I'm going to be nearly 71 by the time the Elio rolls out on time. It it rolls out any later I don't know if I'll be able to drive, let alone afford a new car, even a cheapie. In the meantime my aging and increasingly thirsty Subaru keeps sucking in dollars. The longer I have to keep it running, the worse for me.
When I signed up for Elio, I thought, gee, I can go a year. Now it will be 2.25 years or more ... and I'm not sure I can get by til then. Or even live til then. So yes, this news is very disappointing on a personal level.
But in another sense, it doesn't change a thing. I think the Elio is very important in a variety of ways, all worth supporting whether or not I ever get my car. It is important socially. If it succeeds, it may even help us see that moderation and efficiency are OK, and that we don't have to be owned by enormous vehicles all the time. It will create jobs, not just for the Elio folks, but for the people who can suddenly afford distant commutes. It will put more money into the economy by reducing the amount spent keeping klunkers going. It reduces our carbon footprint and our dependence on oil.
These are reasons to keep cheering for Elio, not screaming "fraud, fraud." That's just having a public tantrum because you're disappointed, and accomplishes nothing.
Yes, this is a setback. But I sure wouldn't call it intentional fraud.