Metal...body?

[Ty]

They'll dip them. They can do that pretty fast. It's not the same but at Snapper Power, I watched them dip lawnmower frames and they'd just dip them and then hose them off with water to get rid of any extra paint. It always struck me as odd that you'd just spray water on new paint but they did. I imagine dipping cars would be the same. At GM, I saw the paint booths and how they worked but I never saw how the frames got coated.

 

[Injunjoe]

Bumpers were mentioned a few posts back. I think it would be primo if they offered an upgrade with low speed impact resistant bumpers. It would make a nice place to put my trailer hitch.

 

[pistonboy]

On the right rear corner, what is the vertical metal piece welded to it?

There is no corresponding piece on the left rear corner.

 

[Coss]

On the right rear corner, what is the vertical metal piece welded to it?

There is no corresponding piece on the left rear corner.

That's because it's an external body panel; they did say they were going to test and evaluate it; and that is a frame intended for the E Series test Elios.
I don't think it's welded on, and if you look closely on the inside corner it isn't necessarily metal. Looks a little like a composite.
Enlarge the picture to about 600% and take a closer look at it; I don't think you could stamp that internal attachment point, and it's part of a mold process.

 

[acamara]

Yes looks like the right body panel is in place but the left one is not yet.

 

[Coss]

Yes looks like the right body panel is in place but the left one is not yet.

Set in place yes, I don't think it's really attached yet. As I recall it, that was a "Show and Tell" kind of day when that picture was taken.

 

[Bert]

Do you suppose it's a hinge point for the rear wheel skirt?

 

[AriLea]

Do you suppose it's a hinge point for the rear wheel skirt?

Just looks like the quarter panel itself. With the parts-bin tag still attached.

 

[Coss]

Here is the final word on the Elio Body:

Advantages of the Elio's engineering refinements.

Elio Motors Momentum v67


We Can’t Leap Tall Buildings in a Single Bound, But, We’ll Be Fuel Efficient, Easier to Build, and Less Expensive

Imagine sitting in the theater and watching the matinee movie. Up on the big screen, Superman has just saved the day because the Man of Steel stands for truth, justice, and the American way.

Not the “Man of Aluminum.” Not the Man of “Sheet Molded Composite (SMC).”

The Man of Steel. Because steel works.

Frankly, our engineers have come to the same conclusion. SMC is pretty good.

Steel is better.

Paul Elio and E1A and Prototypes – All of the prototypes of the Elio, including the E1A E-Series engineering vehicle (center, with Paul Elio), feature SMC molded body panels, which are well suited for low-volume production.

That’s why we’re pleased to announce an important change in our overall vehicle strategy. The majority of the Elio body will be made of galvanized steel. The hood, the quarter panels, the roof, and the sides all will be made of steel, while a few select parts, such as the nose, will be made from Thermoplastic Olefins (TPOs) and possibly some SMC in select locations, like the wheel fairings.

Why the shift away from SMC? As we go through the E-Series build, we continue to learn. Our engineering team weighed the pros and cons of SMC versus galvanized steel and found that in order to meet several of our “must haves,” galvanized steel just made more sense.

“Every decision we make at Elio Motors is weighed carefully against our “must haves” – ultra-low price, fuel efficiency, safety, and made in America – and galvanized steel gives us better performance when we weigh the pros and cons against Paul Elio’s long-term vision for our company,” said Jeff Johnston, Elio Motors’ VP of Engineering. “It’s lighter and easier to manufacture and galvanized steel combats rust. In the final analysis, it just made more sense.”

All 6 Versions of The Elio – The P-Series prototypes all had tubular frame construction, but the E-Series engineering vehicles have evolved to feature unibody construction, which the Engineering and Manufacturing teams have deemed a better choice. A similar evolution is occurring with body panels from SMC to galvanized steel.

The reasons are several-fold:

First, we have identified a new steel supplier and have configured several components in a way that actually provides some weight savings. Obviously, lower weight helps to get us closer to our fuel efficiency goal of up to 84 mpg highway.

Galvanized steel is held together using welds, while SMC is typically held together using adhesives. The steel can be recycled at the end of vehicle life – in fact, the auto industry recycles approximately 18 million tons of steel annually. The adhesives are much more likely to end up in a landfill and that isn’t ideal when measured against our environmental ambitions.

Steel will also have a positive impact on the Elio’s final cost. Steel is easier to use from a manufacturing standpoint, which will mean that the Shreveport team will be able to get more done in less time. More efficient manufacturing ultimately lowers costs, helping us meet our low price “must have.”

Metal Stamping on Die – For high-volume production, steel stamping is much more cost effective for body panels than SMC. Galvanized steel also will hold tolerances better for a more precise finish.

Steel also will positively impact the vehicle’s overall quality and appearance as well as make it easier to add options. Steel has lower variation, which will aid in making the overall fit of the vehicle better. In addition, galvanized steel is more reliable for a high-quality finish and allows for a faster paint process. Again, this will align well with our cost-containment objectives.

As for options, many that will be available can be bolted and screwed to the existing steel parts. This provides better long-term quality and reliability.

As we continue to move closer to our production model, we’ll share more information on how steel will be incorporated into the vehicle. In the meantime, if you happen to watch a Superman movie, it will serve as yet another reminder that steel just makes sense.


*MSRP for non-refundable reservations only and applies only until non-refundable and refundable reservations total 65,000. Total current reservations can be seen at: eliomotors.com. MSRP excludes destination/delivery charges, taxes, title, registration, and options/installation.

 

[TCBronson]

I guess my questions after reading all of the posts is why did Elio decide to go with steel? Yes I read the announcement and still wonder why. Is it because of price? Will steel be stronger and safer in the crash tests? Easier to produce and paint than the composite panels? Is steel lighter than composite and help improve MPG? I think it will make the Elio a more substantial vehicle and not a plastic toy. No offense to fiberglass vehicle owners.