Elios Mileage Range Vs Storage

[Trusting]

I'll leave that 8 gallon gas tank alone only because reducing it's size to 4-5 is not much space gained. Remember ELIO is an "and" vehicle for those days you're driving alone. If I want to save weight and gain more mileage, then I simply put 4-5 gallons of gas instead of a full tank, problem solved!

Yes, "problem solved!". You end up with 3 or 4 gallons worth of wasted gas tank space, when you could have had some much needed extra trunk space.

And why are so many people resigned to simply drive their other vehicle. Wouldn't it be better to be able to use the Elio more often. I don't know about you guys but I'm buying one so I don't have to drive the SUV every day, and like most people the car doesn't just carry me, but also my wife and all the crap she hauls around, plus some groceries on the way home, etc. etc..... It's a small car but it still needs to be able to carry a reasonable load.

 

[slinches]

By filling up to 4 gallons instead of 8, you'll only be saving ~12lbs of weight on average. That's less than 1% of the vehicle + driver weight. Plus you'd need to stop for gas twice as often and that added time is probably more valuable than the benefit from the very slight improvement in mileage you'd get.

 

[Gas-Powered Awesome]

With a full 8 gallon tank you're carrying around a lot of extra weight and that translates into lower gas mileage.

The first generation Honda Insight - the most economical car ever - has a 10 gallon tank. Honda also decided not to prioritize carrying crap over getting great range.

By filling up to 4 gallons instead of 8, you'll only be saving ~12lbs of weight on average.

While I agree with you, it's actually 24 lb. Gasoline is ~6 lb/gallon. I'm a race car driver, I have these things memorized.

 

[ehwatt]

By filling up to 4 gallons instead of 8, you'll only be saving ~12lbs of weight on average. That's less than 1% of the vehicle + driver weight. Plus you'd need to stop for gas twice as often and that added time is probably more valuable than the benefit from the very slight improvement in mileage you'd get.

I'll leave that 8 gallon gas tank alone only because reducing it's size to 4-5 is not much space gained. Remember ELIO is an "and" vehicle for those days you're driving alone. If I want to save weight and gain more mileage, then I simply put 4-5 gallons of gas instead of a full tank, problem solved!

A gallon (US) is 231 cubic inches and gasoline weighs a little over 6 pounds per gallon, depending on temperature of course.

 

[slinches]

It's only a 24lb difference when the tank is full (8gal vs 4gal). Assuming you wait until the tank is near empty to add fuel, the tank will on average be half full, hence the 4gal vs 2gal comparison.

 

[Grumpy Cat]

Realize you are unlikely to get 650 miles on a tank.
You will probably not get 84 MPG. That's maximum MPG at steady-state highway speed.
A more realistic MPG is probably 60-70 MPG in mixed driving, so 500-ish miles/tank is more likely.
I'm A-OK with that.

My commute is 70 miles, one way. My 2012 Focus is rated for 37mpg and I've been averaging 37.8. If I don't need to make any around town trips, my average is closer to 40mpg.

 

[Ty]

I hear diet is the cheapest way to save weight in the car...

 

[3wheelin]

Yes, "problem solved!". You end up with 3 or 4 gallons worth of wasted gas tank space, when you could have had some much needed extra trunk space.

And why are so many people resigned to simply drive their other vehicle. Wouldn't it be better to be able to use the Elio more often. I don't know about you guys but I'm buying one so I don't have to drive the SUV every day, and like most people the car doesn't just carry me, but also my wife and all the crap she hauls around, plus some groceries on the way home, etc. etc..... It's a small car but it still needs to be able to carry a reasonable load.

Well that's the whole point of the 8 gallon gas tank, so you can use it more often w/ less fill ups in between! And tell her to cut the "crap" and only bring what she needs! I'll be driving my ELIO mostly solo on long and short trips so the rear seats will be folded down all the time to accommodate my own "crap". Besides, I reserved for her own ELIO so I really don't have to worry about her. I might even convert mine into a single seater by removing the back seat and build a custom storage bin in it's place.

 

[3wheelin]

The first generation Honda Insight - the most economical car ever - has a 10 gallon tank. Honda also decided not to prioritize carrying crap over getting great range.

While I agree with you, it's actually 24 lb. Gasoline is ~6 lb/gallon. I'm a race car driver, I have these things memorized.

Every bit counts!

 

[3wheelin]

I hear diet is the cheapest way to save weight in the car...

Problem solved!