As I look out the window at the snow coming down, daydreaming about driving my Elio home next year, I think wouldn't an all wheel drive Elio be cool! Better traction in the snow! I realize it would cut down on the MPGs and up the price but it would still be cool! Maybe instead of all wheel drive, an electric rear wheel assist to help it get moving in the snow! Hey, there's a thought!
Various methods of driving the rear wheel on this vehicle have actually been mentioned by a number of members. It is possible with some creative engineering and I have no doubt someone will do it not too long after these hit the streets likely using an electric motor setup of some sort. Should be fun to watch and see how it works out.
CT --- As an old Tail dragger pilot take my word on this one. You really don't want rear wheel steering. That would make up the most unstable configuration for a 3 wheeled vehicle. Has to do with the steering slinging the CG in the same direction as the turn.
I am sure it could be done but the cost would likely not be worth it. I am betting the ELIO will do all right. But like a lot of smaller cars once it get high center bound the number of wheels driving will not make a difference.
All wheel drive is stupid for a car like this. First off, the weight of you and the motor is mostly in the front wheels creating pretty good traction. Secondly, this is a car specked for high mpg. all wheel drive doesn't only add considerable drive line loss but the added weight on this car would be very high. This car is supper light and any additional weight hurts mpg significantly. Also, the rear tire will probably not have drive tire tread. Now, adding a drive shaft and a diff tot he rear axle would be nearly impossible since there is not much clearance under the car. The drive shaft would need to go through the seats. If you go electric, you would loose space back there and you would need a huge altinator to power it. A huge altinator would put a huge drag on the motor. You should not spec a mpg car for the 5% of the time you will actually be in snow. Not to mention, with the front wheel drive config it does pretty good in snow. learn how to drive in snow properly and you will be fine. If snow is deep enough you will need rear wheel drive, then your rear wheel is probably stuck in the snow since the elio is pretty low.
Snow tires on a FWD generally perform better than AWD with all-season tires. And that's coming from someone with two AWD cars. Snow tires make AWD unstoppable!
Old thread, but given that 70% of the weight of the Elio will be on the front, I'm not sure AWD would be useful. Luckily, since there's only one wheel on the back, there's no need for planetary gear differential. Only a sun and pinion would be needed. Then a small diameter drive axle and universal joint to compensate for the rear suspension swing. The trick would be how to figure out how to make a front transfer case.
