Manufacturing Rate

[Aprilia]

I just love people who toot their own horn ........... do the research......it's not even close.

Taken from Fulley.com ......... real world mileages.

I've driven my smart from coast to coast and "always" average 40+"

And speaking of "tooting my own horn"...I always replaced the weak factory horns on my Smart's with loud compact air-horns...so larger vehicle's would get the heck out of my way!!! LOL

 

[Ty]

My brother saw a 50hp electric motor come up at auction a few weeks ago. The winning bidder had to use a forklift to get it into his truck. He estimated the weight at 650 lbs...so, good luck with that!

Not the hub motor I saw!

http://phys.org/news/2012-07-wheel-hub-motor-concept-hybrid.html

Older news but that motor doesn't weigh nearly 600#.

 

[RUCRAYZE]

I just don't see the reality of the Elio ever being a fleet vehicle for smaller municipalities...most employees would refuse to operate such a small vehicle...just is not in our cultural behavior...there's a reason the F150 is best selling vehicle in America!

IMO your recent posts are write-on. I too cannot imagine using E in any large business/governmental application. It's gonna be a hard enough sell, with no track record-long term reliability
For example, it will go to market w/o a rear window. A no brainer for an ex biker (me), might be too "risky" for a corporation to make that investment.
Is there a market for a small CAR indeed. When I lived in FLa, the water meter reader drove a pick-up!
Haven't seen mentioned and perhaps I overlooked it, will there be leasing as an alternative? give 'em out for test drives- I remember awhile back Chevy(?) built a limited edition car (EV?) that they didn't try to sell,and gave them out- high profile famous. They loved them. Chevy took them all back and crushed them- saw a vid of people crying when they were removed- and a crowed wailing when they were destroyed

 

[Ty]

I just don't see the reality of the Elio ever being a fleet vehicle for smaller municipalities...most employees would refuse to operate such a small vehicle...just is not in our cultural behavior...there's a reason the F150 is best selling vehicle in America!

I've never seen an employee refuse to operate a fleet vehicle.

 

[Ty]

IMO your recent posts are write-on. I too cannot imagine using E in any large business/governmental application. It's gonna be a hard enough sell, with no track record-long term reliability
For example, it will go to market w/o a rear window. A no brainer for an ex biker (me), might be too "risky" for a corporation to make that investment.
Is there a market for a small CAR indeed. When I lived in FLa, the water meter reader drove a pick-up!
Haven't seen mentioned and perhaps I overlooked it, will there be leasing as an alternative? give 'em out for test drives- I remember awhile back Chevy(?) built a limited edition car (EV?) that they didn't try to sell,and gave them out- high profile famous. They loved them. Chevy took them all back and crushed them- saw a vid of people crying when they were removed- and a crowed wailing when they were destroyed

Over at "an organization on base, they have several of those stupid Gem golf cart things for commuting around base... The Elio would haul just as many people and is cheaper. There is a market at this one base for about 100 Elios. (As work vehicles alone)

 

[RUCRAYZE]

Also I think the segway is beginning to find a home with law enforcement. I see them in and around airports, community patrol, and "transportation in large manufacturing plants?

 

[Aprilia]

I too cannot imagine using E in any large business/governmental application. It's gonna be a hard enough sell, with no track record-long term reliability

You're spot on in your comments!

Long term reliability & safety records will have to be established for any large business/governmental application!

 

[WilliamH]

I too cannot imagine using E in any large business/governmental application.

You're spot on in your comments!

Long term reliability & safety records will have to be established for any large business/governmental application!

Strangely enough I think these would ideal fleet cars for the GSA. Particularly in the DC area where government employees consider taking cars home as a perk. Or for that matter, any place with a large population of Civil Service employees. Of course we should make sure EPA and DOE employees set a good example by prioritizing them as firs users for the Elios. They should, after all be setting a good example.

 

[Rob Croson]

Long term reliability & safety records will have to be established for any large business/governmental application!

I'm fairly certain that EM have already stated that they have seen interest from various government agencies. However, none of them will make any form of commitment or even enter negotiations until after EM is already selling vehicles. Once that happens, that the vehicles are being made and sold, then they can start working on selling to governmental agencies.

 

[John Painter]

IMO your recent posts are write-on. I too cannot imagine using E in any large business/governmental application. It's gonna be a hard enough sell, with no track record-long term reliability
For example, it will go to market w/o a rear window. A no brainer for an ex biker (me), might be too "risky" for a corporation to make that investment.
Is there a market for a small CAR indeed. When I lived in FLa, the water meter reader drove a pick-up!
Haven't seen mentioned and perhaps I overlooked it, will there be leasing as an alternative? give 'em out for test drives- I remember awhile back Chevy(?) built a limited edition car (EV?) that they didn't try to sell,and gave them out- high profile famous. They loved them. Chevy took them all back and crushed them- saw a vid of people crying when they were removed- and a crowed wailing when they were destroyed

Maine snagged a bunch of the first gen Honda Insights (still using them) because of the fuel economy and most of the time state workers who are assigned a state vehicle drive a lot of miles alone. To me, Elio would be a strong contender when they're replaced, the opportunity for fleet sales to state governments, let alone federal, is a logical market for Elio to tap into. With high fuel economy, safety, low cost, readily available parts, and an American pedigree to boot, I think Brendan Carey would have little rest if EM makes it into production.