• Welcome to Elio Owners! Join today, registration is easy!

    You can register using your Google, Facebook, or Twitter account, just click here.

Corbin Motors Merlin

DAVID BROWER

Elio Addict
Joined
Feb 20, 2015
Messages
606
Reaction score
1,712
Location
Wake Forest, North Carolina
I'm ok with a single seater commuter EV as would many other commuters providing it has rear cargo storage for a few bags of groceries, an occassional take out pizza, and golf clubs. When I take my honey, I want her sitting beside me not behind me particularly with no rearview mirror to keep a watchful eye on her. We will take the larger vehicle with plenty of trunk space for a beer cooler and snacks when it's the two of us.

THAT , MY FRIEND , IS WHY I HAVE BOTH AN ISETTA & A MESSERSCHMITT .

IF I AM GOING SOMEWHERE ALONE , I TAKE THE 'SCHMITT . IT'S FAST & FUN BUT RIDES A BIT BUMPY .
IT ALSO BEHAVES DIFFERENTLY WITH SOMEONE IN THE BACK SEAT .

IF I AM GOING OUT WITH MY WIFE , I TAKE THE ISETTA . IT IS COZY , FRIENDLY & INTIMATE .
IT HAS GREAT ROAD MANNERS AND IS ALWAYS AN ADVENTURE TO DRIVE .

THE ISETTA MAY BE THE BEST DATE CAR EVER WHILE THE MESSERSCHMITT IS THE WORST !
THE FREEWAY WITH ONE SEAT ISN'T A DATE CAR AT ALL .

MY ELIO WILL BE FOR DRIVING TO WORK & TOOLING AROUND .
I WON'T BE CARRYING A PASSENGER OFTEN BUT IT IS NICE TO HAVE THE CAPABILITY .

DSC_0214.JPG
 

Rickb

Elio Addict
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
7,093
Reaction score
13,965
That my friend is why I hope to have both an Elio and an EMV17 autocycle collection, and or vehicles. If or when they get to production. Cool photo.

For me It's too late for a date car. I will have to either rent a motorhome or spring for a luxury hotel suite.
 
Last edited:

Rickb

Elio Addict
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
7,093
Reaction score
13,965
A more refined EMV17 from the original sketch. Interesting rear wheel covered for increased aerodynamics and range. I question access to the rear tire, but looks good.
image.jpg

image.jpg
 
Last edited:

AriLea

Elio Addict
Joined
Mar 20, 2014
Messages
3,863
Reaction score
9,876
Location
anywhere
A more refined EMV17 from the original sketch. Interesting rear wheel covered for increased aerodynamics and range. I question access to the rear tire, but looks good.
There is very little reason why the back couldn't be longer, for two riders and a tiny trunk/spare. Such vehicles may become the way the industry chooses to respond to the Elio. The longer butt would allow a smaller trailing profile with aerodynamic benefits. This only works if the air-flow has remained 'laminar' to that point. A 4 wheeler it can be a bit more narrow at the front.

Going the 4wheel way makes it different enough from the Elio, attracting people who are nervous about 3 wheelers, even though the Elio may prove to be more stable. The extra wheel will cost a couple hundred more, and increase weight at least 15%.

But if they want to compete on price alone, the single seat and short butt is the best way with a reduced weight to match. However, that (image above) would be a very niche commuter car. I'm going to propose that the extra passenger doubles the sales. They will likely only make such cars if the Elio is produced and proves there is a large market. Unless they noticed that the Elio has already exposed evidence of a large market for diminutive commuter vehicles. That is the one thing that has stopped such concepts in the past, believing it was too tight of a niche, and too small of a profit margin to risk it.

The long butt look;
EMV17.jpg
 
Last edited:

Rickb

Elio Addict
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
7,093
Reaction score
13,965
I like your EMV17 Limo look. I agree on the two seater option, but as a commuter concept and only one occupant in the vehicle a vast % of the time, I don't think it would increase the market niche enough to justify the added weight and costs bring the EMV17 well over $20K which may greatly reduce the market niche even more. I would like it simply for the added storage factor. The fact that it's an EV already limits the demographic interested in the vehicle because of the added battery cost and range anxiety. (EV 'Haters' lol)

If the EMV17 has a successful inital production run and is a well received EV Concept, I'm betting a 2 seater coupe convertible would follow to expand the Model line up.
 
