I Would Like Elio To Consider Including A "shaved Door Handle"

[Jeff Bowlsby]

A shaved door handle could replace the standard door latch and electric door lock already planned, and save costs:

*Simpler mechanism, just a solenoid and some brackets.
*Readily available in marketplace from multiple sources
*Much easier to fabricate when considering the door recess for a conventional door handle
*Easier for everyone including the elderly and impaired to use
*Looks cool, could be one more novelty feature to promote sales
*Operated by a KeyFOB

What do you think?

 

[BlioKart]

Seems like more trouble than its worth. I am sure you can customize it yourself after the fact.

 

[Joshua Caldwell]

never heard of a shaved door handle, more details please

 

[BlioKart]

While not a shaved door handle (its like getting both) I like the model S door handle.

 

[NSTG8R]

A shaved door handle could replace the standard door latch and electric door lock already planned, and save costs:

*Simpler mechanism, just a solenoid and some brackets.
*Readily available in marketplace from multiple sources
*Much easier to fabricate when considering the door recess for a conventional door handle
*Easier for everyone including the elderly and impaired to use
*Looks cool, could be one more novelty feature to promote sales
*Operated by a KeyFOB

What do you think?

I like it! Throw a 'small' aerodynamic advantage on your list too.
Only downside I see, is when the weather is like it has been the last couple of days. My doors were froze shut this morning (14F), and if it weren't for the handle to pull on, I'd have been taking my F250 diesel this morning...assuming it would start.

 

[Jambe]

There has been some discussion about being able to get in or out if the battery is totally dead. FOB? Let's hope Elio takes this into consideration. Some manufacturers have not (I'm told).

 

[Puna bob]

I'm all for aerodynamic but as I have stated many times, the fewer bells and whistles the better.
maybe something like this should be an option.

Does look cool though.

 

[Cache Man]

The parasitic drag (or induced drag) of the door handle is minimal. The drag would only be noticed at higher speeds like 70+. The car's slip steam would create a turbulent air flow anyway and it may not even be noticed at all. The frontal "plate" area which Paul Elio spoke about on one of the Car Talk Radio Show is the most important thing to consider. This is the front surface area the wind "sees" as the car moves or initially impacts the car as it goes thru the air. The Elio is very slippery in the air. FYI... The front surface shape is more important than the rear shape in reducing drag.

The plate drag (Cd) is the surface area in which the air strikes the surface and the resistance of the air to move around. Drag is also created by the associated turbulence as the air tries to "heal" or re-meet. This is know as the recovery zone or area. This is one reason airfoils taper to help the recover of the lower and high air pressure zones on wings. This is a fairly simplified version of explaining drag. TMI (Too Much Info)?o_O

In general... The handle is more of a novelty if you are looking at aerodynamics. I agree with keeping it simple. Cool techie stuff always has a wow factor... and a price!

 

[ross]

I don't know if this is the proper thread for this, but if not I'm sure G1 will re-post it where it belongs. On my daily commute to work I climb two hills, east of the Mississippi they would be called mountains, the only one that matters in this discussion is a 7% grade for over a mile, if I disengage the cruise control and manually modulate the throttle, I can climb it without unlocking the torque convertor in my PT loser. My wifes' Impala can climb the same grade with the cruise control on and not a downshift.
Two questions here. On the way home, I clear the top of the hill in the loser at 60 mph with the cruise on, it downshifts so I don't exceed 60 mph. The Impala lets me freewheel to the bottom without a downshift.
Question #1 What kind of tranny will the E-car have?
I hate the PT losers' shift pattern. Let the car run.
Question #2 I top the hill in the loser @ 60mph kick off the cruise control and put it in neutral, and I come out at the bottom @ right about 80 mph.
I can hardly wait to see what the E-car can do.

 

[Jambe]

My experience has been that you cannot shift to neutral when moving. I hope that the Elio AMT is not that way. I have a 7-mile downgrade that I frequent.