Elio reverse trike aerodynamics

[drmiller100]

NVNTRS.com

[brucepick]

I'm impressed.

[LioNiNoiL]

Looks like they have at least two driveables "mules", this grey one and another green one:

[Xist]

I believe that I once compared the Elio to the template, but it would have been on a previous computer (I have so many!) and I cannot find it on here. I should have realized earlier, but when HHOTDI shared his pictures with the Elio, I realized that it does not have a back window. Aside from lacking attachment points, wouldn't that make a Kammback easier? You would not have a view to obstruct!

[Xist]

Also, I asked in HHOTDI's thread if motocycles are required to have mirrors. According to http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/laws/motorcycle-equipment/:

State that requires both left and right mirrors: Alaska, Maryland, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Washington*.

States that require one mirror: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia.

States that do not require mirrors: Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, DC, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and Puerto Rico.

*25 years old and newer

In Canada, Quebec requires one on each side of the vehicle, but the other provinces do not.

So, many of us could remove at least one mirror, replace it with an interior one or camera, etc.

[brucepick]

This drawing and the other one below are from
Elio Motors | The next big thing in transportation, the blog edition!

Will the flip extension at the back end hurt aero? I thought it best to continue the slope and let it cut off. Or is it good because the little "fin" is basically horizontal, in line with the air's general rearward flow? What do you folks know?




They've considerably improved the front wheel fairings. Elio wrote, and I completely believe, that the older P3 and P2 design fairings were one of the aerodynamically dirtiest areas on the vehicle, if not the worst. Also P2/P3 had the coils and shocks between body and wheel fairing, generating more drag than the smaller items that are now in the open. Also the back end has more squared off vertical corners, for better separation.



Improved back end:


It does go in the snow (posted due to interest I've seen on the Elio boards on this question):

[Xist]

That is just going to get in the way of our boat tails! I think that it looks good, but that is all that spoilers generally do. If it is supposed to make air reattach before passing the vehicle, then isn't the taper too fast?

[Frank Lee]

Back seat only for this guy?

[brucepick]

Originally Posted by Xist

That is just going to get in the way of our boat tails! I think that it looks good, but that is all that spoilers generally do. If it is supposed to make air reattach before passing the vehicle, then isn't the taper too fast?

I hate to admit I think the downward taper may be too steep. However remember the sides taper also, gently. Rear face is only about 15"-18" wide judging from the photos.

If the top tapers to quickly then that's a mod the car can benefit from - an applied rear top section. No rear glass there anyway so no window to worry about.

[Xist]

Is adding the spoiler easier than adjusting the taper?