Last edited:

Rickb

Elio Addict
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
7,093
Reaction score
13,965
There is very little reason why the back couldn't be longer, for two riders and a tiny trunk/spare. Such vehicles may become the way the industry chooses to respond to the Elio. The longer butt would allow a smaller trailing profile with aerodynamic benefits. This only works if the air-flow has remained 'laminar' to that point. A 4 wheeler it can be a bit more narrow at the front.

Going the 4wheel way makes it different enough from the Elio, attracting people who are nervous about 3 wheelers, even though the Elio may prove to be more stable. The extra wheel will cost a couple hundred more, and increase weight at least 15%.

But if they want to compete on price alone, the single seat and short butt is the best way with a reduced weight to match. However, that (image above) would be a very niche commuter car. I'm going to propose that the extra passenger doubles the sales. They will likely only make such cars if the Elio is produced and proves there is a large market. Unless they noticed that the Elio has already exposed evidence of a large market for diminutive commuter vehicles. That is the one thing that has stopped such concepts in the past, believing it was too tight of a niche, and too small of a profit margin to risk it.

The long butt look;
View attachment 6763
Your long butt sketch would look even smoother now that the rear wheel is covered providing for a smoother/functional look. That rear fender-like bulge is gone which perhaps increases interior space as well.
No side mirrors on the renderings, so perhaps a rear view/backup camera is being considered to reduce drag. I suspect there would be a frunk for added storage space.
 
Last edited:

AriLea

Elio Addict
Joined
Mar 20, 2014
Messages
3,863
Reaction score
9,876
Location
anywhere
I like your EMV17 Limo look. I agree on the two seater option, but as a commuter concept and only one occupant in the vehicle a vast % of the time, I don't think it would increase the market niche enough to justify the added weight and costs bring the EMV17 well over $20K which may greatly reduce the market niche even more. I would like it simply for the added storage factor. The fact that it's an EV already limits the demographic interested in the vehicle because of the added battery cost and range anxiety. (EV 'Haters' lol)

If the EMV17 has a successful inital production run and is a well received EV Concept, I'm betting a 2 seater coupe convertible would follow to expand the Model line up.
Yep.
But, as a niche they would sell it to an upscale crowd. Niche's can be pretty large. The $30k smart sold at over 10k units per year. I think the Sparrow kind of blew it. They went for a low-style, but should have gone high like the EMV17. You know, half a Tesla for half the price?

While the EMV17 is new and unique, I don't think 5000 units per year is unreasonable for a $35k purchase. The key here is upscale hardware in a sporty EV package. If you keep the sales under 5k units, it will always be new as more people notice it. Yes, a cult following. Such a car is not in the same market as the Elio.

So when you look at it that way, the Blue image above is not edgy enough. It should be more sharp and defined like the drawing suggest. Yuppy sport - not yuppy ecological , in this case green AND sport.
 
Last edited:

Rickb

Elio Addict
Joined
Apr 20, 2014
Messages
7,093
Reaction score
13,965
Yep.
But, as a niche they would sell it to an upscale crowd. Niche's can be pretty large. The $30k smart sold at over 10k units per year. I think the Sparrow kind of blew it. They went for a low-style, but should have gone high like the EMV17. You know, half a Tesla for half the price?

While the EMV17 is new and unique, I don't think 5000 units per year is unreasonable for a $35k purchase. The key here is upscale hardware in a sporty EV package. If you keep the sales under 5k units, it will always be new as more people notice it. Yes, a cult following. Such a car is not in the same market as the Elio.

So when you look at it that way, the Blue image above is not edgy enough. It should be more sharp and defined like the drawing suggest. Yuppy sport - not yuppy ecological , in this case green AND sport.
I sense after listening to the Jerry Kroll interview they are looking to provide a mass produced fun, and more affordable, performance based EV commuter to the masses at under $20K, not just a micro yuppy niche market. I need fun and affordable not yuppy. It sounds like the EMV17 will be an upscale Sporty commuter EV at under $20K. The EMV17 would take my money over the Elio in a heartbeat as a fun EcoSporty EV -- & vehicle.

Kroll mentioned $20K MSRP with and $5K Canadian Tax Credit bringing the buyer's cost down to $15K. I think the Elio has more of a cult following.

Note: The $19,888 CDN is about $15,000 US. That's better yet!
 
Last edited:
Top Bottom