My first post. I've been following this car since I saw an article about it in a newspaper last year and Im pretty intrigued by the concept. Paul, my hat is off to you. I've built a few thing and while they usually function, they ain't pretty, seem like they take way longer to make than expected, and cost way more than I thought. I wish you the best of luck.
I'm a big fan of manual transmissions. Although they are relatively efficient at putting the power to the ground, the engine is often spinning faster than it needs to when going down a hill, coming up to a stop sign ect.. Kinda like those fixed gear bikes that the peddles always move on, you don't get a rest going down hill, it's just a lil easier than going uphill. I can usually pick up a couple mpg by shifting into neutral a while before approaching a stop sign or while going down a hill and just using my brakes. Has there been any consideration into adding an over running clutch similar to what peddle bikes have that would allow you to coast and then peddle when you want? I think this would help the elio easily hit the 84 mpg goal but I realize it would probably add a fair cost.. A lot of automatic transmissions will disengage at 28-35 mph, what if that limit was taken so that any time you had your foot off the gas the transmission would disengage? I think that's one reason the mid 90s Buick park avenues got such excellent mileage for how big they were is the transmission would just let the car coast when power wasn't required. My brother could pretty easily get 30-32 on the highway with his. Possibly electricity controlled hubs on the wheels would work similar to a lawn mower deck clutch to allow the computer to easily engage / disengage when needed.. What's your thoughts?
I'm a big fan of manual transmissions. Although they are relatively efficient at putting the power to the ground, the engine is often spinning faster than it needs to when going down a hill, coming up to a stop sign ect.. Kinda like those fixed gear bikes that the peddles always move on, you don't get a rest going down hill, it's just a lil easier than going uphill. I can usually pick up a couple mpg by shifting into neutral a while before approaching a stop sign or while going down a hill and just using my brakes. Has there been any consideration into adding an over running clutch similar to what peddle bikes have that would allow you to coast and then peddle when you want? I think this would help the elio easily hit the 84 mpg goal but I realize it would probably add a fair cost.. A lot of automatic transmissions will disengage at 28-35 mph, what if that limit was taken so that any time you had your foot off the gas the transmission would disengage? I think that's one reason the mid 90s Buick park avenues got such excellent mileage for how big they were is the transmission would just let the car coast when power wasn't required. My brother could pretty easily get 30-32 on the highway with his. Possibly electricity controlled hubs on the wheels would work similar to a lawn mower deck clutch to allow the computer to easily engage / disengage when needed.. What's your thoughts?
