Elio reverse trike aerodynamics

[Xist]

Is there a top-down photo, diagram, or rendering of the Elio? It would be easy to rotate the wheels to see how close they get, I just cannot find anything!

If the wheels do come close to the body, you could still fair the outer edge, and taper the inside to match full lock.

[brucepick]

Originally Posted by spacemanspif

... Not sure but maybe Elio is using truncated rears for the aesthetics at the cost of efficiency but better profit. Lets be honest, the people on this board are a small sect of the general population and even if everyone active on this site bought a 2014 Elio, the company would fail. So they need to appeal to a more broad spectrum of car buyers and styling is a great way to do so. Will it cost 5 or even 10mpg? Maybe. But it might sell 10,000 more units...

I think you're absolutely right in this. I'm active on an Elio Facebook board; there was a huge backlash when these faired wheels showed up. The previous version was basically an oversized bicycle fender with not much material at the front, and the rear extending about to 4 o'clock if I recall. A perfect wind catcher. People love that look and will be buying them to retrofit their Elios!

I really like the spring-mounted fairing tail idea.

[brucepick]

Originally Posted by Xist

Is there a top-down photo, diagram, or rendering of the Elio? It would be easy to rotate the wheels to see how close they get, I just cannot find anything!

If the wheels do come close to the body, you could still fair the outer edge, and taper the inside to match full lock.

I've asked for photos showing that. They are showing the Elio in AZ and CA this weekend, there's a good chance someone in the Facebook group will shoot them and share. I'll post here if they do.

[brucepick]

Originally Posted by doviatt

Nice video - thanks!
It should be possible to add a tapered tail to the exposed suspension arms. I'm not up to building something for the driveshafts but I think it could be done.

[freebeard]

I really like the spring-mounted fairing tail idea.

Consider an articulating linkage instead of a spring. It shouldn't need to be anything more than a choke cable. Then it would work both ways instead of one way like a spring.

[Xist]

Originally Posted by brucepick

I've asked for photos showing that. They are showing the Elio in AZ and CA this weekend, there's a good chance someone in the Facebook group will shoot them and share. I'll post here if they do.

3/28 - DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Tucson Airport, 3-6pm
7051 South Tucson Blvd.
Tucson, Arizona 85756

Elioclub.org • View topic - Elio Tour Dates 2014

I still have 51 minutes! It is only 110 miles!

If only I had known! I could have gone and bought an oil pan for Chorizo while I was in-town!

[gone-ot]

Heck, I would've liked to seen it, too, had I known about it.

[brucepick]

You can see the tour schedule at
Elio Motors: Ultra High Mileage Vehicle

Also on their Facebook page. Search on Elio Motors.

Their tech blog is at
Elio Motors | The next big thing in transportation, the blog edition!
Interesting stuff there including side view line drawings.
To see those you need to scroll down past the recent posts - which are a March Madness style color bracket voting thing.

[NeilBlanchard]

This is the best bird's eye view I have seen:

[aerohead]

Here are some other 'could -have-been' projects: