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How Do You Know the 12v Battery Died?

There are several clues that may indicate your 12v battery has died or is dying:

  1. When you touch the dashboard touchscreen, it does NOT come on. The screen should always come on when touched, even if a key is not used.
  2. The battery is 3 or more years old and is either the original AGM type battery or has been replaced with a lead acid type battery. LiFePO4 (lithium) batteries tend to last much longer, up to 10 years.
  3. If you put your vehicle in cold storage mode and you charge the 12v with a trickle charger, the vehicle now works and can be driven or the touchscreen comes on. The 12v may (or may not) need to be replaced. It could be some other issues that keeps the system from charging the 12v battery.
  4. There are screen irregularities where the screen flashes.
  5. When charging, the screen doesn’t come on.
The biggest clue is definitely #1, the touchscreen doesn’t come on when touched.

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How Do You Know Your On Board Charger Died?

Each Arcimoto (and EV vehicles) has an on board charger. This heavy rectangular device sits at the front of the vehicle tucked behind the 2 inverters. Your on board charger is what allows charging to take place. The Greenwatt on board charger is, in all honesty, poorly designed and very prone to failure. 

Sometimes, people might think the EVSE (Electric Vehicle Special Equipment) - the thing you plug into your vehicle to charge it - might be bad. Your Arcimoto may have come with a ClipperCreek EVSE. 

How do you know your on board charger failed and not the EVSE? There can be many different indicators, not always the same for each failure. And the worst part is a failed on board charger can break an EVSE, which is why I like to test potentially bad on board chargers at a commercial charging station.

Firstly, your touch screen must turn on when touched. If it doesn’t, it may be a different problem: a dead 12v battery.

Otherwise, you may have a failed on board charger if…

1. You plug in your EVSE to charge the vehicle and the little green bar doesn’t move left/right indicating it is charging.

2. You plug in your EVSE and there is an error indicator on the EVSE box. This may also indicate a bad EVSE, that is why you have to go through this checklist.

3. You leave it to charge for a couple hours and you come back with the state of charge (SOC) at the same number or lower.

4. You plug in your EVSE and the fuse for the EVSE circuit is tripped.

5. You plug in your EVSE and hear a “pop” sound from the front of the vehicle, this might possibly be followed by an electrical smell.

6. You plug in your EVSE, let it charge for 24 hours, and the state of charge (SOC) might increase the charge by 1%.

7. You try a different EVSE and it still doesn’t charge.

8. It isn’t charging after you plug your EVSE into a socket in a different house or a plug on a completely different electrical circuit - and the wiring in your home is newer (ruled out poor wiring).

9. You try a commercial charging station EVSE and it either doesn’t move the green bar, the commercial EVSE has a fault, or the EVSE stops working altogether and is now broken.

The solution is to replace the Greenwatt on board charger with the exact same model to ensure fit and that it will work with the system Arcimoto programmed. The charger costs about $1200 and it takes about 1.5 hours to replace if you know how to do it. A competent person can do it themselves, there are instructions out there.

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Arcimoto Ignition Key

The Arcimoto come with tubular keys with the key code printed on square pressboard paper. I’ve tried to order spare keys using the code and it didn’t work. Got them to remake the keys (online company), still didn’t work. If you lose your ignition key, your best bet is to replace the ignition lock. Arcimoto *might* have the key code for your VIN but I sort of doubt it. Arcimoto might sell a new ignition with key. If so, make sure you get extra keys made. The CompX Fort tubular ignition key can be duplicated at a key shop key does secure tubular keys - test the key before leaving. We bought Earl with no key and simply replaced the ignition, took a few minutes and was embarrassingly easy.
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Why the Arcimoto Should Be Exempt from Motorcycle Endorsement and Helmet Requirements



The Arcimoto should be exempted from the motorcycle license requirement for the following reasons:

