Balloons In The Air / Unanswered Questions

[Ekh]

Will the manufactured vehicles coming off the assembly line have fully adjustable shocks like this one? These look expensive.

I think that's an option. A good one! Though now you mention it, that's one option it would make sense to install in the factory, not in the marshaling centers. It's what, 45 minutes to change out a pair of shocks if you're quick vs. no time difference if you do it during original assembly. Or maybe I'm wrong -- not my field of expertise.

 

[pistonboy]

I think that's an option. A good one! Though now you mention it, that's one option it would make sense to install in the factory, not in the marshaling centers. It's what, 45 minutes to change out a pair of shocks if you're quick vs. no time difference if you do it during original assembly. Or maybe I'm wrong -- not my field of expertise.

I asked Paul Elio while in La about installation of options and changes at the marshaling centers. He said which is wanted the most (stock item or the option item) will be installed on the assembly line and changed when necessary at the marshaling centers. Thus if most people want cloth seats the cloth seats will be installed at the factory and leather switched at the marshaling centers. If most people want leather, then leather will be installed at the factory and switched for cloth at the marshaling centers.

A separate company will be operating the marshaling centers, that company has been chosen, but because it is traded on the stock market he declined to identify it. Transport trucks will move the vehicles between the factory, marshaling centers, and stores. I do not know who will operate them but I suspect it will be the same company operating the marshaling centers. At first the marshaling center company will be working with Elio personnel at the Shreveport marshaling center which will handle all the vehicles in the early stages. This is so they can determine what is the most efficient way to operate the centers.

During the first 45 days they will use enough people to operate two shifts and start out trying to operate one line at 70% of its speed and at the end of 45 days try to have that one line operate at 100% of its speed. This may require stopping the line to make changes. During the second 45 days the group of people will be split up into two groups and they will try to operate two shifts, once again starting at 70% of the assembly line speed. They will try to have both lines operate at 100% speed at the end of this 45 day period which would be 1000 vehicles per day.. Once again this may require stopping the lines to make changes. This information is from a direct conversation with Paul Elio in LA. I have heard from other people that the expected output for this first 90 days is 19,000 vehicles.

Since all the vehicles will have to go through the single Schreveport marshaling center, and production will increase very quickly, I suspect the satellite marshaling centers will be up and running quickly. Probably before the second 45 day period starts when they are trying to operate two shifts.

Paul Elio said the stores will not open until 12 months after productions starts. Their output for the first 12 months would be 185,000 vehicles. The current reservation number is 44,000. If we assume reservations are at 60,000 when production starts, that leaves and extra 125,000 vehicles unaccounted for during the first 12 months before the stores open up. Why are they producing these unexplained 125,000 vehicles? I believe these will be fleet deliveries. We hear nothing about fleet sales, I sent two emails to two different Elio Motors departments asking if fleet deliveries will start after reservationist deliveries are completed. I got no response to either email. EM has had tour stops for fleet sales only where the reservationists were not permitted entry. I believe between reservationist deliveries and when the stores open up, they expect to make 125,000 fleet deliveries!

 

[pistonboy]

I very much wish I could meet Paul Elio again and ask him some more questions.

 

[Cache Man]

Those are all out there as far as I can remember except they did answer your #2 question. It was "same as a Mustang" and later quantified.

The Elio features an independent suspension with unequal length control arms, coil-over-spring and shock in the front and mono-shock with coil-over-spring and shock in the rear. The ground clearance is 5.75″ — similar to most of the passenger vehicles you see on the road today.

View attachment 6386 View attachment 6387 Looking at it, it seems there is a bit more adjustment than being used there. This is the area raised in the new P5, I believe.

PE stated the ground clearance was the same as a Ford Escort. All good.

 

[Coss]

I very much wish I could meet Paul Elio again and ask him some more questions.

What questions? I'll be at the tour stop in Portland Aug. 3 & 4, I can ask then.

 

[pistonboy]

What questions? I'll be at the tour stop in Portland Aug. 3 & 4, I can ask then.

Thanks. Here they are.
1) Will fleet deliveries occur between reservationist deliveries and opening of the stores? If so, how many fleet deliveries are expected.
2) Will a back up camera be available without Skyz?
3) Will remote lock/unlock be available without Skyz?

Enjoy the trip.

 

[Ekh]

I asked Paul Elio while in La about installation of options and changes at the marshaling centers. He said which is wanted the most (stock item or the option item) will be installed on the assembly line and changed when necessary at the marshaling centers. Thus if most people want cloth seats the cloth seats will be installed at the factory and leather switched at the marshaling centers. If most people want leather, then leather will be installed at the factory and switched for cloth at the marshaling centers.

A separate company will be operating the marshaling centers, that company has been chosen, but because it is traded on the stock market he declined to identify it. Transport trucks will move the vehicles between the factory, marshaling centers, and stores. I do not know who will operate them but I suspect it will be the same company operating the marshaling centers. At first the marshaling center company will be working with Elio personnel at the Shreveport marshaling center which will handle all the vehicles in the early stages. This is so they can determine what is the most efficient way to operate the centers.

