Test driving the three-wheeled Elio – 84 MPG and Only $6,800

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/09/19/84-mpg-and-only-6800-heres-my-test-drive.aspx

by protomyth • 11 years ago

44 30 11 years ago

protomyth2• 11 years ago

"One of the more fascinating aspects to the Elio story is the fact that ordinary folks like you and me can invest in it, even though it's not on the stock market. This is possible through the SEC's new Regulation A+, which provides individuals the opportunity to invest in early-stage companies."

dsr_• 11 years ago

I think there's a big market for a small vehicle like this -- but this isn't quite it. I can't fit one of my teenaged sons into the back seat, or rather, it's a tight squeeze now but will be impossible before he's a high school senior.

When there's a self-driving version, though - that's a winner. An awful lot of trips - probably the majority by mileage - are either one person or one driver playing chauffeur for one person.

grondilu• 11 years ago

When there's a self-driving version, though - that's a winner.

I don't know. Seems to me that a self-driving model would gain at being completely redesigned.

As a matter of fact, lately I've been wondering if self-driving vehicles could not have their passengers lying completely down for optimal aerodynamics.

emp_zealoth• 11 years ago

And maximum of damage in case of a crash

listic2• 11 years ago

I wonder how much will it weight; do the designers have in their mind to fit it into the category A (motorcycle) restrictions? It has to be under 400kg by Russian version of the law, and I believe, more or less same everywhere?

And what engine will it have? 84 MPG is very well acihevable in the smaller maxi-scooter category, e.g. Honda's PCX150 сlaims 100 MPG [1] for it, and it goes about 70 mph tops. Improving fairing is known to have a noticeable effect on mileage, on scooters, so I believe a car could do better.

[1] http://powersports.honda.com/2016/pcx/specifications.aspx

burger_moon• 11 years ago

I think it's based on the geo 3 cylinder. I'd have to check again, but I know it's in the public domain.

listic2• 11 years ago

Ah, yes, it's on Wikipedia and source is here http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/elio-motors-unveils-...

Well, it's quite a reasonable engine for a target weight of 570 kg (1,250 lb), but with that weight I doubt it will go by as a motorcycle in any jusrsdiction, or will it, in the US?

Also, stated fuel efficiency happens to be 84 mpg-US highway, but only 60 mpg-US EPA blended, which is good, but not that surprising.

What is surprising though, is how did they managed to achieve great safety rating?

rwmj• 11 years ago

Is this similar to the Twizy[1]? I believe in the UK these are registered as motorbikes (edit: no, they're quadbikes), although they sort of look like small cars. I even saw someone driving one a few months ago.

There was also the Carver/VentureOne[2] which according to Wikipedia went bankrupt.

[1] https://www.renault.co.uk/vehicles/new-vehicles/twizy.html

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carver_%28automobile%29

analog31• 11 years ago

This card must be used to pay for gas purchases, where you'll be charged triple the amount at the pump.

In addition to being a unique financing model, that seems like an interesting psychological incentive to avoid unnecessary trips. Basically a personal gas tax.

But I'll bet the race will be on to bypass the card and fill the car with market price gas.

lholden• 11 years ago

You are likely to be contractually obligated to purchasing a specific about of gas per month. Over that, I'd imagine nobody would mind you using another payment method. Though... You would pay the loan of faster by sticking with the special card.

protomyth2• 11 years ago

For some of their audience this would be preferable to a monthly payment that happens on a specific day. It gives some budget flexibility that could help low income folks. Might be something for other companies to explore.

jlebrech• 11 years ago

One issue i can think of it that it could be easy for someone overtaking it to clip one of the front wheels.

rasz_pl3• 11 years ago

Used Lupo 3L is ~1K euro in Europe, and doesnt look like a clown car.

semi-extrinsic• 11 years ago

Also, the Lupo won't murder you.

This thing though - in line with other "cars" like the REVAi or the Renault Twizy - cannot be made to even pass NHTSA or Euro NCAP crash tests, so they're technically registered as four-wheel motorbikes.

znpy• 11 years ago

Good luck getting 86MPG with an used Lupo 3L. And hey, driving downhill is cheating.

Also confronting used stuff with new stuff is just dumb.

Plus, I don't know where you live, but in the city a thing like this could do just fine: in the city where I live I see plenty of Renault Twizys driving just fine.

rasz_pl3• 11 years ago

As the name suggests it does 3L per 100km

Thiz• 11 years ago

I like this better.

http://www.twike.com

Not the ugly one but the modern stylized concept. It has to be beautiful to sell because if you look like a dork it will be a flop. Cue the segway.

lsc• 11 years ago

It has to be beautiful to sell because if you look like a dork it will be a flop. Cue the segway.

The segway flopped because it was hyped as a mass-market product when it didn't have a mass market use-case that wasn't already filled by much cheaper bicycles.

A segway lets you travel as if you had a bicycle, pretty much, only the segway costs more than most bikes, you don't get any exercise, you have to charge it up, and it's more difficult to get it up and down stairs.

I think the fact that it looks kinda dorky is pretty far down the list of reasons why the segway failed. In fact, one can argue that they are seen as dorky precisely because they are so useless for most people.

In this case? the ultralight car category? It needs to be somehow better than a motorcycle. Figure out how to make a vehicle as efficient as a motorcycle (both in terms of up-front cash and ongoing fuel) and as safe as a car, and you are gonna sell a lot of 'em.

TylerE• 11 years ago

UGH.

Two wheels in front: Good Two wheels in back: Bad (See: Reliant Robin and those old 3-wheel ATVs that were so dangerous they were banned).

bsder• 11 years ago

Two wheels in front or even 4 wheels doesn't magically make things safer (4 wheel ATV's are still plenty dangerous).

In the US, a lot of the reason for putting 2 wheels of 3 in front is that you get classified differently as a vehicle than if you had 2 wheels of 3 in the back.

michaelrhansen• 11 years ago

I am wondering about the safety of the cars if you get hit by another (regular size) vehicle? Will the paramedics have to pull your body chunks out with a giant butter knife?

jonhohle• 11 years ago

Somewhat ironically, gigantic cars are more hazardous to _others_ (even though they are often purchased for "safety").Increases safe for the passengers, decreased safety for all other humans.

proee• 11 years ago

Reminds me of Aptera Motors that went out of business.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aptera_2_Series

joshu• 11 years ago

I actually got to passenger in one of these! It was a bit terrifyingly flimsy.

evilDagmar• 11 years ago

The gas mileage issue shouldn't be hard to swallow for anyone who has driven a scooter as their daily driver. Most of those get between 60 and 90mpg without a problem, much of which is due to the engine having to tote comparatively small amounts of mass over what a four-wheeled "car" totes.

Renaud• 11 years ago

It certainly looks much better (and safer) than another 3-wheeled car that was also a health hazard: the reliant robin [1].

Where is Top Gear when you need them.[2]

If they manage to reach that sub-$7,000 price range, that would make the Elio a very affordable option for commuters. However, the reduced room means that unless you are single and travel light, you would probably need another car for everything else.

An electric version of this would be awesome.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reliant_Robin

[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQh56geU0X8

Test driving the three-wheeled Elio – 84 MPG and Only $6,800

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