At What Point

[RUCRAYZE]

Good article. This one caught my eye;

Draft at your own risk A "draft-assisted" auto-stop involves tailgating a semitruck. By taking advantage of the draft generated in the truck's wake, wind resistance is markedly reduced for the hypermiler's car. "This is particularly dangerous," said Thomas, "as you must travel dangerously close to the 18-wheelers for the technique's full effect."

I was doing this several years ago. I had a CB radio and was listening and another trucker radioed to the truck I was drafting, "You got a hemorroid on your arse". Don't think truckers like this technique.

sure not- they can't see ya!

 

[BlioKart]

I confess to hypermiling: long coasts to the stop light, going into neutral when going downhill, gradual slow down going uphill, shifting at lowest speed possible, limit rpm's, etc. It drives people crazy and may even be un-American.

http://www.edmunds.com/fuel-economy/hypermiling-quest-for-ultimate-fuel-economy.html

Same here I use these techniques

 

[Kuda]

Snipped: But you know Paul has already thought strongly about the production volume issue, he wants that high, and so he will keep the price low. This IS the biggest fight with the investors into the future.

Investor angst will be offset by expansion to other markets.
My guess in year yrs 3-4. Beginning w/the Americas then
Europe/Asia..............remember he was offered a check
to build 125K units in China in 2008(?)...............

 

[AriLea]

Investor angst will be offset by expansion to other markets.
My guess in year yrs 3-4. Beginning w/the Americas then
Europe/Asia..............remember he was offered a check
to build 125K units in China in 2008(?)...............

Mexico and Canada might involve assembly in those countries, which eases the expansion in the US yet still sells the 'content' from US suppliers. China would have had requirements that give them leverage in the market even before 'Contental Elio' in the US got going. At this point however, it will be a bit harder for China to jump ahead into it. Still, I hope China is made a much later 4th' Market after US, Canada, Other Americas, and Europe.

IMHO, It's not capacity or technology that limits production from China. Currently it's the trust in the product quality and market longevity, the branding.

 

[CheeseheadEarl]

China will be selling Elio knockoffs as soon as they can steal blueprints or get their mitts on one to reverse engineer.

 

[Kuda]

Snipped: IMHO, It's not capacity or technology that limits production from China. Currently it's the trust in the product quality and market longevity, the branding.

Not to mention 'knock-offs', 'clones', 'counterfeits'...............

 

[zelio]

Why let Paul know you are speculating and willing to pay more? He seems to be firm on $6800 and confident that he can do it...........so am I.

Me too. In fact, at my income level, those goals are vital to my being able to get my Elio. I already have to add on destination charges, registration and licensing (not tax), and am hoping to be able to get auto and pop out back windows. I am grateful for the current delay because it allows me to save that much more money toward the purchase of my Elio. :-) Z

 

[zelio]

I really believe the first year base price is going to be in the $6800 area and the extras and add ons is where the $$ cha-ching $$ will come into play. I'm unsure if we will see a crash rating. Sure Paul wants them tested as do we, but are the results from a private testing group going to be at the same standards? If the mpg is anywhere close to 84 I think everyone will be happy.

Actually PE has stated the testing will be done by the same people who test for the government car tests. Otherwise, why bother because people will simply undervalue the results. :-) Z

 

[Husker1]

Actually PE has stated the testing will be done by the same people who test for the government car tests. Otherwise, why bother because people will simply undervalue the results. Z

I agree but I never saw where Paul had said that. All I read was that they were going to have it privately tested. But now I don't remember where that was so I could be entirely wwwrr..wrong altogether. There I said it. Just don't tell my wife

 

[RKing]

Paul Elio is an engineer. Those numbers are his design criteria(84MPG,6800$,5*), if he doesn't meet them he will not have been successful in his own mind. Also he has taken this "in hand" and is going to follow the plan and engineering/fincianial models used to get this far. An engineer does not willingly comply with the "bean counters" who will want to price it to "what the market will bear". Again ,he will follow the "program", which will definately include price increases as dictated by content and inflation. He has a profit margin in mind and pricing will be driven by that number. On MPG, weight,CD,engine design are the primary players. All a part of the design, 55HP in a sub 1500 pound car with good areo will do it. Now that isn't to say everyone will get thatMPG, depends on your conditions and how you drive it. I always get rated MPG or better and I do not do the hypermile thing, just smooth ,and aware driving. On the price, I can see that he may have to yield some to inflation over the development time. That being said I feel he will hold the base at 6800$ for the first year, options will "make it up". Mine will be a BASE car, that's what I want, simple and efficient. He will have met his personally established goals and the model ,I'm sure, allows for price corrections as production continues. That's my opinion, based on being an engineer with a major car company and the frustrations of dealing with "stupid wasteful C**P" every day!
Crash testing is a pointless undertaking to me, get hit by a full size pickup and your toast. That is the same for any small car. The requirements to make a 5* rating are known and can be incorporated into the design. I drive my full size truck as if it were a motorcycle and taught my kids the same way, do not depend on hardware to protect you. I'll drive the Elio like my K75 and be a happy camper regardless of the "gov safety rating", but I know he will achive it. I bet it already has in computer simulation, many times during the design evoloution. Sorry about the spelling ,as I said I'm an engineer and this doesn't have spell check appearently.