The Real P5 ?

[AriLea]

I'm still a little confused...... does the turbo positively or negatively affect gas mileage? I remember some people saying it would go down, but I've also read some articles where they say a turbo will give you better gas mileage (as long as you're not constantly punching it into high boost) What's the EV option and what makes it faster 0-60 than a turbo?

So to answer the questions..

Getting good gas mileage relates to the whole vehicle. If you start with a selected engine and turbo-it, you'll get more power, for less weight than an equivalent larger engine. That extra power comes at a cost in complexity. So if you had 60% of the new Elio engine, then put a turbo on that, now you have the same power (maybe) for less total engine weight. Every pound of engine relates to 1 or 2 (or so) of total vehicle weight. It's possible you could then have better mileage, due to this reduced gross vehicle weight, but it is a more expensive configuration than the larger Elio engine without a turbo.
However, a smaller engine often has lower thermal efficiency, so a turbo on a 750cc may be a bit challenged to get high MPGs. Generally, tubo-ing is used to get better performance.
It took a lot of engineering trading off, like tandom seating vs sociable, to get that 80+ MPG. I wouldn't mess with it at this point.

EV vs turbo.. a faster Elio , isn't even on my radar at this point. No comment.

 

[Ekh]

So to answer the questions..

Getting good gas mileage relates to the whole vehicle. If you start with a selected engine and turbo-it, you'll get more power, for less weight than an equivalent larger engine. That extra power comes at a cost in complexity. So if you had 60% of the new Elio engine, then put a turbo on that, now you have the same power (maybe) for less total engine weight. Every pound of engine relates to 1 or 2 (or so) of total vehicle weight. It's possible you could then have better mileage, due to this reduced gross vehicle weight, but it is a more expensive configuration than the larger Elio engine without a turbo.
However, a smaller engine often has lower thermal efficiency, so a turbo on a 750cc may be a bit challenged to get high MPGs. Generally, tubo-ing is used to get better performance.
It took a lot of engineering trading off, like tandom seating vs sociable, to get that 80+ MPG. I wouldn't mess with it at this point.

EV vs turbo.. a faster Elio , isn't even on my radar at this point. No comment.

If you're putting a turbo on it, you'll be putting your boot into it just for fun, and your gas mileage will plummet, say to 50 mpg on the highway. Damn! But what a hoot! I'm a sports car guy from as close to day 1 as I could pull it off. None, with the exception of my Marcos, were as safe as the Elio. But if you're not spinning up the turbo, the mileage should be pretty darn good. I wonder if it's possible to have a manual turbo cut-out, so that if you want to drive for mileage you can, and if you want to boogie, you can switch it on and dance.

 

[AriLea]

If you're putting a turbo on it, you'll be putting your boot into it just for fun, and your gas mileage will plummet, say to 50 mpg on the highway. Damn! But what a hoot! I'm a sports car guy from as close to day 1 as I could pull it off. None, with the exception of my Marcos, were as safe as the Elio. But if you're not spinning up the turbo, the mileage should be pretty darn good. I wonder if it's possible to have a manual turbo cut-out, so that if you want to drive for mileage you can, and if you want to boogie, you can switch it on and dance.

I want to see a Turbo Elio Patrol car (with the EV booster rear wheel kit !)

 

[WilliamH]

I want to see a Turbo Elio Patrol car (with the EV booster rear wheel kit !)

That could be spooky if the rear wheel tries to overdrive the front in tight maneuvering.

 

[Rickb]

If you're putting a turbo on it, you'll be putting your boot into it just for fun, and your gas mileage will plummet, say to 50 mpg on the highway. Damn! But what a hoot! I'm a sports car guy from as close to day 1 as I could pull it off. None, with the exception of my Marcos, were as safe as the Elio. But if you're not spinning up the turbo, the mileage should be pretty darn good. I wonder if it's possible to have a manual turbo cut-out, so that if you want to drive for mileage you can, and if you want to boogie, you can switch it on and dance.

There is a button for that:

 

[Muzhik]

Based on the latest P5 build photos, I thought I'd take a wild guess at the dash size opening ....for my planned replacement of 'you know what'

One of my jobs involves working in a warehouse, and assuming the pallet in the picture is of typical design (sure looks so anyway) the side fork opening is roughly 9 inches. This translates the possible opening in the dash cowell to roughly an oblong dimension of 7" x 14" which would be perfect for my replacement choice......
View attachment 7474

I will admit -- those sure look purty!

 

[trock59]

That could be spooky if the rear wheel tries to overdrive the front in tight maneuvering.

That only happens in a Slingshot w/ the trac. control off!

 

[Adamant]

If you're putting a turbo on it, you'll be putting your boot into it just for fun, and your gas mileage will plummet, say to 50 mpg on the highway. Damn! But what a hoot! I'm a sports car guy from as close to day 1 as I could pull it off. None, with the exception of my Marcos, were as safe as the Elio. But if you're not spinning up the turbo, the mileage should be pretty darn good. I wonder if it's possible to have a manual turbo cut-out, so that if you want to drive for mileage you can, and if you want to boogie, you can switch it on and dance.

Either way, I'm getting an Auto (plus, PE himself says the Auto gets the best gas mileage because it "shifts perfectly") but say I get an auto with a turbo and drive it gently on the highway, any chance of still reaching 84mpg? Or is even driving conservatively with a turbo still gonna net less mpg than without? (assuming the engine is the same size either way)

Usually on the freeway I try to maintain the speed limit of 70mph. Sometimes I'll to 75, but that's about it.

 

[archer5013]

I will admit -- those sure look purty!

I'm hoping to find some with lower high end speed & rpm - so mid range will display closer to center.

 

[archer5013]

You may be right. But if you are in the position where the best you can afford is a 10 year old clunker with 150K miles on it you may not care about 0-60 as much as you do about something that gets you from home to work and back Monday thru Friday without any major problems.

I think some people are stuck on the legal definition in regards to the number of wheels. The Elio is a motorcycle just as much as my wheelbarrow is a unicycle.

Front wheel drive. Enclosed cabin. Airbags. Air conditioning. Windshield wiper. Steering wheel. Seat belts. Yeah... Sounds just like a motorcycle to me.