America Is Turning Away From Cars.

[Lil4X]

The electronics in the Elio are separate pieces, and not really part of the vehicle. The HUD they just started offering is actually powered by your phone for different parts (Maps, Nav, etc.) The Skyz system is a separate tablet - that you provide.
What electronics in the Elio are you talking about?

At present, Elio is one of the few automakers that is not offering an integrated computer as a part of the infotainment system. Yes, the Skyz system presently appears to do just that, but it is an expensive option in itself. Online upgrades may yet become a part of its capabilities - so we'll just have to wait and see.

If you dock a smartphone in your Elio as I plan to do, you'll have many of the benefits of a "smartcar" at your fingertips, but they come with a big caveat: Don't mess with them underway. Voice commands work well, but flipping between maps, music, phone, text, and an app to check your OBDII functions is going to be dangerous. I'll stick to a standalone GPS and use the phone for my podcasts.

In the future, I expect EM to follow the rest of the market, offering some pretty interesting electronics - even if they are only available through the Skyz system (or similar "radio" option) thus turning the whole vehicle into a smartphone by the time they reach the 2Gen product. I think the first app I want is one to warn me of approaching data users and have them pop up on my GPS so I can dodge the distracted drivers around me.

 

[WilliamH]

At present, Elio is one of the few automakers that is not offering an integrated computer as a part of the infotainment system. Yes, the Skyz system presently appears to do just that, but it is an expensive option in itself. Online upgrades may yet become a part of its capabilities - so we'll just have to wait and see.

If you dock a smartphone in your Elio as I plan to do, you'll have many of the benefits of a "smartcar" at your fingertips, but they come with a big caveat: Don't mess with them underway. Voice commands work well, but flipping between maps, music, phone, text, and an app to check your OBDII functions is going to be dangerous. I'll stick to a standalone GPS and use the phone for my podcasts.

In the future, I expect EM to follow the rest of the market, offering some pretty interesting electronics - even if they are only available through the Skyz system (or similar "radio" option) thus turning the whole vehicle into a smartphone by the time they reach the 2Gen product. I think the first app I want is one to warn me of approaching data users and have them pop up on my GPS so I can dodge the distracted drivers around me.

Why would Elio follow a worn out paradigm.
Paul repeatedly said that the Elio will not have all of that garbage integrated into it.
You will be able to buy "add-ons" for enhanced features.
That way, you pick the system that best suits your needs rather than the system that suits my needs.
Conversely, I don't need up to the minute traffic info where I'm located, so I won't have to pay for it.

 

[Rickb]

The new generation may be turning away from pricey,big, old school cars/SUV's with no space to park them, but likely welcome the new class of small,affordable, personal commuter vehicles (Elio, Solo, SRK) and like the option of being able to pack them with technology. The rolling smartphone/iPads of the future.

I'm old school and I like the concepts.

 

[BilgeRat]

As far as car ownership goes, there is a simple fact of life outside of cities. You need transportation, and in rural and small town America, that means owning a car. There is no Zipcar, Uber or public transportation. You have to have some kind of vehicle to get to and from work, to do your grocery shopping, or to get you to where public transportation starts. This is a fact of rural life that I don't see going away any time soon, if ever. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this one of the core markets Paul is going after?

 

[Jeff Miller]

As far as car ownership goes, there is a simple fact of life outside of cities. You need transportation, and in rural and small town America, that means owning a car. There is no Zipcar, Uber or public transportation. You have to have some kind of vehicle to get to and from work, to do your grocery shopping, or to get you to where public transportation starts. This is a fact of rural life that I don't see going away any time soon, if ever. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this one of the core markets Paul is going after?

And to add to that, many of the more rural places make the possibility of using EVs or other shorter range vehicles a challenge, if not impossible. A fuel efficient car like the Elio is a real answer to those that routinely commute over 100 miles a day.

 

[BilgeRat]

Exactly, Jeff. I found Elio when I was researching alternate fuel vehicles that would be cheap to run after I retire. A Nissan Leaf was appealing, but it wouldn't make a round trip to my inlaws in winter, and a CNG coversion would be pretty pricey. The Elio shines in the scenario you describe.