Crash Testing?

[Rickb]

Every modern vehicle with a trunk is required to have a luminous (glow in the dark) trunk release handle inside the trunk. It's been law for quite some time. I doubt Elio will not be able to get around that law even though there's hardly room for a body in the trunk.

I doubt the Elio's rear hatch storage compartment meets the legal definition of a trunk.

 

[BiloxiGeek]

Since I don't have an engineering degree I'm only guessing here. Seems like a door will inherently be less safe than a body panel without door on one side of the vehicle. Much easier to strengthen that side without having to work around an operational door. Therefore, changing the right side of the vehicle to have a second door would make it less safe.

 

[BiloxiGeek]

I doubt the Elio's rear hatch storage compartment meets the legal definition of a trunk.

You could very well be right. But I wouldn't put it past the government to say it's a trunk like space with a trunk like lid, so you gotta have the handle like every other trunk on the road.

 

[NSTG8R]

I like the idea of 2 doors. Have the national highway safety folks weighed in on the issue of doors in all classes of vehicles? Regarding overblown reaction to Tesla, how many vehicle crashes were prevented as a result of the technology or may be prevented in the future by the development of autonomous vehicles? Many drivers apparently are distracted and not focused on driving. Tesla, seems to be over reacted to in general conversation.

My recollection of the reason for the single door on the Elio was reducing cost to maintain the $6800 target base price, saving money with no regards to safety.

Well, if there was a door on the r/h side, where would you put the shifter? I suppose you could go old-school 3-on-the-tree.
Honestly, getting out the r/h side of the car would seem unnatural. Elio essentially just cut off the passenger side of a car and put a protective steel wall there, leaving the console.

 

[Rickb]

I would be happy with an open air Elio with a side panel enclosure option.

 

[Rickb]

Since I don't have an engineering degree I'm only guessing here. Seems like a door will inherently be less safe than a body panel without door on one side of the vehicle. Much easier to strengthen that side without having to work around an operational door. Therefore, changing the right side of the vehicle to have a second door would make it less safe.

The second door would be as safe as a single door........assuming the single door has been engineered for safety.

 

[bunchathrees]

For small money:

https://www.amazon.com/Car-Safety-H...id=1468778772&sr=1-2&keywords=car+escape+tool

 

[Ty]

I like the idea of 2 doors. Have the national highway safety folks weighed in on the issue of doors in all classes of vehicles? Regarding overblown reaction to Tesla, how many vehicle crashes were prevented as a result of the technology or may be prevented in the future by the development of autonomous vehicles? Many drivers apparently are distracted and not focused on driving. Tesla, seems to be over reacted to in general conversation.

My recollection of the reason for the single door on the Elio was reducing cost to maintain the $6800 target base price, saving money with no regards to safety.

I hope you are kidding here. Elio has been stressing safety all along. Now, some shortsighted person will quote just what I highlighted as a reason to hate Elio. One could argue that a door is inherently less safe than a reinforced side without a door. The only time an extra door should even matter would be if the main door was inaccessible in some manner that didn't also make the right side non-functional. Otherwise, the extra protection offered by not having a hinged opening may be the better bet.

 

[Darren Cruse]

Hello, Darren! Just happened to notice you're in my neck of the woods! I'm #5971, so I'll have to swing by with mine next year so you can check out the production model up close.

Sounds gr8 will look forward to it!

(esp. since I haven't heard when the first Elio store will open at the Galleria or Chesterfield Mall... )

 

[Darren Cruse]

Well, if there was a door on the r/h side, where would you put the shifter? I suppose you could go old-school 3-on-the-tree.
Honestly, getting out the r/h side of the car would seem unnatural. Elio essentially just cut off the passenger side of a car and put a protective steel wall there, leaving the console.

Right I'd seen what you're saying in some pictures - theres the shifter and some structure there on the right - so I agree it looks like a challenge to add a r/h door anyway with the design as it is (and I'm accepting the other arguments that it's not necessarily safer anyway and may in fact be less so since it would break up the roll cage structure within the right hand side)...