A new Hawaii car rental alternative and way to get around Waikiki is coming this summer. The question is whether Waikiki is ready or not, for this latest tourism-related development.
You may have already seen these (video below), as we have. They are hard to miss or to forget. On the mainland, and elsewhere, GoCar Tours has been renting Arcimoto all-electric FUV for visitors. Here in Hawaii, the manufacturer will rent them directly starting in August.
In addition to a Hawaii car rental alternative, on the mainland, at least, GPS-guided tours are offered that “give directions, crack jokes, recommend restaurants, and tell legendary stories” according to Arcimoto rental partner GoCar.
Arcimoto will open its first location in Waikiki this August, providing a first chance for those in Hawaii to rent Arcimoto vehicles. “Hawaii is an ideal market for both everyday drivers and tourist rentals, and we can’t wait for our customers to enjoy some fun in the sun that only Arcimoto vehicles can provide.” That according to the manufacturer.
Enters Arcimoto “FUV.”
It’s a “tadpole trike design” with one rear wheel, two front wheels, and a partly-open cabin to let in the tropical tradewinds. Think of it as somewhat of a cross between a motorcycle and a car, providing what’s said to be a thrilling ride. The can reach up to 75 MPH quickly and have a range of about 100 miles. Perfect for a Waikiki rental, or are they?
This is definitely a rental for two and has storage for about 30 pounds. Not enough for luggage. We see Key West is using them now, which is somewhat similar to Hawaii. Their costs were running around $195 a day and we assume Honolulu will be similar.
Passenger safety greater than motorcycles and less than cars?
Last year, an Arcimoto driver collided with a car at 35 MPH. The driver of the Fun Utility Vehicle (FUV) was injured but not killed, which he attributed to “the safety of my vehicle. I am convinced that I couldn’t have fared any better with ANY other vehicle. Thanks, Arcimoto, for making such a safe product. BTW, I am 72 years old, looking forward to the future,” he said.
In an account we read of, a near accident was caused by braking while twisting the handlebar, which caused the vehicle to lurch forward unexpectedly.
Troubling Honolulu car and pedestrian accidents.
Honolulu has a huge problem with deadly car accidents, and pedestrian-involved incidents as well. This past weekend, a 19-year-old moped driver was left in critical condition following an accident. Also last week, a woman was killed in a 3-car crash, while a motorcycle accident killed yet another man. So far this year, there have been nearly 20 vehicle accident-related deaths in Honolulu, which is double last year.
Four recent collisions were pedestrian-related. In one, an elderly man died when trying to cross Kalakaua Avenue. Hawaii has nearly double the pedestrian road deaths compared with the mainland.
On average, more than two people a week die in motor vehicle accidents. And of those, more than 23% are pedestrians, whereas on the mainland, those account for just 13%.
Pedestrian safety is of paramount concern in Waikiki.
Hawaii’s state research arm, UHERO, pointed out there’s a “connection between the increasing size of vehicles and the rising national rate of pedestrian deaths… The presence of larger vehicles on the road makes other road users less safe. Large vehicles often have extreme blind spots and high front ends, both pose a safety risk for other drivers and particularly for pedestrians.”
UHERO said that “the popularity of large trucks in Hawaii makes the provision of quality pedestrian infrastructure particularly important.”
We’re concerned that a mix of pedestrians, large trucks popular in Hawaii, and small zippy Arcimoto-type vehicles could be a recipe for even more trouble.
Elon Musk crashed one of these electric 3-wheelers into a brick wall.
That wild, undisputed claim is according to Arcimoto CEO Mark Frohnmayer. That happened when Tesla’s founder took a test ride. “He jumped into the driver’s seat… and promptly drove it into a brick wall.” Musk was the first such celebrity crash.
So how exactly did Musk, a survivor of near-fatal motorcycle accidents, and a vehicle safety proponent, crash his Arcimoto?
Apparently Musk hit the accelerator, perhaps inadvertently, and slammed into a brick wall. The cause was never clarified.
Hawaii reclassified driving requirements for Arcimoto last year.
Hawaii, in addition to Florida and Louisiana, became the latest states to reclassify driver requirements for Arcimoto and similar vehicles, removing the motorcycle endorsement requirement and allowing a regular driver’s license to operate the FUV.
We note that according to the Arcimoto website, “The FUV complies with the performance requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for a motorcycle.”
What’s your take on this? Do you see yourself renting one in Waikiki anytime soon?
