Elio Going Electric?

[BigWarpGuy]

I you look at the bottom of the Elio Motors website they say all the pictures are of the gas powered prototype. To the best of my knowledge they do not have anything done physically yet on the EV version. They said they had Roush look at it and they determined a good bit of the engineering for the Elio could be re-used. Obviously the drive train is the biggest change. I hope they consider an in-the-wheel type motor and leave the current engine space for an additional range battery option. 150 miles won't cut it.

I think an in-hub motor would give more room for an range extender or more batteries. or have the back wheel powered which would give more room up front for batteries or a range extender?

I wonder if they could build both? the gas powered one seems cheaper than the electric one. I would rather have the gas powered one.

I wonder if one could install a small hydrogen fuel cell in the front powering the in-hub motors? (I am on a hydrogen fuel cell 'kick' - read about its development and how they are improving both the fuel cell devices and hydrogen production).

Perhaps just a drawing of an electric version? no grill since it is electric?

 

[johnsnownw]

I think an in-hub motor would give more room for an range extender or more batteries. or have the back wheel powered which would give more room up front for batteries or a range extender?

I wonder if they could build both? the gas powered one seems cheaper than the electric one. I would rather have the gas powered one.

I wonder if one could install a small hydrogen fuel cell in the front powering the in-hub motors? (I am on a hydrogen fuel cell 'kick' - read about its development and how they are improving both the fuel cell devices and hydrogen production).

Perhaps just a drawing of an electric version? no grill since it is electric?

In hub motors are not a particularly good choice for vehicles:

Hub Motors for All-Electric Vehicles Still Have Some Technological Challenges to Overcome

A look at the advantages of hub motors, as well as the disadvantages and how engineers plan to overcome them.

www.machinedesign.com

This article was from 11 years ago, still haven't solved it.

The Elio doesn't allow enough room to fit an H2 tank large enough to provide enough range to make sense, and you'd still need a battery pack to aid the FC. Of course, FCs and tanks would dramatically raise the price...and you'd have trouble using it outside of California (you'd have trouble using it inside of California for that matter).

 

[Johnny Acree]

What will the Elio E dashboard look like,,,oh and where will the charge port be?

 

[grampi]

I think an electric version of the Elio is a stupid idea. There's no need to create the headaches and impracticalities of an EV with a vehicle that's so efficient when gas powered. The expense is another issue, considering an electric version would double the price. No thanks, just drop in a 1.5 liter Toyota Yaris engine with a 5 speed manual transmission and hang on! And I bet it would still get over 60 MPG!

 

[84mpg]

I think an electric version of the Elio is a stupid idea. There's no need to create the headaches and impracticalities of an EV with a vehicle that's so efficient when gas powered. The expense is another issue, considering an electric version would double the price. No thanks, just drop in a 1.5 liter Toyota Yaris engine with a 5 speed manual transmission and hang on! And I bet it would still get over 60 MPG!

You need to take a look a this project.... if you haven't seen it yet >> My Elio Alternate Project Is Underway.

 

[Ray O]

I wonder if Elio goes electric could we get the federals tax credit. That would effectively reduce the cost. Plus for around town it would be more efficient than spending what these high cost electric car go for. Keep your gas car for trips.

 

[AriLea]

I wonder if Elio goes electric could we get the federals tax credit. That would effectively reduce the cost. Plus for around town it would be more efficient than spending what these high cost electric car go for. Keep your gas car for trips.

EV's seem to all get the full 7,500 credit

Tax Incentives

Find out how you can save money through Federal tax incentives on your purchase of a new plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle!

www.fueleconomy.gov

WHO
All-electric and plug-in hybrid cars purchased new in or after 2010 may be eligible for a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500. The credit amount will vary based on the capacity of the battery used to power the vehicle. State and/or local incentives may also apply.

Small neighborhood electric vehicles do not qualify for this credit, but they may qualify for another credit.

(WHEN)Phaseout
The credit begins to phase out for vehicles at the beginning of the second calendar quarter after the manufacturer has sold 200,000 eligible plug-in electric vehicles (i.e., plug-in hybrids and EVs) in the United States as counted from January 1, 2010. IRS will announce when a manufacturer exceeds this production figure and will announce the subsequent phase out schedule (Plug-In Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit Quarterly Sales).

(HOW)Claiming the Credit
Fill out Form 8936Adobe Acrobat Icon, Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit.

For vehicles acquired for personal use, report the credit from Form 8936Adobe Acrobat Icon on the appropriate line of your Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax ReturnAdobe Acrobat Icon.

For vehicles purchased in 2010 or later, this credit can be used toward the alternative minimum tax (AMT).

If the qualifying vehicle is purchased for business use, the credit for the business use of an electric vehicle is reported on Form 3800Adobe Acrobat Icon, General Business Credit.

 

[Sonoran Sam]

I saw something on the internet that Elon Musk might be interested in purchasing Elio Motors and doing an electric 3 wheeler??
I have no idea if this was supposed to be a joke or "fake news" or what.
I am curious if anyone else caught wind of this.

 

[AriLea]

I saw something on the internet that Elon Musk might be interested in purchasing Elio Motors and doing an electric 3 wheeler??
I have no idea if this was supposed to be a joke or "fake news" or what.
I am curious if anyone else caught wind of this.

Most likely just conjecture. Other talk stated this;

Elon basically denied Sandy Munro's request for help on 3 wheel vehicle projects (Nobe, arcimoto and another) Elon responded that 3 wheelers were not safe enough. https://www.cybertruckownersclub.com/forum/threads/elon-musk-and-paul-elio.1761/
Also see;
https://insideevs.com/news/457993/elon-musk-crashed-arcimoto-three-wheel-ev/

If that response was true, Musk does not easily change his mind, once locked on something.

In a way, that is a gift to any future 3 wheel EV makers. Musk is one of the few that has the impulsiveness make a sudden, all-in commitment.

Another issue, Tesla doesn't have to buy the Elio to build one. They wouldn't want to take on the debt and bad press. The Elio as a product is not indicative of thier current style pallet. Tesla very much is like Apple in that way. It needs to look 'Tesla-ish'.

Finally, tall is very popular with Tesla. And tall is not what makes the Elio freeway ready. A Tesla redesign of the Elio as a tall and statuesque vehicle would cross beyond thier product safety pre-concieved perceptions for the commuter venue, and what the widest base of US Tesla customers tend to gravitate toward. (for now..)

Lastly, Tesla has enjoyed wide support of thier relatively expensive products. They absolutely will not undermine the peception of expensive-but-worth-it.

Just my hunch on this one.

 

[RSchneider]

I saw something on the internet that Elon Musk might be interested in purchasing Elio Motors and doing an electric 3 wheeler??
I have no idea if this was supposed to be a joke or "fake news" or what.
I am curious if anyone else caught wind of this.

This is big news. On the other hand, when Elon farts, the world knows it within a minute. I can't find any information that he is interested in Elio and it sure is not on his Twitter feed. As we all know, he announces everything on that platform before telling anyone else. Then, we should be depressed as Elon is anti-ice and that would mean only an Elio EV. I am thinking that when Paul sent out that questionaire about the EV version, that 99% of you were for it. Thus Paul showed that to Elon and that's when Elon gave the secret right eyebrow raise to show that it's a done deal. I would suggest that we all buy up Elio stock right now as it'll be going up really fast. For anyone that is on his Twitter feed, ask him about your reservations and what is he going to do.