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I wish somebody would make a eco kit car, trike or enclosed bike. small displacement motorcycle powered as they are lightweight and much more compact than car drive train.
A Bike would be my first choice, with a reverse trike being a close second, only better because of stability if you lock the front wheel, and I currently live in Michigan, and would visit even if i moved away. A trike would allow the use of car tires since it wont lean, so a large variety of snow compounds are available.
I can take care of heating and cooling if somebody else could do body panels. two seats with one removable or fold able for cargo would be great, I like the modular mid section idea, especially for servicing components.
As for what im not fond of: the seats so close you legs are by the hips of the person in front of you.
This makes it almost impossible for this passenger to do anything. I find it hard to sit in my drivers seat and use my lap top (even with the seat slid all the way back, and I am 5'9") as the steering wheel doesn't allow it to be far enough away for my arms to be comfortable, or a good screen angle, reading a book needs less room but still more than I envisioned. I could see sleeping, assuming a smooth and quiet ride, dont think i'd be bothered by the leaning at all.
Direct drive ICE:
Being a motorcycle mechanic, I can say that a transmission is not that much weight, and the ability to change ratios to keep the engine in a efficient rev range. The diesel I only dislike because of availability, higher fuel price, and my less knowledge of them, but the possibility to run on waste oil is appealing.
I am quite jealous of your experience riding in a ecomobile, if they were less expensive, and in the USA, I would probably just buy one.
Things I would keep in mind:
Globally available platform.
Electronically injected fuel system for instrumentation and evaporative emissions.
Servicing schedule of donor vehicle.
stack-able body panels for kit shipping.
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