Somewhat Tough Questions...

[goofyone]

Connecticut has already judged... "If the cabin is separate from the engine/motor, it will be registered/titled as a automobile/car"....

Actually it is not that simple. In CT the law says if they are separate then it can not be registered as a motorcycle. To be able to be registered as a car the vehicle would then have to meet the car registration standards but to do that it must to be NHTSA certified as a passenger car. As a result under current law the Elio vehicle, and the Polaris Slingshot, have no classification in CT and can not be registered until this changes.

Elio Motors was already aware of this issue and was working to address this in the upcoming CT general assembly session. It is my understanding that EM Government Affairs VP Joel Shoeltrown has now been in contact with Polaris to work together to have the issues resolved ASAP.

By the way Joel Sheltrown believes this is actually a violation of federal law regarding what states which accept federal road money are allowed to do. This issue could lead to CT losing millions in federal road money so the CT legislature should be plenty motivated to quickly make the necessary changes.

 

[Folks]

Autocycle. "Autocycle" means an enclosed motorcycle having no more than 3 wheels

in contact with the ground and that:
A. Meets the general motorcycle inspection standards, except those standards that do not apply due
to the design of the vehicle; and
B. Is equipped with:
(1) Safety belts for all passengers;
(2) A roll bar;
(3) A steering wheel or tiller; and
(4) Brakes on at least 2 main wheels.

Best I can tell from your post here is that the Elio is still to be registered as any other motorcycle.
So whats the point of defining the Elio as an Autocycle?
Please list the location indicators of where this is written in the Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles documents.

 

[ecdriver711]

The Elio will save me more money then I originally thought. No more buying a replacement gas cap every few months. I have a bad habit of leaving a cap behind now and then.

 

[Folks]

2010 Tennessee Code
Autocycle” means an enclosed motorcycle that is equipped with safety belts, rollbar, windshield, wipers, steering wheel, and equipment otherwise required on a motorcycle, and which has not more than three (3) wheels in contact with the roadway at any one (1) time;

Seems that an Autocycle is still considered a motorcycle for licensing and registration purpose though.
Tennessee DMV Title 55
Chapter 8 - Operation of VehiclesRules of the Road 
55-8-101
(33) “Motorcycle” means every motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than three (3) wheels in contact with the ground, including a vehicle that is fully enclosed, has three (3) wheels in contact with the ground, weighs less than one thousand five hundred pounds (1,500 lbs.), and has the capacity to maintain posted highway speed limits, excluding a tractor or motorized bicycle;

 

[Catia]

http://law.justia.com/codes/tennessee/2010/title-55/chapter-1/55-1-103

 

[Catia]

Best I can tell from your post here is that the Elio is still to be registered as any other motorcycle.
So whats the point of defining the Elio as an Autocycle?
Please list the location indicators of where this is written in the Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles documents.

You right Folk, it does not matter what we call the Elio and there is no point. So whats the point of defining the Elio as an Autocycle. Just wanting chat with the Elio Owner club. I did find the site you are asking for, see above.

 

[Rickb]

Best I can tell from your post here is that the Elio is still to be registered as any other motorcycle.
So whats the point of defining the Elio as an Autocycle?
Please list the location indicators of where this is written in the Tennessee Department of Motor Vehicles documents.

The point is that legislators are sponsoring bills to change their States MC licensing requirements by adding the term autocycle and it's definition (which varies slightly from state to state) to their current MC Licensing Code which allows Elio owners a MC licensing endorsement exemption because it's three wheeler motorcycle that drives like a car. That exemption automatically covers any mc helmet requirements as well.

The Elio is classified as a motorcycle and remains a three wheeled motorcyle when classified as an autocycle and I won't need a mc endorsement and wear a helmet to drive it.

 

[pistonboy]

It appears that some states' method of getting around the helmet and motorcycle license requirement will be to use the "autocycle" definition. It appears this is not necessary and that some other states will do it without using the "autocycle" term. Apparently it depends on the state how they will do these things.

I do believe it is in EM's interest if they can call it an autocycle instead of motorcycle because some people have a strong dislike and fear of motorcycles considering them and everything called a motorcycle to be dangerous. To these people, the elio just being called a motorcycle will make them afraid of it and not purchase it.

P.S. I have plenty of motorcycles but no autocycle. I think the term "autocycle" sounds cool.

 

[pistonboy]

Just to clarify some confusion I am seeing in this thread.

According to the federal government, NHTSA, the Elio vehicle is a motorcycle simply because it has fewer than wheels. As such the vehicle is subject to all NHTSA FMVSS motorcycle standards, not passenger car standards, and must meet these standards for NHTSA certification. As this vehicle will be NHTSA certified as a motorcycle it will be issued a motorcycle VIN. Elio Motors has NO intention of pushing for a change in NHTSA status as there are many advantages to them in being classified this way.

Each state however is tasked with determining for themselves the standards for how vehicles are sold, titled, registered, minimum insurance requirements, any safety and/or smog inspection requirements, licensing requirements, use restrictions, and any required personal protective equipment. As each state makes these determinations laws can, and do, vary from state to state. This is where Elio Motors runs into issues in some states.

A common solution which EM has used to resolve issues is to create an 'autocycle' category in a number of states. As state laws vary the exact use of the 'autocycle' category also varies. Depending on the state this could be a new category of vehicle altogether or it could be a sub-category of motorcycle. In other states the legal remedy may be to simply amend helmet laws to exclude motorcycles with enclosed cabins and/or exclude motorcycles with car like controls from motorcycle endorsement requirements. As the laws vary from state to state so does the solution to any legal issues.

Someone also brought up CARB emissions requirements. So far in every state EM has been successful at essentially keeping this vehicle registered as a motorcycle or motorcycle equivalent class which means that it does not need to meet the more stringent passenger car emissions requirement but instead the less stringent motorcycle requirements. Also keep in mind that EM is using a highly fuel efficient engine with modern engine controls and emissions control equipment so the reality is that the IAV engine will very likely meet CARB requirements for passengers cars anyhow.

Actually it is not that simple. In CT the law says if they are separate then it can not be registered as a motorcycle. To be able to be registered as a car the vehicle would then have to meet the car registration standards but to do that it must to be NHTSA certified as a passenger car. As a result under current law the Elio vehicle, and the Polaris Slingshot, have no classification in CT and can not be registered until this changes.

Elio Motors was already aware of this issue and was working to address this in the upcoming CT general assembly session. It is my understanding that EM Government Affairs VP Joel Shoeltrown has now been in contact with Polaris to work together to have the issues resolved ASAP.

By the way Joel Sheltrown believes this is actually a violation of federal law regarding what states which accept federal road money are allowed to do. This issue could lead to CT losing millions in federal road money so the CT legislature should be plenty motivated to quickly make the necessary changes.

This is tremendous clarification.

Goofyone:

Thank you so much for this information and all the other information you give us. I hope you don't get burned out from correcting our simple minded analysis (compared to yours).

Your name should be changed from "Goofyone" to "Brainyone".

Thanks again.

 

[Joshua Caldwell]

The Elio will save me more money then I originally thought. No more buying a replacement gas cap every few months. I have a bad habit of leaving a cap behind now and then.

Never lost a single one thanks to a lanyard