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

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by gregsfc

I may be wrong but I don't think being classified as an mc, it has to be crash tested or fuel mileage tested, but will need emissions certification. Don't mc companies voluntarily provide mpg (I mean some of them do), i.e. BMW test theirs at 55 mph constant speed; hardly worth the trouble.

EPA emission-tests are currently done at 55 MPH (or less)...although the highway Fuel economy test(s) do include 3 brief excursions up to 60 MPH...but notice the average speed of just 48.3 MPH!

[Xist]

Originally Posted by Bill the Engineer

Why does the skirting on the right side at the rear tire need to be removable if you can only remove the wheel from the left side?

You may be smarter than anyone directly involved.

Bill, as an engineer, how would you design a similar vehicle?

[Grant-53]

At Toyota people are expected to ask 'why' 5 times to get to the root cause of an issue. The Elio doesn't seem to be going anywhere because it doesn't meet the expectations of a motorcycle buyer or a car buyer. A car buyer looking for economy still wants comfort and safety. A motorcycle buyer wants peppy performance, distinctive appearance, and no roof.

[freebeard]

I'm not him [BtE] , but I'd say just like the Arcimoto SRK. Twin electric motors with a torque vectoring differential.

I saw the red one on Franklin Blvd, the last time I took the bus downtown.

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by Grant-53

At Toyota people are expected to ask 'why' 5 times to get to the root cause of an issue. The Elio doesn't seem to be going anywhere because it doesn't meet the expectations of a motorcycle buyer or a car buyer. A car buyer looking for economy still wants comfort and safety. A motorcycle buyer wants peppy performance, distinctive appearance, and no roof.

I think it would sell provided there was something for sale.

It would help if they could time the introduction to coincide with high gas prices.

[ME_Andy]

Originally Posted by Bill the Engineer

I am hoping that rear suspension is more robust than I think it is. I see potential lateral forces being generated from strong bumps in the road. I'd also like to see the rear brake components mounted to evaluste them.

I know what moments and side loads can do to cylinders. I think the critical question is, how is that cylinder attached at both ends? Because the angle of the cylinder is definitely going to change. It looks like it has lateral slop, so no problem on side loads, but what about the angle? It does look like there is a nylon? bushing there to help with that. But, I'm no expert on suspensions so I'm not sure if that's standard or not. Might have to look under my car this weekend.

[ME_Andy]

Originally Posted by Grant-53

At Toyota people are expected to ask 'why' 5 times to get to the root cause of an issue. The Elio doesn't seem to be going anywhere because it doesn't meet the expectations of a motorcycle buyer or a car buyer. A car buyer looking for economy still wants comfort and safety. A motorcycle buyer wants peppy performance, distinctive appearance, and no roof.

Did they ask 5 times before building the Mirai? Cause that car is going to be a massive failure.

[Bill the Engineer]

Originally Posted by Xist

You may be smarter than anyone directly involved.

Bill, as an engineer, how would you design a similar vehicle?

Very carefully, and probably leveraging more existing components to get it to market more quickly...

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by Grant-53

The Elio doesn't seem to be going anywhere because it doesn't meet the expectations of a motorcycle buyer or a car buyer.

It's not going anywhere because it's not being built. Buyers haven't had their say yet.

[solarguy]

If you build it...they will come.

If you don't build it, they will be very mad.

And the next company that tries a radical vehicle will have to overcome even more bad karma before making it to production.