Elio Weight?

[Darrellh]

The stamped steel lower control arms are going to need some attention,in the "salt belt", over the long haul (re: 2003 Subaru call-back).
An aluminum option would be great...for the Elio.

Either one will require treatment as salt even corrodes aluminum.

 

[Maurtis]

I think I favor SMC.
Had a hail storm in early June.
About 3" of pea gravel sized (3/8" to 1/2") stones in 20 minutes.
My truck took about $2K in damage. Mostly roof and hood.
(Hood is aluminum, top is steel)
The fiberglass top on my jeep? None at all.

That brings up an interesting question... Being in hail country too my main desire for SMC panels are for weight savings and hail/ding resistance. But with other cars that used non-metal panels like the Saturn, the horizontal panels like the hood, roof and trunk were steel. I wonder if the Elio will do the same or stick with SMC? Assuming they go with SMC for production.

 

[Coss]

From EM's email
"There are two topics that generated emails about the E1a: the body and the frame. The questions about the body were all regarding the “100% made of steel body.” Sheet molded composite is still the design direction but we are looking at other materials, i.e. steel and other automotive skin materials that could help us make the vehicle better, safer, more reliable and improve upon our four tenets. All changes and potential improvements must fit within our four tenets and our existing timeline to be considered."
"...four tenets and our existing timeline to be considered" Being considered, so the steel body is not a final "written in stone" decision; it can still change back to the panels they are using, or even materials they haven't tried yet.
Don't get all hung up because they are trying something different; this is what the E-series is all about; making it work!

 

[Elio Amazed]

From EM's email
"There are two topics that generated emails about the E1a: the body and the frame. The questions about the body were all regarding the “100% made of steel body.” Sheet molded composite is still the design direction but we are looking at other materials, i.e. steel and other automotive skin materials that could help us make the vehicle better, safer, more reliable and improve upon our four tenets. All changes and potential improvements must fit within our four tenets and our existing timeline to be considered."
"...four tenets and our existing timeline to be considered" Being considered, so the steel body is not a final "written in stone" decision; it can still change back to the panels they are using, or even materials they haven't tried yet.
Don't get all hung up because they are trying something different; this is what the E-series is all about; making it work!

In my interpretation, "...looking at other materials... does not mean that they're even going to try them.
To me it means that they may be considering experimenting with them. So this may be much to do about nothing.

 

[Coss]

In my interpretation, "...looking at other materials... does not mean that they're even going to try them.
To me it means that they may be considering experimenting with them. So this may be much to do about nothing.

Excellent; that's exactly what it says and means.

 

[wizard of ahs]

In my interpretation, "...looking at other materials... does not mean that they're even going to try them.
To me it means that they may be considering experimenting with them. So this may be much to do about nothing.