designs. Assuming the bill passes the President's desk, any manufacturer of enclosed three-wheeled vehicles that can carry at least two adults while returning at least 75 miles per gallon will be eligible for funding, though the DOE will still approve applications on a case-by-case basis.This is a huge win for scientific innovation and the environment. We need more innovation and less regulation when it comes to promoting new ways to save energy while saving money at the pump.
Gallery: Aptera
[Source: Automotive News, sub. req'd]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Fritz 4:40PM (10/18/2009)
Yeah, there needs to be a lot less regulation. So how about cutting regulation, instead of throwing money away instead?
Reply
Dr. Greenthumb 4:55PM (10/18/2009)
See what less regulation on Wall Street got us? One lesson learned, these folks needs to be monitored and heavily regulated.
TonyInMI 6:30PM (10/18/2009)
Down with regulation! Up with morality!
ckm 7:15PM (10/18/2009)
The reason why manufacturers use a 3-wheel design is because they are treated as motorcycles, which means they are not subject to the same regulatory regime as four-wheeled vehicles.
Among the areas where there is less regulation are:
- Safety
- Emissions (tailpipe and VOC)
- Lighting
- Environmental (like windshield defrost time)
- Product Liability
All of this makes it much, much easier to engineer and put a 3-wheeled product on the road. I would note that in other countries (specifically the UK) there are regulations governing companies with small production runs that are also lightweight, allowing for a secondary class of car manufacturers, something the US doesn't have.
LoneWolf 5:09PM (10/18/2009)
There is something about threewheelers that isn't right...
Reply
Farris 5:14PM (10/18/2009)
Can we also re-evaluate the laws regarding three wheeled vehicles? I understand that there needs to be special training for people riding motorcycles with sidecars, but according to the law (as I understand it... and I'm no lawyer), even the Aptera would require a three-wheeled motorcycle endorsement.
Reply
British_Rover 9:57AM (10/19/2009)
Licensing rules and restrictions are up to the individual states not the Fed Gov't.
Take it up with your state legislature.
Adam 5:19PM (10/18/2009)
Maybe now VW will dust off that GX3 concept.
Reply
Farmboy 5:28PM (10/18/2009)
But will people be ready to understand a 3-wheeled car beyond its peculiarity? It will be interesting, especially in such an era where innovation is necessary for survival, sales, and upkeep with the competition (all three being well intertwined). I am not sure if I would desire, let alone need, to acquire the ownership of a 3-wheeled vehicle. I sense that a fear of "tipping" would play into effect. Say there was a production of one from a major player in US sales, let's say Ford, as advertising for them has changed recently. So the Ford Trident (I am making this up with a derivative of 3) is new in town. What would Ford need to do to sell it? Well, they would need to advertise how safe and practical and economic it is. Now of course, not one advertisement would do, they would expand further upon that, but then what? They need to go beyond and push it into the shows we watch and further emphasis it. This is just like normal advertising, but it is also not. This isn't a new car, this is a new IDEA. More of an idea than the hybrid model of a car. This is redefining the normal perception of a car, with an even-numbered amount of tires and wheels. Most likely, this will start out with smaller companies that are privately-owned rather than a big publicly-traded corporation. It will probably work out better and climb up from there.
Reply
Motor_Yakuza 5:34PM (10/18/2009)
Another dream car for nerds paid with tax money.
Reply
blackEldo 5:46PM (10/18/2009)
Not to get off topic, but is this really what congress needs to be doing right now? Our elected officials don't have anything better to do? Wow. Back on topic: tricycles are not cars. End of discussion.
Reply
mikhalian 6:33PM (10/18/2009)
The first "cars" didn't have four wheels like our tarted-up quadricycles.
End of discussion.
blackEldo 6:13PM (10/18/2009)
Again, tricycles are not cars. I never said cars can't have three wheels or that this was never the case. But then again, if you're basing your points on century-old arguments, then that's a whole different discussion.
Oluseyi 7:23PM (10/18/2009)
Not to get off-topic, but do some people really believe that all of Congress - 435 representatives and 100 senators - can collectively only do ONE thing during any given congressional session? Maybe they need to spend an entire week watching C-SPAN? Or perhaps browse house.gov?
Please stop using that retarded expression. Inform yourself. kthxbai.
bhtooefr 5:46PM (10/18/2009)
What about just making a class of 4-wheeled cars that are legally treated as motorcycles?
The rolling resistance advantage of a 3-wheeler is quickly eaten up by the massive frontal area increase to keep it stable. And, it has to be longer to have the same amount of space for stuff, because you can't put anything between the rear wheels, because there's only one.
The only reason to build a 3-wheeler is because 4-wheelers are subject to car legislation.
Reply
Henry 9:49PM (10/18/2009)
YOU GOT IT bhtooefr.
Three wheelers aren't a superior design, they are the product of laws that exclude them from regulations of "cars". A three wheel motorcycle is fine with me, but when the blow-up to become car-size, it becomes nothing more than a bad idea on wheels.
Aaron 5:48PM (10/18/2009)
Great now the general public can purchase a three wheeled death trap that does not have to meet any real safety standard.
Reply
MikeInNC 9:41AM (10/19/2009)
Aaron, you should check out Aptera's safety specs. They are actually pretty serious about safety and the design is built to channel energy around the driver. I was surprised when I read it. Maybe you will be too.
Aaron 10:30AM (10/19/2009)
Mike,
While I am sure they have good intentions simple logic will tell you that it is still not gone to be anywhere near as safe as a car. A lot of the mass of a car goes into it's safety structure and systems. If it had all the safety structure in a modern automobile it would end up as heavy as any other equivalently equipped 4 wheeled vehicle. They did not select a 3 wheeled architecture because it represents some amazing weight saving opportunity. They selected it specifically because it avoids a lot of the requirements placed on automobiles.
Gardiner Westbound 5:57PM (10/18/2009)
Can't imagine the Aptera being a success in the 2/3rds of the country that receives snow.
Does anybody pay their own bills anymore?
Do the taxpayers share in the profits if this thing is a commercial success?
Reply