During the first 45 days they will use enough people to operate two shifts and start out trying to operate one line at 70% of its speed and at the end of 45 days try to have that one line operate at 100% of its speed. This may require stopping the line to make changes. During the second 45 days the group of people will be split up into two groups and they will try to operate two shifts, once again starting at 70% of the assembly line speed. They will try to have both lines operate at 100% speed at the end of this 45 day period which would be 1000 vehicles per day.. Once again this may require stopping the lines to make changes. This information is from a direct conversation with Paul Elio in LA. I have heard from other people that the expected output for this first 90 days is 19,000 vehicles.

Since all the vehicles will have to go through the single Schreveport marshaling center, and production will increase very quickly, I suspect the satellite marshaling centers will be up and running quickly. Probably before the second 45 day period starts when they are trying to operate two shifts.

Paul Elio said the stores will not open until 12 months after productions starts. Their output for the first 12 months would be 185,000 vehicles. The current reservation number is 44,000. If we assume reservations are at 60,000 when production starts, that leaves and extra 125,000 vehicles unaccounted for during the first 12 months before the stores open up. Why are they producing these unexplained 125,000 vehicles? I believe these will be fleet deliveries. We hear nothing about fleet sales, I sent two emails to two different Elio Motors departments asking if fleet deliveries will start after reservationist deliveries are completed. I got no response to either email. EM has had tour stops for fleet sales only where the reservationists were not permitted entry. I believe between reservationist deliveries and when the stores open up, they expect to make 125,000 fleet deliveries!

Thanks for a clear, informative, and very well written report.

 

[Ekh]

What questions? I'll be at the tour stop in Portland Aug. 3 & 4, I can ask then.

How about asking any of the questions at the head of this thread? And good luck with getting the answers, but hey, you might get something useful.

 

[DAVID BROWER]

The Elio features an independent suspension with unequal length control arms, coil-over-spring and shock in the front and mono-shock with coil-over-spring and shock in the rear. The ground clearance is 5.75″ — similar to most of the passenger vehicles you see on the road today.

IT IS AN INTERESTING FRONT END SETUP .

THE SHOCK & SPRING ARE MOVED INBOARDTO GET THEM OUT OF THE SLIPSTREAM .
THE SUPPORT FOR THE SUSPENSION IS FARMED OUT TO AN ADJUSTIBLE LENGTH DIAGONAL ROD .

THE SHOCK / SPRING ARE PLACED FORWARD BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO CLEAR THE DRIVE AXLE .

THE THREADED SHOCK BODY IS GREAT BUT THEY ARE PRICY . I DOUBT THE PRODUCTION CARS
WILL HAVE THAT FEATURE . ALL THOSE EXTRA THREADS ARE THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE USING A
SHORTER SPRING .

I HAVE BEEN BUILDING THE REAR SUSPENSION ON MY MESSERSCHMITT TG-500 THIS YEAR WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS .
I AM USING AFCO SHOCKS & SPRINGS . YOU CAN ORDER THE SHOCKS WITH DIFFERENT RATES & SIZES .
THE SPRINGS COME IN DIFFERENT DIAMETERS , LENGTHS AND RATES .
THEY RATE THE SPRINGS IN POUNDS PER INCH DEFLECTION , I AM USING 10 INCH 200 POUNDERS .

SO HOWCOME THE P-5 HAS A BLUE SPRING IN YOUR PICTURE AND AN ORANGE ONE IN MINE ?

 

[Ekh]

The Elio features an independent suspension with unequal length control arms, coil-over-spring and shock in the front and mono-shock with coil-over-spring and shock in the rear. The ground clearance is 5.75″ — similar to most of the passenger vehicles you see on the road today.

IT IS AN INTERESTING FRONT END SETUP .

THE SHOCK & SPRING ARE MOVED INBOARDTO GET THEM OUT OF THE SLIPSTREAM .
THE SUPPORT FOR THE SUSPENSION IS FARMED OUT TO AN ADJUSTIBLE LENGTH DIAGONAL ROD .

THE SHOCK / SPRING ARE PLACED FORWARD BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO CLEAR THE DRIVE AXLE .

THE THREADED SHOCK BODY IS GREAT BUT THEY ARE PRICY . I DOUBT THE PRODUCTION CARS
WILL HAVE THAT FEATURE . ALL THOSE EXTRA THREADS ARE THERE BECAUSE THEY ARE USING A
SHORTER SPRING .

I HAVE BEEN BUILDING THE REAR SUSPENSION ON MY MESSERSCHMITT TG-500 THIS YEAR WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS .
I AM USING AFCO SHOCKS & SPRINGS . YOU CAN ORDER THE SHOCKS WITH DIFFERENT RATES & SIZES .
THE SPRINGS COME IN DIFFERENT DIAMETERS , LENGTHS AND RATES .
THEY RATE THE SPRINGS IN POUNDS PER INCH DEFLECTION , I AM USING 10 INCH 200 POUNDERS .

SO HOWCOME THE P-5 HAS A BLUE SPRING IN YOUR PICTURE AND AN ORANGE ONE IN MINE ?

View attachment 6398
View attachment 6399
View attachment 6400 View attachment 6401

It's the P4 and they changed the shocks earlier this year.