The Organic Elf

You know, I was seriously looking into getting their little enclosed trike with electric assist. Put a deposit down and was totally excited about it, but in talking with the folks who build them it became obvious that my weight, it's always something, my weight would be a problem. It's mainly engineered for a 250 pound or less person. I'm a few pounds more than that. I was dejected, rejected - had a case of the sads. Then I came across the Elio. For just a few dollars more you get doors AND an engine. So now I'm happy again. Just waiting for this baby to come off the assembly line. Like we all are. A serious lesson in patience.

EastCoastCentralFla said:

You know, I was seriously looking into getting their little enclosed trike with electric assist. Put a deposit down and was totally excited about it, but in talking with the folks who build them it became obvious that my weight, it's always something, my weight would be a problem. It's mainly engineered for a 250 pound or less person. I'm a few pounds more than that. I was dejected, rejected - had a case of the sads. Then I came across the Elio. For just a few dollars more you get doors AND an engine. So now I'm happy again. Just waiting for this baby to come off the assembly line. Like we all are. A serious lesson in patience.

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I too would fit in that '250 plus' category. It is good to know that about that three wheeler. It makes the Elio that much nicer.

NSTG8R said:

Holy cow! They need to hire Arilea!! Looks like a cheap tennis shoe.

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lol, K, yes I did some free work once for some local EV club people on something similar to the Elf. Had to back out of that eventually.

Velo's are very challenging to make nice looking. The Aerodynamics and weight are pinnacle resources supporting the goal, so that leaves very little left to manipulate. Still there are some interesting options.

Even so, it's amazing how little they seem to try. It seems to be for the Velo enthusiast, that they kind of expect to look 'velo-like' otherwise they suspect you haven't really stayed on target to the intrinsic goals. ( I have seen one or two that were very engaging! ) And very often the vision is to look just like the racers, so there ya are! Pick a racing type that looks nice to begin with!

But the elf type of vehicle, as a step away from a velo, is following someone's key point of interest. In this case, as a guess, it's the relationship to the easy entry into a lightweight overhead weather-shield, and to be used in a specific setting. A small downtown or campus street layout.

And worse, satisfying the desires and expectations of this group are at least as tuff in relation to the locked-in mindset.
Once a notion is set, it's very hard to break that, so the style options are at least as locked-down as a Velo.

On those kinds of projects, I'd now prefer to first develop the idea, then try and see who responds. Not make a design following someone's incremental input's. That kind of process negates the likely hood of getting paid for it by the hour.

You have to greatly respect the commercial artist, because that's what they do, fulfill someone else's expectation before the vision is actually complete.

Some interesting Velo Styles that push out of that shoe-look just a bit... 1-10 of ?? (first three are my favorites)
Add electric hub motors to this one and nobody would be the wiser!
(which they did!, 7k base price, which do ya want, VeloSchmitt or an Elio??)
of ??

11-15 of 15

The best way to break out of that shoe-look is to change the spinning into linear pushing. It can be as efficient, but is a bit expensive given the custom hardware involved. That would lower the nose lines and may reduce frontal area as well.

On this first one, color can go a long way to changing the perceived look.

Gizmag.

It looks like a 'street fighter' with the headlights looking like machine guns. I think it is a neat design.

It did not look like it could hold two people.

AriLea said:

11-15 of 15

The best way to break out of that shoe-look is to change the spinning into linear pushing. It can be as efficient, but is a bit expensive given the custom hardware involved. That would lower the nose lines and may reduce frontal area as well.

On this first one, color can go a long way to changing the perceived look.

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Didn't the second one down get over 1000 MPG (ICE engine) in an SAE contest for engineering design?

WilliamH said:

Didn't the second one down get over 1000 MPG (ICE engine) in an SAE contest for engineering design?

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Don't know, it's very possible. When looking for styling I could have clipped out anything remotely related to the subject at hand.
These MPG races go up to 2500mpg, but the vehicles are so removed from the reality of the street I don't pay that much attention to their perfomance details.

In this one case, I simply thought the volume and style could be adapted to the Velomobile environment for the linear pedaling idea. Bubble the window up and circular pedaling will fit.

AriLea said:

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I currently have a Terra Trike converted to electric with an ETek AC motor. I'm seriously considering building a body in that style for it. But the VeloSchmitt is very appealing too. (Can't afford it, I'll have to replicate something like it.)

BigWarpGuy said:

Gizmag.

It looks like a 'street fighter' with the headlights looking like machine guns. I think it is a neat design.

It did not look like it could hold two people.

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THESE GUYS CLEARLY DREW THEIR INSPIRATION FROM THE
MESSERSCHMITT KR-200 SUPER "RECORD BREAKER" OF 1955 .
( IT WAS A SINGLE SEATER ! )