The Real P5 ?

[CheeseheadEarl]

I liked the idea of an electric AC compressor. There is no rotating shaft to seal around and refrigerant to leak out.

Not correct. An electric unit uses the same style rotary compressor, just with an electric drive motor mounted to it.

Bearing and seal wear might be reduced by not having the side load of a belt, but I'd bet a purpose built electric unit would use smaller bearings to save cost.

 

[Buckeyejake]

Have a son that lives in Huntington Beach CA. Might just take a trip out to visit him and take in the LA Auto Show.

 

[Frim]

We have all seen the P5 pictures that came from the announcement, but while we discussed the ability to get straight news from the Shreveport Times, this picture appeared on the Elio Motors Facebook page almost unnoticed.

[Broken External Image]
Take a good look at what you see and don't see...........
What looks like fully shrouded openings by the front wheels..........
The modified left side rocker panel to hide the exhaust before it exits..........
The carefully detailed Elio emblem but no pins on the hood.........
Compare it to some of the early CAD drawings of the P5.........

I think this is more of an artistic concept than a cad drawing. Artists have a real challenge to build what they can draw.

[Broken External Image]
Looks like the upper picture is a lot more refined than this earlier version.......

 

[AJ Maxey]

Well this still doesn't solve our A/C question. Can anyone find some full size images?

 

[Bert]

I don't see the compressor mounted yet. I don't expect to see it until the rest of the AC system is in place. Internal contamination from dirty air and moisture is a very real problem with AC systems, so until it can be bolted up and sealed to the rest of the components, don't expect it. IMO

 

[Ty]

I don't see the compressor mounted yet. I don't expect to see it until the rest of the AC system is in place. Internal contamination from dirty air and moisture is a very real problem with AC systems, so until it can be bolted up and sealed to the rest of the components, don't expect it. IMO

It would be down low and away from the camera in each of these pictures. They usually arrive with those little caps in place to keep out contaminates and it's be tough to do after engine install. It doesn't make sense to leave it off at this point.

 

[Bert]

It would be down low and away from the camera in each of these pictures. They usually arrive with those little caps in place to keep out contaminates and it's be tough to do after engine install. It doesn't make sense to leave it off at this point.

Ah, but the AC compresser is longer than the alternator, as well as almost as large in diameter. We'd see a "hint" of it under the alternator is it was already mounted..
The beautiful intake manifold would give us this "peek" between the passsges if it was there.

 

[Adamant]

We have all seen the P5 pictures that came from the announcement, but while we discussed the ability to get straight news from the Shreveport Times, this picture appeared on the Elio Motors Facebook page almost unnoticed.

[Broken External Image]
Take a good look at what you see and don't see...........
What looks like fully shrouded openings by the front wheels..........
The modified left side rocker panel to hide the exhaust before it exits..........
The carefully detailed Elio emblem but no pins on the hood.........
Compare it to some of the early CAD drawings of the P5.........

[Broken External Image]
Looks like the upper picture is a lot more refined than this earlier version.......

Why does the one P5 have its wheel well covered, but the other is open?

 

[Frim]

Not correct. An electric unit uses the same style rotary compressor, just with an electric drive motor mounted to it.

Bearing and seal wear might be reduced by not having the side load of a belt, but I'd bet a purpose built electric unit would use smaller bearings to save cost.

Just to open a discussion, an electric unit could be hermetically sealed. The one on my residential AC is. But what would be the advantage?

 

[slinches]

The advantage of an electric AC compressor is that it can run at its optimal rpm rather than be fixed to engine speed. This means that a smaller unit can be used with equal effectiveness and higher efficiency. But it costs more due to the need for an electric motor and higher amperage electrical system needed to power it.