Quote:
Originally Posted by redpoint5
Isn't Elio the company that emerged out of a government prize for building a efficient vehicle? I thought the whole goal was to make money by building something cheap so that it doesn't cut into the prize money profits?
Elio cars will never be a thing. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I don't think these "inventors" are so much interested in developing compelling technology so much as making a profit.
EDIT: I was thinking of Edison2. For some reason I thought they were the same vehicle, but the Edison2 has 4 wheels.
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Right - Edison2 was a totally different animal. 250cc turbo single cylinder rear wheel drive, seats 4 people, super low aero drag - VERY different designs.
Edison could not have been a money grab - they built 10 prototypes before the X-Prize, and they brought 4 cars. They spent FAR more money than the prize money. They were always a genuine effort to build a 100+ MPG car.
They won the "main" prize of $5 Million. They probably spend $15 Million, or more. They also built an electric version after the X-Prize, and they continued to develop the design, took it to the GM wind tunnel, and started building the production intent prototype. They continued for about 4 years after the X-Prize.