ELIO - has anybody driven one ? (84mpg)

slowzuki · Mar 7, 2014

That sounds a lot like spray arc.

3930dave said:
Elio will be using Comau systems for manufacturing.

Green Car Congress: Elio Motors selects Comau for powertrain and automated assembly systems for 3-wheel vehicles

More a question for the Welding forum, but I'll ask anyway...... Is anybody familiar with the plasma transferred wire arc (PTWA) process that Comau is using ?

Rgds, D.

3930dave · Mar 8, 2014

slowzuki said:
That sounds a lot like spray arc.

I need to do some reading.... this is beyond my (very limited) welding knowledge....

Rgds, D.

HHR · Apr 10, 2014

Elio just released info on their cylinder coating application.
http://us6.campaign-archive1.com/?u=24b371802c83d81776b06aa68&id=3de0f000e8&e=[UNIQID]

3930dave · Apr 10, 2014

HHR said:
Elio just released info on their cylinder coating application.
Flame Spray Industries Partnership

Thanks for posting that HHR.

That link gives you just the headline re. the GT500 and GT-R. If you go to the Elio site, the article is in the News tab, dated April 08/14.

http://www.eliomotors.com/

That sounds like a useful coating technology.

Rgds, D.

3930dave · Jun 3, 2014

A short video of the Elio on snow:

Meet Toyota i-Road

Rgds, D.

terraformer · Jun 4, 2014

I am still driving my 86 vw turbo-diesel. 260,000 miles still getting 50-57 mpg. No computers.

3930dave · Jun 4, 2014

terraformer said:
I am still driving my 86 vw turbo-diesel. 260,000 miles still getting 50-57 mpg. No computers.

Like many TBN'ers, you don't have to sell me too hard on all-mechanical diesels :thumbsup:.

Until I get replacement Flux Capacitors though

, deals on wheels like yours are scarcer than hens teeth. In terms of what you can buy in today's market, if your VW is still in good shape, you could probably sell it for not much less than Elio's target price.

Modern tdi's are not cheap to buy, and are a lot more complicated and expensive to service than what this Elio offering has the potential to deliver. Again, fingers crossed.

Personally, I'd like to see a diesel offering in an Elio.... but as much as I like diesels, that is going to have to wait for the gas motor offering to ramp up USA sales.

Rgds, D.

CalG · Jun 4, 2014

3930dave said:
Like many TBN'ers, you don't have to sell me too hard on all-mechanical diesels :thumbsup:.

Until I get replacement Flux Capacitors though , deals on wheels like yours are scarcer than hens teeth. In terms of what you can buy in today's market, if your VW is still in good shape, you could probably sell it for not much less than Elio's target price.

Modern tdi's are not cheap to buy, and are a lot more complicated and expensive to service than what this Elio offering has the potential to deliver. Again, fingers crossed.

Personally, I'd like to see a diesel offering in an Elio.... but as much as I like diesels, that is going to have to wait for the gas motor offering to ramp up USA sales.

Rgds, D.

What kind of milage did the original Hond Civic get? The one with the 600cc (or was it 650?) air cooled twin cylinder up front.

Seemed like a useful rig, but they started to BLOAT as soon as they got to 'merica.

Of course, gas was less than 30 cents a gallon then, so "milage" was not everyones first agenda item.

I'll stick with two wheels , or four. But the Elio looks fun. Hate to get in a fender bender.

3930dave · Jun 4, 2014

CalG said:
What kind of milage did the original Hond Civic get? The one with the 600cc (or was it 650?) air cooled twin cylinder up front.

Seemed like a useful rig, but they started to BLOAT as soon as they got to 'merica.

Of course, gas was less than 30 cents a gallon then, so "milage" was not everyones first agenda item.

I'll stick with two wheels , or four. But the Elio looks fun. Hate to get in a fender bender.

Makes life more complicated off-road, but I'd be OK with a 3 wheeler like this for on-road use.

Elio talks about crash testing this platform.... many of the new small cars today perform pretty well.... obviously a different price point on the Tesla, but it has stood up very well in real world crashes (I stood beside a Tesla in a store parking lot - that is a tiny car !).... modern materials and advanced design techiques can get pretty good crash performance out of these small platforms.

Point understood though.... while I do ride a street motorcycle, I also appreciate driving my 1 ton !

Rgds, D.