  1. The Arcimoto does not require balancing or "leaning into the curve."  Simply turn the handlebars slightly in the direction you want to go.
  2. The Arcimoto is front wheel drive and handles like an automobile. The requirement of motorcycle license and motorcycle skills testing does nothing to increase public safety.
  3. As an electric, the Arcimoto doesn't require shifting and clutching as motorcycles do.
  4. Handlebar steering use is not at all complicated. For example, handlebar steering is used in personal mobility vehicles like the Amigo.
  5. The current requirement of a steering wheel for a motorcycle license exemption will soon be obsolete given the progress of autonomous vehicles.
  6. Unlike true motorcycles, requiring a motorcycle license for the Arcimoto is a significant barrier to sales and rentals.
  7. Even though handlebars are used for steering both the Arcimoto and a standard 2 wheeled motorcycle, the Arcimoto’s handlebars are not directly connected to the front wheel via a fork and handlebar system as a typical motorcycle. In the Arcimoto‘s case, there is an indirect connection through a power steering unit between the handlebars and the front wheels.
  8. The maximum movement of the handlebars clockwise or counterclockwise is only about 50 degrees thus not requiring a shoulder roll or weight shift.
  9. Standard motorcycle driving exam tests for the ability to counter-steer at speed. You don’t/can’t counter-steer a 3 wheeler.
  10. Standard motorcycle driving exam tests for the ability to coordinate hand and foot to safely brake. With the Arcimoto, braking is done with a foot brake just like a car while the right hand controls the regenerative trigger.
  11. Arcimotos don’t have foot pegs and passengers don’t need to hang onto the driver while leaning into curves. 
  12. Driver and Passengers have their own full seat with 2 seatbelts

The Arcimoto should be exempted from the helmet requirement for the following reasons:

  1. Requiring a helmet for motor vehicles that have lap and shoulder seat belts is exceedingly dangerous. Helmets weigh approximately 3-4 lbs. Helmets add approximately 30-40% more weight to the head. It is commonly accepted by automotive safety engineers that helmet use with lap and shoulder seat belts will cause "neck elongation". This combination use in a frontal collision can cause whiplash, paralysis and even death. This is especially dangerous in the case of children because their skeletal structures aren't completely developed, or in the case of seniors, where skeletal strength may have degraded.
  2. Requiring a helmet for operation of an Arcimoto is not necessary since the Arcimoto has a roll cage roof meeting FMVSS 216a. This provides much more protection than any helmet ever would.
For the state of Oregon, you might need to educate a law enforcement officer if you are pulled over and asked about the need for a helmet and/or motorcycle endorsement. Here is an option of what you can say:

Hello Deputy/Officer

The Arcimoto has FMVSS roof crush testing as evidenced by the sticker by the driver’s foot. Oregon has a carve out in the laws that states if the vehicle has FMVSS roof crush testing, seat belts, 3 wheels, and doesn’t straddle the seat (as the seats are bucket seats), you are not required to wear a helmet or have a motorcycle endorsement.


ORS 801.133

Autocycle means a motorcycle that:

(1) Is manufactured to travel on three wheels; (2) Has nonstraddle seating; and (3) Is equipped with a manufacturer-installed three-point safety belt or safety harness. [2017 c.296 §2; 2021 c.630 §125]


ORS 807.020 (13) does authorize exceptions for the motorcycle endorsement requirement when an operator of a motorcycle is: (a) within an enclosed cab; (b) Operating a vehicle designed to travel with three-wheels in contact with the ground at speeds of less than 15 miles per hour; or (c ) operating an autocycle.


ORS 814.290 Exemptions from motorcycle helmet requirements

A person is not in violation (of ORS 814.269, 814.275, 814.280) if the person is any of the following:- (1)Within an enclosed cab. (2) Operating or riding a vehicle designed to travel with three wheels in contact with the ground at speeds of less than 15 miles per hour. [1983 c.338 §693; 1987 c.910 §6; 1995 c.492 §7]


OAR 737-010-0005 Enclosed Cab for Three-Wheeled Vehicle Defined

“Enclosed Cab” for the purposes of ORS 814.290 (Exemptions from motorcycle helmet requirements)(1), is a three-wheeled vehicle, such as a motorcycle or moped, with a structural upper frame and roof defining the compartment for driver and passenger(s) that is certified by the vehicle manufacturer as meeting the standards for the structural upper frame and roof prescribed under 49 CFR 571.216a.

**NOTE: 49 CFR 571.216a is the same as the FMVSS 216a roof crush test per sticker on the Arcimoto near the driver’s foot.

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Arcimoto.com Might Be Getting Revived

Looks like Arcimoto got their domain back, arcimoto.com. The website behind it is not back. Stay tuned for more.

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Heat Shrink Tubing for Sticky Grips

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For anyone else that doesn’t want to replace their grip just because it is gooey, I made a video. We purchased heat shrink tubing for grips and cut sections at about 4 1/8 inches using an adjustable square and utility knife. Then used a heat gun (set to high) to install it. It has some sort of heat activated glue that may not activate if you use a hair dryer. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07FSJKPXG
It costs about $12 but can cover about 4 or 5 sets of grips.





