Active, Attentive & Effective Representation

FUN UTILITY VEHICLES COMING TO OUR SAN DIEGO ROADS

On Behalf of | Nov 9, 2018 | Car Accident |

car-accidents-attorney (1).jpg

Our San Diego car accident attorneys have been closely following the Arcimoto development and plans for the electric vehicle hub that will be located downtown on 10th avenue. We love the idea of small, green rental vehicles at a bargain price, but we are San Diego car accident attorneys, so we are also looking at any potential safety risks and we do have some questions and concerns. 

HOW ARCIMOTO WORKS

Arcimoto intends to open a rental facility and charging station downtown where people may charge there electric bicycles, scooters, and cars. The rental part of the facility will rent out their FUVs, which stands for Fun Utility Vehicle. These vehicles are tiny, two seater, three wheeled, semi-enclosed motor vehicles. The vehicles are so small that they will be able to park in spots in which regular sized motor vehicles will not fit, so one goal is that they will eliminate some of San Diego’s parking congestion. They are electric vehicles so another goal is that they help to lower transportation emissions.

WHO WILL RENT THE FUVS?

Arcimoto intends to rent these vehicles to San Diego visitors who, instead of renting cars, use rideshare companies to get from the airport to their hotels. FUVs will offer them quick, convenient, and short-term rental transportation for getting around the city when they need a car, but without having to rent a car for their entire stay. Arcimoto will also market these cars to locals who do not have a car or that would rather not take their regular sized car out to run errands or drive to public transportation stations for their weekday commute. FUVs will be located around popular downtown locations including hotels and the train station.

FUV SAFETY CONCERNS

These vehicles are not like cars in a number of ways including the fact that they only have three wheels. What type of training will be provided for first time renters and what type of license will be required for the drivers? Acrimoto reports on its website that the state of California will not require renters to have a motorcycle license and that the company is in talks with state legislatures around the country so that they can “demonstrate how anyone who knows how to ride a bike inherently knows how to drive the FUV.” This statement gives our San Diego car accident attorneys at Hiden, Rott & Oertle LLP pause for concern as it seems to suggest that driving an FUV is has similarities to riding a bicycle or motorcycle, both of which are very different from driving a car.

FUVs seem to have the potential to solve some of San Diego’s traffic congestion, parking, and transportation emissions problems, but we hope that some of our safety concerns are ironed out before they are available for rent to our residents and visitors. Accidents involving FUVs or motor vehicles of any type can cause pedestrians, bicyclists, and vehicle occupants to sustain serious injuries and damages. If you have been injured in a motor vehicle accident, contact San Diego car accident experts at Hiden, Rott & Oertle LLP to discuss your recovery options.

Archives