The Importance Of A Clear Direction

[Ekh]

Interesting... I bet there are people dying to get one of those.

Getting one would be a grave decision.

 

[floydv]

Getting one would be a grave decision.

Although it would certainly put the question of towing a trailer to rest. Permanently.

 

[3wheelin]

Why won't it be automobile safe?

Getting one would be a grave decision.

"Heaven can wait". (football movie)

 

[RUCRAYZE]

Looking at the frame structure and crumple zones (extended in the P5), I think the occupants would be as safe in frontal and rear end collisions as most cars. T-bone square in the door is bad news no matter what you're in, but it 'looks like to me' that if you had a side impact forward, or aft of the door, and if the side curtains deployed like they're supposed to, you 'might' actually fair better than if you were in side-by-side seating since you wouldn't go flying across to the passenger seat. But you're right, "we/I don't really know anything" until the results are in.

don't we reduce the risk of getting T-Boned square in the door by 50% with only one door?? ;-)

 

[RUCRAYZE]

There's gotta be a way to install this baby if it's an absolute must!

use the "passenger side" , and mount it on the side instead of the roof!

 

[3wheelin]

use the "passenger side" , and mount it on the side instead of the roof!

There's an idea! You sir lives by your name!

 

[RUCRAYZE]

She started using the name just before the divorce..

 

[outsydthebox]

I sort of agree with this and sort of don't. Elio themselves have said that the reservation holders are demographically wealthier and older than the target market. I don't see that as any sort of real problem so long as Elio isn't deluding themselves one way or another -- that is, if the market turns out only to be well-heeled geezers, they are sunk -- and if the actual market is really what Elio says it is, and they start playing to the reservation holders too much, they are likewise going to go off course.

This has to pose a problem for EM. They DO want reservation holders engaged, simply because we are their best marketing tool. But they can't let us drive the development priorities because we are the fringe and not the core of the business. It's a dilemma.

If we back up a bit and keep thinking (as Paul Elio does) in terms of the project, and not the car, it gets easier to stay on track. The project is to provide a transportation solution that is green, affordable, and which creates American jobs.

My concern for EM's long term viability, and this is acknowledged in the stock prospectus, is that alternative technologies and low-priced alternative vehicles (such as Toyota's Atkinson cycle engine) pose a competitive risk.

Fuel cell vehicles and far cheaper battery systems may also breed competitors for Elio. Whether they can get profitable enough to endure for 10-15 years while adopting new technologies into advanced Elios remains to be seen. But the basis project goals should drive them to keep going.

Of course, if we wise up and stop expecting individual vehicles to clog city streets and opt for efficient mass transit or on-call Uber-style self driving vehicles, Elio faces a very tough way to go. as do we all.

Someone here "hit the nail on the head" when they compared it to the VW bug. Another good comparison (IMO) will be the Honda Civic. Both vehicles have a faithful following for several reasons, involving both math and common sense.
The Bug...cheap purchase price, simple safe construction (for the day), cheap/easy to repair. And when they finally "die", (people with vision) saw that the old bugs made a great "platform" for customization. The Civic...bullet proof reliability! I think the Elio will be insanely popular for similar reasons.
As for EM having to compete with "new technology?"....The Elio chassis can (and will) be adapted to utilize it.
Oh, the "Atkinson cycle" engine, is adaptable to most any internal combustion (4-stroke) engine. Cam profile & timing are they key.

 

[pistonboy]

Einstein would explain why the Elio is safer than a Harley using his lesser-known "V-Twin Paradox."

Schrödinger would say after the crash, the Elio driver is neither alive nor dead until you open the door.

 

[bowers baldwin]

Someone here "hit the nail on the head" when they compared it to the VW bug. Another good comparison (IMO) will be the Honda Civic. Both vehicles have a faithful following for several reasons, involving both math and common sense.
The Bug...cheap purchase price, simple safe construction (for the day), cheap/easy to repair. And when they finally "die", (people with vision) saw that the old bugs made a great "platform" for customization. The Civic...bullet proof reliability! I think the Elio will be insanely popular for similar reasons.
As for EM having to compete with "new technology?"....The Elio chassis can (and will) be adapted to utilize it.
Oh, the "Atkinson cycle" engine, is adaptable to most any internal combustion (4-stroke) engine. Cam profile & timing are they key.

Customizing an old VW bug? do you have any proof that this happens?