Elio Door Beams

[Jeff Bowlsby]

Its easy to be captivated by the engine dyno video...but something else revealed this week, equally as important if not more so, are the apparent improvements in the safety features of the tube chassis. The updated crash .gif shows what looks like larger and therefore stronger chassis tube cross sections and noticeably a much more robust door beam.

The new door beam is taller and relocated to top of the door right under the window which is unexplainably not in alignment with the other longitudinal chassis reinforcements. The crash .gif clearly depicts this beam in this location in that it directly reinforces the chassis in a front end collision. My concern is that the beam in this higher location is too high to do much protection in a more common side impact event, other than for a taller vehicle like a lifted truck or maybe some of the larger SUVs. The door beam seems to be in a good location for this protection though and I like it. My thinking though is that the door should have another beam lower on the door, aligning with the other horizontal chassis members to protect from side impacts from standard vehicles with bumpers in the range of 18-20" off the ground. And how about the rear passenger area with the fuel tank under the seat...it currently looks nearly completely unprotected from side impacts. I think the door beams should extend back to the passenger area to add protection to the rear seat area.

What do you think?

 

[BADBOY]

How about an X beam in the door like the old Chrysler frame? I think the Lincoln Town Cars had huge steel beams through the doors.

 

[goofyone]

As we do not have any actual simulation testing data, have only been shown a pair of short animations of a single crash testing scenario. and we are not trained nor experienced engineers in this field the only logical conclusion that can be drawn is that any discussion we have on this topic is wildly speculative with an extremely high probability of being incorrect.

We know that EM has previously performed simulations of side and rear impacts as we have older images and there was even video of these animations available at one time. Knowing this it is logical to believe that the engineers have or will test any changes against all these crash test scenarios as well and then select the best solutions across the range of crash testing scenarios.

One thing I can point out that I know from speaking to EM personnel is that while the fuel tank may appear to the untrained eye as being somewhat unprotected the reality is that the area under the passenger seat where the fuel tank resides is considered to be the single strongest structural area of the vehicle. This is exactly where engineers want to place a fuel tank as it protects against the real danger in fuel tanks which is having them in an area which can be compressed in an accident. The interesting thing is that under the rear passenger seat is actually pretty much the standard location for fuel tanks in cars.

 

[Jeff Bowlsby]

Agreed G1, but we can dream right? That new door beam just looked out of place to my eye. I am certain EM will do their best, as they define it, to create the safest vehicle possible. Luv it that we see improvements to the chassis in this way.

 

[goofyone]

 

[goofyone]

Having the chance to see, and discuss, how the vehicle design is evolving along the way is definitely one of the most interesting parts of this process for me as well. We just generally do not have the chance to see this in such detail from just about anyone else as design and engineering work is generally closely guarded information.

Another good thing about being able to compare these images is that it becomes obvious just how much effort must have been put into engineering analysis, updated designs, and simulation work which has all been happening behind the scenes over a good period of time. This is great to keep in mind when we may feel down about what we perceive to be slow progress in terms of updates from EM. Unfortunately it is very likely that in a few simple paragraphs and animations EM pretty much gave us a general overview of a year of work for the engineering and simulation teams.

 

[Chadwick Sunday]

sure is exciting. I think the more progress leads to more optimism.

 

[RUCRAYZE]

sure is exciting. I think the more progress leads to more optimism.

Hi-
Welcome from THE Sunshine State. Yes indeed the ride so far has had it's ups and downs, and I now think, more then ever it will really happen!

 

[Rickb]

sure is exciting. I think the more progress leads to more optimism.

Welcome aboard Chadwick Sunday!

 

[Lil4X]

Two factors play into Elio's safety that don't exist in many other vehicles: It's light weight and the single rear wheel. A broadside crash should send the rear skittering out of the way, rather than hunkering down and taking the blow.

Ordinarily this might present problems of it's own, but the side curtain airbags - along with the 3-point seatbelts should help protect the occupants.

Now, no design is foolproof, but these sims, along with finite element analysis can offer multiple virtual experiences before we get to actual crash testing.