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Legislation Allowing 3 Wheel Vehicles to Receive Energy Department Loans Now One Step Closer to Law

 
1,834 views Oct 5, 2009

Aptera 2e

Aptera 2e

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Aptera and Elio, two companies producing three wheel vehicles, can briefly rejoice as their bids for receiving federal government loans are now one step closer to completion.

Legislation has been drawn up that will make 3 wheel vehicles eligible to receive federal loan money from the Department of Energy.  The legislation went before a conference committee consisting of both House and Senate members and passed with overall approval.  The House of Representatives later voted and approved the legislation.

Now the legislation will go before the Senate later this week.  If approved, the President will have to sign it into law and Aptera and Elio, amongst others, will become eligible for government loans.

Not everyone is supportive of the bill.  GM has been critical of the proposed bill stating that, "The Department of Energy's Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program is intended for large automakers that make many cars and that have the potential for large gasoline savings."  GM is implying that the the program was not intended for small companies like Aptera who will likely have little impact on the overall gasoline consumption in this nation.

But as Democratic House member Adam Schiff said, "Obsolete bureaucratic definitions should not create roadblocks and stifle innovation."

If the legislation passes, it will overturn rules that currently restrict funding to include fully enclosed vehicles with four wheels.  The new legislation would include fully enclosed vehicles designed to carry two or more adults and which average at least 75 mpg.

If the legislation passes, the federal government will have to go back and review loan applications that were filed recently but rejected because the vehicles in question did not qualify for funding. 

Aptera is hoping to receive $75 million from the Department of Energy to launch their 3 wheel plug-in electric called the 2e. 

We will update you after the Senate votes on this legislation.  Stay with us for more on this developing story.

Source:  Edmunds 





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Comments (10)

  1. By Mark Posted: 10/5/2009 5:58am PDT

    This is good but I hope they insure that their three wheeled cars follow the same crash testing regulations as regular cars. Three wheeled cars are more energy efficient than their four wheeled counterparts so this is a step in the right direction. I would buy the Aperta if it was available at the right price.
     
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  2. By Carl Brown Posted: 10/5/2009 7:10am PDT

    “(Please freely repost this)
    This funding for the car companies was all "pay to play", insider, self-dealing. The companies that were turned down had the exact same things in common:
    1. They did not pay hundreds of thousands to buy influence. This is on public record and can be investigation under lobby and cost filings.
    2. They did not make campaign contributions.
    3. Each of the reasons they were told they were turned down were violated with each of the companies that did get money.
    4. They were doing all of the work in the U.S. unlike those who did get the money.
    5. They had a car design and those who got the money were “thinking about doing a car design”.
    6. You could not draw a line from them to a politician or a person who made money or political gain unlike those who did get the money.
    Every one of the people that did get money got the “requirements” of the section 136 law waived or were in direct violation of the intent-of-the-law yet the DOE team for that money used those very same “requirements” to say that they would deny funding to those who had not contributed.
    It was a crooked set of deals and the regulatory, law enforcement and voters need to make some noise about this.”
     
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  3. By russ Posted: 10/5/2009 7:42am PDT

    Since toys are being accepted next Mattel can apply!
     
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  4. By Tim Posted: 10/5/2009 7:47am PDT

    Money for Apetra? Why not give EVERY corporation welfare? After all, Federal Reserve FIAT money DOES grow on trees!
    ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporatism )
    One problem… every $Dollar the Fed prints makes YOURS less valuable!
    Every TAXPAYER $Dollar given or "loaned" to a company that does NOT qualify for bank financing tips the market in favor of the receiving company making their competitors suffer. Where's the "Free Competition" in this central planning?
     
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  5. By Tim Posted: 10/5/2009 7:48am PDT

    In 1913 when the Federal Reserve was created, a US $Dollar had the purchasing power of One US $Dollar. Now it is worth only $0.04 cents and THAT was before this last year when the Fed doubled the money supply and Congress (both parties) doubled the national debt.
    Audit the Fed and then End the Fed! Replace it with Sound, Constitutional United States money instead of the counterfeited Federal Reserve Notes.
    With sound money, Congress can NOT spend us into oblivion because they would have to get the funds via fully disclosed taxes instead of printing it and passing on a hidden inflation tax.
    Without the Fed there would be NO more undeclared wars, NO more Corporatism pretending to be free market capitalism, NO more generational gov't dependant welfare families, NO more $Trillion US global empire pissing off the entire world and NO more ACORN type fraud and abuse of taxpayer charity!
    Society is held hostage by Corporatists NOT Free Market Capitalists. This is demonstrated by Gov’t bailouts, loans & Corporate welfare.
     
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  6. By Buzz Posted: 10/5/2009 8:34am PDT

    You state the money Aptera and Elio can apply for is a grant. I believe it is a loan.
    @Tim how about spewing this trash elsewhere. You're littering.
     
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  7. By russ Posted: 10/5/2009 10:00am PDT

    @Buzz - Right, they are potential loans.
    @Tim - In your first post you had a point. In the second, you are world class! An outburst displaying not much understanding of anything except some far right garbage.
     
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  8. By Jason M. Hendler Posted: 10/5/2009 10:18am PDT

    Do understand that the typical consumer cannot afford a $40K+ vehicle, and would benefit greatly from the added safety of a $25K+ Aptera versus 2 or 3 wheeled electric scooters, bikes and trikes that are not enclosed. Adding vehicle crash safety requirements would price these vehicles out of reach of many who would benefit from them.
     
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  9. By John & Regina Posted: 10/5/2009 11:18pm PDT

    We believe in liberty in all areas of life, including free enterprise and private-property rights. So we mostly agree with Tim #5....
    But America needs to slash our consumption of fossil fuels ASAP. The Aptera can play a role, and we wish them success.
    Certainly IF the federal government is going to hand out loans or subsidies, electric-vehicle makers and small companies shouldn't be shut out.
    Our national security suffers when we send over $1 BILLION per DAY to evil, anti-American, anti-freedom oil-exporters like Saudi Arabia, Russia, Venezuela, Iran, Libya, etc. We'd rather give our hard-earned money to American and Japanese car companies who manufacture hybrid cars -- benefitting their shareholders, workers, and suppliers -- instead of those sickos.
    We commend anyone who buys an Aptera, but we're still concerned about its crashworthiness. Happy with our '09 Prius for now. Waiting eagerly for AMERICAN-assembled plug-in hybrids to hit the market soon.
    We're especially excited about the plug-in versions of the Ford Escape SUV (to be assembled in Kansas City) and the Prius (to be assembled at Toyota's new plant in Mississippi).
    American-assembled plug-ins are winners on three fronts. Anything that puts Americans back to work in factories, cleans our air, and slashes our enemies' profits, has to be a priority.
     
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  10. By  waltinseattle Posted: 10/19/2009 4:23pm PDT

    the aptera has passed car crash tests i recall, and I just read the OTHER person who likes the looks of it, I was getting sceptical there was 2 of us. Anybody got a pix or website to go with "elio" which is described as a gas powered....(point where I go back to sleep) at under 8 grand it must be very plain if made in the us of a ! just my p.o.v. but that won't buy a top end one-up bicycle here.
    Jason, you are exactly on the issue with ""added safety of a $25K+ Aptera versus 2 or 3 wheeled electric scooters, bikes and trikes that are not enclosed. but I had to ask about the possibility of an pedal electric hybrid that is enclosed and has "all the amenities" (heater in winter, turn lights etcetc)... and wonder if I can produce one in that sub 10K$ unmet niche. If I can get a welder to work the prototype...ah americans....
     
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