ELIO - has anybody driven one ? (84mpg)

[Scooby074]

I thought a local group bought the factory for re-purposing?

 

[adventure bob]

My issue with vehicles like the elio is that the performance/fuel economy doesn't scale. A vehicle this small and light should get way better fuel mileage. It weighs a 1/4 of what a VW Passat does yet barely doubles the fuel economy of the diesel Passat). It also adds an inconvenience factor with regards to passengers and carrying stuff. While I admit that Im usually the only person in my vehicle 90% of the time, I can carry more if I need to. Its kinda like a chevy volt which has been called a $12000 car with a $20000 drive system that manages 34MPG and is only good for 38miles of ev driving. Not sure of the point.

 

[3930dave]

I thought a local group bought the factory for re-purposing?

I can't say I really know the latest.... it sounded like they were working with a major local real estate developer - makes sense.

Heard something about a minor law suit..... always a few bumps launching some like this......

Rgds, D.

 

[3930dave]

My issue with vehicles like the elio is that the performance/fuel economy doesn't scale. A vehicle this small and light should get way better fuel mileage. It weighs a 1/4 of what a VW Passat does yet barely doubles the fuel economy of the diesel Passat). It also adds an inconvenience factor with regards to passengers and carrying stuff. While I admit that Im usually the only person in my vehicle 90% of the time, I can carry more if I need to. Its kinda like a chevy volt which has been called a $12000 car with a $20000 drive system that manages 34MPG and is only good for 38miles of ev driving. Not sure of the point.

I understand your point.... but you are kinda comparing apples and coconuts..... thanks to the Extra Profit Always folks, a company like Elio would be fully committing to financial suicide by launching in the USA, and trying to kick off with a diesel motor.

A more fair comparison would be to VW's gas motors. I think Elio does scale OK (for a gas motor), but would say that the change is not really as linear as we'd like to see. But, that's mostly limited by Physics.

My stock street motorcycle (500cc) gets 60 mpg. If I can buy an Elio for that low price, with AC, and it gets 84mpg Hiway, I'd say the engineers have done well, with a gas motor.

As the founder put it, talking about how it came about - "When I take my kids camping, I want to drive my minivan, for the space it has. Most of the time, I don't need all that space though".

As a second vehicle in a "normal" suburban/rural household, something like this is perfect for the 90% single occupant use.

Will it be suitable for everybody ? No.

Will enough early buyers sign up to support production ? At the target price point, my opinion is yes. After that, end customer experience over the first 20k miles will be the next key metric.

Rgds, D.

 

[Midniteoyl]

MPG doesnt scale linearly..

 

[adventure bob]

"MPG doesnt scale linearly.." Neither does the convenience factor and thus the point. To get the advertised 84 MPG you give up over half a car and whole bunch of convenience and utility. Its not a great motorcycle and its not a great car. These types of vehicles have been attempted in the past with little commercial success. You have to ask "what have they done to separate themselves form their predecessors? What's their unique strategy that can overcome the failures of the past? Why would they succeed when so many others have attempted the same type of vehicle and failed?"
While its an idea is with some merit, history has shown this type of vehicle to be a novelty at best; destined to be another Segway... Unless they have some really unique strategy that isn't clear on their site or from the product info.

 

[Midniteoyl]

While I mostly agree, the same was said about the SMART.. Though at least that is a side by side.

 

[slowzuki]

Why should it get way more fuel economy? Hwy mpg is almost all about drag and its got about 1/2 the drag of a small car or motorbike. In town weight becomes the main factor so without becoming an expensive hybrid or incorp some kind of regen braking there isn't much you can do.

My issue with vehicles like the elio is that the performance/fuel economy doesn't scale. A vehicle this small and light should get way better fuel mileage. It weighs a 1/4 of what a VW Passat does yet barely doubles the fuel economy of the diesel Passat). It also adds an inconvenience factor with regards to passengers and carrying stuff. While I admit that Im usually the only person in my vehicle 90% of the time, I can carry more if I need to. Its kinda like a chevy volt which has been called a $12000 car with a $20000 drive system that manages 34MPG and is only good for 38miles of ev driving. Not sure of the point.

 

[Scooby074]

I can't say I really know the latest.... it sounded like they were working with a major local real estate developer - makes sense.

Heard something about a minor law suit..... always a few bumps launching some like this......

Rgds, D.

Didnt hear anything about a lawsuit. What was it about?

 

[Scooby074]

Just stumbled across this "analysis" for the Elio business plan. Its not pretty. Guy is pretty brutal and makes a few good points. Hope Elio has changed their numbers since this was done, but if he's budgeting on sales of 250,000 units/ year like this site implies, he's completely out to lunch. 250,000 is ALOT of cars, a lot of "normal" cars, a 3 wheeler, commuter vehicle will never see those kinds of numbers.

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