I very much dislike this. I live in California and this sets the stage for California to require emissions testing every two years just like cars. It also means engines cannot be modified in any way. Not even the air filter! That’s right. A different air filter is a modification, illegal in California, and the vehicle can not be registered. You in other states, don’t laugh. This is coming your way. A motorcycle calssification was going to be the freedom from this. Any of you motorcycle riders know that concept of “freedom”.
Since it would no longer be classified as a motorcycle, we would automatically be prohibited from using the HOV lanes. Laws say what vehicles can use it and it does not make mention of autocycles. Automatically we would be excluded. (However, if these vehicles really became numerous, they would eventually be prohibited from the HOV lanes anyway.)
All the advantages of being classified as a motorcycle will be gone because it will no longer be classified as a motorcycle.
If EM makes a lot of money from these from credits and sales, do you really think the major auto manufactures will not make their own? Of course they will. And they have thousands of dealers around the country, anywhere, that are “real service centers” that the buying public has confidence in. They have many experienced engineers, design centers, and manufacturing facilities. EM consists of about 25 people. It would be very, very, easy for the auto companies to can make a copy, and if this happens, EM may just go out of business. Plus they definitely would not have an Elgin dash which of itself is enough to sway many customers.
If this becomes popular, the auto companies could make a copy, add a one foot long axle at the rear, add two tires separated by one foot on it that turn independently, and it is now a four wheel automobile. The auto companies could have the credits and could not care less about any autocycle classification.
A good point about this legislation is that even if EM unfortunately never materializes, the auto companies may still make something like it. They will have real incentive to. I would hate to see it happen because Paul Elio is the one who deserves the credit for creating this great vehicle. There is a real dinger for EM. They could easily be a victim of their own success.
This is good for Elio motors. Is it really good for us? I know it is bad for me and a lot of others. I still love the vehicle but I am starting to have a sinking feeling.