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

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

Maybe. At speed, don't hybrids get most of their power from gas?

Not in the EPA testing, even the high speed hi way cycle has braking and acceleration in it.

[Big Dave]

I saw this one. Maybe someone else has posted it in the big thread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vobEBqEISh8

OK, it has made it at least to the fourth prototype, so it is not totally vaporware, but it is still a long way from production.

There is a lot of "too good to be true" in its claims. The price is radical, although I can see a lot of "parts bin" components.

The MPG really doesn't raise that much of a flag. If they can hold a weight of 1,200 lb maybe they can do 49 MPG city. The low CdA should make 84 MPH highway doable.

Actually the EPA doesn't actually test cars for MPG but uses computer models. The models are available on the EPA website but you really have to look for it. Warning: The EPA site is virus-ridden

One thing that will make the price point hard to hold are state francise laws that act to protect existing car dealers. That was the whole point of GM's Saturn division. GM couldn't beat the dealers so they joined then - owning all the Saturn dealerships themselves.

[Hersbird]

OK then help me run the mpg numbers and lets just base it against the first gen Insight. What is the CdA of the Insight compared to this? I doubt the thermal efficiency of the Elio will be as good as the Honda with it's very experienced makers lean burn optimized for FE but let's just give Elio the benefit of the doubt they do it. So we have the weights, probably 2000 pounds with driver for the Honda and 1400 pounds Eilo both with a smallish driver. You could give a 25% reduction in rolling resistance but that is not exactly true because you end up with about the same 500 pounds on each tire, still there is one less rolling. So when I plug these numbers into our calculator in the aero forum and tweak them to get the EPA highway of 60 mpg that the Insight is EPA rated right at about 60 mph I come up with the Elio would have to have equal Cd with about 11.5 sqft of frontal aera. I also tried the numbers with a Mirage and it seems to get it's EPA 44 mpg right at the same 60 mph using .33 Cd with 20 sqft frontal.
So it is possible assuming a lot of best case. Best case Cd, best case engine efficiency, best case weight. Using a more average Cd, efficiency, and only counting lower RR and smaller frontal area it comes up low 70's MPG. Personally I feel that would be a more realistic number to claim and then over deliver if possible.

[Xist]

Via the "owner's" forum:

it is possible that DOE may require physical testing of the Elio for validation of miles per gallon prior to disbursement of the ATVM loan.

[ME_Andy]

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[The_Jed]

Originally Posted by Big Dave

I saw this one. Maybe someone else has posted it in the big thread.

OK, it has made it at least to the fourth prototype, so it is not totally vaporware, but it is still a long way from production.

There is a lot of "too good to be true" in its claims. The price is radical, although I can see a lot of "parts bin" components.

The MPG really doesn't raise that much of a flag. If they can hold a weight of 1,200 lb maybe they can do 49 MPG city. The low CdA should make 84 MPH highway doable.

Actually the EPA doesn't actually test cars for MPG but uses computer models. The models are available on the EPA website but you really have to look for it. Warning: The EPA site is virus-ridden

One thing that will make the price point hard to hold are state francise laws that act to protect existing car dealers. That was the whole point of GM's Saturn division. GM couldn't beat the dealers so they joined then - owning all the Saturn dealerships themselves.

That thing has more play in the steering than my haggard Crown Vic. It smacks of someone being contracted to slap together a parts bin mule and having them call it a "prototype".

Also, why not have the wiper park vertically along the A pillar instead of being a lump in the aero package?

[The_Jed]

And I love the neddlessly complicated front suspension linkage. :/

[NeilBlanchard]

Originally Posted by ME_Andy

_

I spy with my little eye, what appears to be an integrated exhaust pipe along the rocker panel on the right hand picture.

[Xist]

Andy, I am actually looking at that picture right now, I just saw what I shared before needing to leave... slightly late, but I came back for "The longer front-end makes the Elio look more futuristic and stylish."

Futuristic. Okay...

Browsing the other new threads at that forum, I do not see anything else that looks important. I am not saying that I would do any better or that my posts are more interesting, but it seems like the glacial "progress" continues.

[Fat Charlie]

Glacial. I like it.

Like a glacier where the leading edge melts at the same rate the ice is moving- so there progress arguably is being made, but nothing is actually moving forward.