It was announced that the 10% Federal Tax Credit on motorcycles will be extended until the end of 2021. It was supposed to end at the end of 2020. So for those who can actually make a purchase by the end of December, you will have some additional savings.
https://electrek.co/2021/02/09/buying-an-electric-motorcycle-in-2021-just-got-cheaper-with-more-us-tax-credits/
Arcimoto could work for drjohn71a or others, with workplace access to a wall outlet you could run an extension cord to (or guaranteed access to L2 charging). On an extension from a std wall outlet Arcimoto recharges its highway range of 66 miles (at 55mph) in 8 hours.
I believe if H.R.848 - GREEN Act of 2021 passes in its current state it will add 3 wheeled electric vehicles back to the federal tax credit starting in 2022 with the following amendment: (b) Extension For 2- And 3-Wheeled Plug-In Electric Vehicles.—Section 30D(g)(3)(E) is amended to read as follows:
“(E) is acquired after December 31, 2021, and before January 1, 2027.”.
Those guys have a niche all their own. Time will tell how they fit into the mix.
I’m not saying Arcimoto was trying to be misleading, nor that it is an inferior vehicle. Only brought up to clarify that the currently available Arcimoto range/speed figures are much different than the Aptera’s figures. They are not designed to compete in their current form.
Much earlier in the game, the Arcimoto FUV was going to have multiple range options, but for now, that's off the table. I expect their options to change as the battery situation evolves.
While I cannot remember the exact highway limitation Arcimoto stipulates, their unit cannot routinely cover the 50 mile highway speed commute that I do twice Daily. I am assuming Aptera is capable of running at highway speeds for hundreds of miles... So something in Arcimoto‘s engineering/battery spec is not up to modern needs. It is limited to in town use with limited, short highway distances.
I contacted them several times over this limited highway speed use and, other than saying it was not designed for my 50 mile highway speed commute, they did not answer my question about what extra battery, etc., I could buy to be able to use their machine.
Regarding Arcimoto, I love the design, but not in our current environment. We need fully enclosed and more range for the first-string vehicle. Aptera is the right tool for the job.
The folks at Arcimoto are well into production and delivery of their all-electric 3-wheeled FUV, so that should be an excellent test of the credit/rebate/incentive structure.
"Build it - and they will legislate..."
Wow. Good find. Thanks for sharing. All's well since I don't think mine is coming out in 2021
Unfortunately, the current federal motorcycle credit only applies to 2 wheeled vehicles, so Aptera and other 3 wheelers don't get it. Hopefully that will change. Here's the IRS nitty gritty: https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8936
The closet example to the enclosed motorcycle design is the Sondors. We have waiting further testing and production of this EV. It too is classified as a motorcycle. The Elio, which never came to fruition was to be registered as motorcycle.
@Ed Aptera isn't the first three wheeled vehicle and thousands of them are currently on the road, such as the Can-Am Spyder, the Polaris Slingshot, etc. As of now (at least in California), three wheeled vehicles, of which autocyles are considered a sub-class from the registration and insurance point of view. From the manufacturing aspect, the safety regulations and testing are lowered for motorcycles, thus they can be made with less testing and cost.
Will the Aptera count at a motorcycle? It's in the odd-duck category. I know it (currently) won't count as a car because of only 3 tires. It MIGHT count as a motorcycle in the US, and some states. Even electric bicycles get a $1500 tax credit. I really hope someone is working with someone in Washington who is working to close this 3-wheeled hole in the market.