Elio Motors, The Next Big Thing?!!...

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by ME_Andy

People don't understand how hard it is to raise capital, or how much tooling and engineering it takes to make a large quantity of anything. The engineering effort that would go into adapting a motorcycle engine as a temporary Band-Aid solution is way too much effort, IMO.

Using an engine that is already commercially-available (and there is a plenty of them that would fulfill the needs in an Elio) would still make more sense than blowing money developing an all-new engine which project would consume that hard-raised capital in a way too fast. They should have left this stage for a later upgraded version.

[Fat Charlie]

An Elio 0.8 or 0.9 back in 2013 would have fallen well short of all the dreamed of benchmarks that the Elio 1.0 hopes to hit.

Except one: It would exist.

It would also have sold. It would have been generating more attention than all the powerpoint presentations being given to investors and it would have been bringing money in the whole time- all with the understanding that it wasn't the ideal Elio, that the next Elio would be even better. There would be an active Elio owners' group building a cult instead of nothing but of an active Elio ridicule thread here.

[UltArc]

I don't understand how this can succeed, as I think about it more and more. Big automotive shifts (think Ford in 2000, Cadillac a few years ago) take time. They don't happen overnight. I can't imagine one single thing that was just made perfect from the beginning. Cars had to be cranked, bread wasn't always sliced, it would take dozens if not more of the first computer to do half of what most mobile phones do.

I just don't understand how this will succeed by constant delays, "development," and a perfect goal that will never be achieved.

[user removed]

My opinion, worth what you paid for it.

Elio sees a potential market for his vehicle, using existing technology to prevent any "waiting for it to be invented" syndrome (think battery electric capacity predictions). He sees the big auto makers as well as others getting huge payouts from the govt and empty factories.

Everything seems to be falling in place, the trike is designed and prototypes constructed, but the big govt funding never materializes while others get huge sums.

His backup plan is to solicit private funding through potential purchasers, but in the meantime all of the projections of dates when sales will actually start keep passing without any product.

Today, years after the first projected sales targets, he has collected $25 million from those optimists who hoped he would succeed, while any chance of a retail product fade away.

How much of the 25 million is still left? That's the question for which you will never get an answer, because if anyone knew the answer they would immediately realize it is all a farce. My Mirage is pushing 54.2 MPG versus Elios CLAIMED 68.

When that mileage claim (Elio's) was first made the whole vehicle was a dream, without any legitimate evidence to support that claim.

I made a living for decades making promises that people depended on multiple times, every day I was open. If I found circumstances made that promise impossible to keep, the solution was simple, I stayed there until it was kept, even if that meant all night working to solve my customers problem.

You won't see Elio doing that and I fear the age of credibility in commitment is over.

regards
mech

[user removed]

AND

If they EVER build it, the cost will be greater than the Mirage, for a motorcycle.

regards
mech

[Hersbird]

I wish they could build a Mirage that was allowed to skirt safety and emissions standards like the Elio. It would be lighter, less expensive, and get better FE then the current Mirage. It would probably come close to Elio's goals and seat 4.

PS, I just thought how it's too bad the Mirage name is taken as it might be a great name for Elio's car.

[Fat Charlie]

Bait would be more appropriate.

[Frank Lee]

Quick Paul Elio, to the Baitmobile!

Dah dah dah dah dah dah dah dah dah... Bait Man!

[MetroMPG]

Advertisement spotted just now on MirageForum...

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Old Mechanic

Everything seems to be falling in place, the trike is designed and prototypes constructed, but the big govt funding never materializes while others get huge sums.

Would anybody still hold the breath for a government funding to Elio?