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How to Organize an ARCIMOTO Rally

  1. Create a Facebook survey for your city and state one to two month ahead giving date or time (if you know the date) options. The survey will give you an idea of how many might come.
  2. 2-3 weeks ahead, put out the rally info with city/state, date, meet up place, staging time, leave time, and route.
  3. The route should be no more than 20-25 miles, preferably with speeds that don’t go over 45 for any sustained period, and be about 30-50 minutes long of driving. Google or Apple maps can give you that information if you make a route.
  4. Try to figure out pull over areas to gather lost sheep from stop lights.
  5. Have 1-3 stops that are big enough to hold the number of vehicles with easy in and out. Scenic stops are always nice (lake side, parks, etc).
  6. Advertise your rally. Ensure you put the name of the city and state. Canva can make a Facebook post picture very easily.
  7. At the end, advertise an endpoint where people will meet up to socialize like a restaurant, bar, or coffee house.
  8. Sometimes give aways can help (screw driver, bags, gift cards).
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Does Oregon Require a Motorcycle Endorsement or Helmet to Drive an Arcimoto? No!

The Arcimoto in Oregon has some carve outs as far as drivers are not required to have a motorcycle endorsement or wear a helmet. So I would suggest you simply carry a sheet of paper with something like this:

Hello Deputy/Officer

The Arcimoto has FMVSS roof crush testing as evidenced by the sticker by the driver’s foot. Oregon has a carve out in the laws that states if the vehicle has FMVSS roof crush testing, seat belts, 3 wheels, and doesn’t straddle the seat (as the seats are bucket seats), you are not required to wear a helmet or have a motorcycle endorsement.


ORS 801.133

Autocycle means a motorcycle that:

(1) Is manufactured to travel on three wheels; (2) Has nonstraddle seating; and

(3) Is equipped with a manufacturer-installed three-point safety belt or safety harness. [2017 c.296 §2; 2021 c.630 §125]


ORS 807.020 (13) does authorize exceptions for the motorcycle endorsement requirement when an operator of a motorcycle is: (a) within an enclosed cab; (b) Operating a vehicle designed to travel with three-wheels in contact with the ground at speeds of less than 15 miles per hour; or (c ) operating an autocycle.


ORS 814.290 Exemptions from motorcycle helmet requirements
A person is not in violation (of ORS 814.269, 814.275, 814.280) if the person is any of the following:- (1) Within an enclosed cab. (2) Operating or riding a vehicle designed to travel with three wheels in contact with the ground at speeds of less than 15 miles per hour. [1983 c.338 §693; 1987 c.910 §6; 1995 c.492 §7]


OAR 737-010-0005  Enclosed Cab for Three-Wheeled Vehicle Defined

“Enclosed Cab” for the purposes of ORS 814.290 (Exemptions from motorcycle helmet requirements)(1), is a three-wheeled vehicle, such as a motorcycle or moped, with a structural upper frame and roof defining the compartment for driver and passenger(s) that is certified by the vehicle manufacturer as meeting the standards for the structural upper frame and roof prescribed under 49 CFR 571.216a.


NOTE: 49 CFR 571.216a is the same as the FMVSS 216a roof crush test per sticker on the Arcimoto near the driver’s foot.

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Why Are Throttles Constantly Going Bad?

The throttle is an electo-mechanical part. We yank on it to make tight turns due to the fact there isn’t effective power steering. It is going to wear quickly, in multiple ways, including from moisture intrusion.  
The throttle is made by Domino, an Italian company. Arcimoto likely customized the one for the FUV so it is difficult to order off the shelf directly from Domino.
https://www.domino-group.com/.../comandi-portaleva-on...
Arcimoto uses a Potentiometric type electronic throttle like here:
https://www.domino-group.com/oem/en/throttle-controls.html
The good news is that there are parts you can replace inside the throttle (potentiometer). The bad news is that the parts in the specific Domino throttle used by Arcimoto contains very specific potentiometer size and current, which is hard to find. The hall/magnet sensor is much more robust but is untested and I suspect moving to hall sensor would require reprogramming.

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Windshield and Wiper Fluid Maintenance

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The Owner’s Manual states the windshield fluid is a special type made by National Cycle (N1401-01 Shield Wash). You’ll want to stick with a windshield fluid made for polycarbonate windshields to ensure you don’t damage the plastic.


When washing the windshield and roof, I tend to use a little bit of Dawn, sometimes in warm water. I thoroughly rinse the windshield and roof and using a soft cloth, I like to wash in one direction. Use water to rinse immediately so that the soap and dirt don’t dry back on.
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