10/19/09 - Three-wheel vehicles eligible for federal funds - news.cnet.com

[Rhodomel]

From the way it was written, and not the best pic of Aptera, it seems like MArtin LaMonica is sowing doubts about funding Aptera. So What do you think? Please help defend Aptera by contributing to the comment section of CNET about the three wheeled vehicles before misinformation is further sowed.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10...ag=mncol;title

Worth promoting with federal dollars?
(Credit: Aptera)

Congress has approved a measure that will allow makers of three-wheel cars to receive funding for fuel-efficient auto technologies, according to published reports.
The bill, which still needs to be signed into law, could be a boost to companies developing alternative car designs, notably Aptera Motors and Elio Motors. Both companies have argued that their three-wheel cars deserve federal funding meant to promote more efficient vehicles.
The legislation, passed late last week, would overturn an Energy Department rule that limited funding to four-wheel vehicles meeting emissions and fuel-economy benchmarks, Automotive News reported on Friday. The new guidelines will now allow vehicles that get an average of at least 75 miles per gallon and can carry at least two adults, according to the report.
Vista, Calif.-based Aptera plans in the middle of next year to start producing its 2e, a three-wheel electric vehicle that it says will be able to go at least 100 miles on its battery charge.
Elio, based in Tempe, Ariz., is developing a narrow, three-wheel gasoline car it says gets more than 70 miles per gallon. It intends to sell the vehicle for less than $7,500.
General Motors, which is applying for DOE funds to promote electric vehicle production, has opposed changes in the rules in the past, Automotive News said.

[Rhodomel]

The tone was different, along with some typos of the mpg, before KarenRei started posting answers in the comments. The article was since refined and have toned down some inuendos.

Still, with the pic of Aptera showing its behind, and the caption that says "Worth promoting with federal dollars?" implies that the money from the government will be spent on PROMOTION and not AS A LOAN FOR PRODUCTION of these vehicles.

What the author did not state is how much the money that Aptera has applied as LOAN for production in relative comparison to the several billion dollars usurped by the big 3 dinosaur car manufacturers, of which GM was pointed out by Joe Real in the comments.