Sondors Electric Car

[Maurtis]

I backed both

Me too. I missed the initial non-accredited offering but was able to get in on the second, small non-accredited offering. I like the way the Sondors is shaping up, but I bet the $10k base version has only 50 mile range. If they make a 150 or 200 mile option, it will be a tough call for me choosing between the Elio or Sondors as a commuter. I think the driving experience with the Elio will be more unique due to the smaller width of the cockpit, but the Sondors more useful day-to-day. We shall see, but I am still rooting for Elio!

 

[booboo]

Sonders is using an " in hub motor " ?
Does not sound smart to me. How many other EV's are using in hub motors, besides bicycles ?

 

[booboo]

Actually 2 things I am doubtful about.
1. Wheel Hub Motors: Are they viable yet? - DIY Electric Car Forums
2. Tadpole design works best with front wheel drive.
If it is powerful enough to haul 3 people, is the rear tire going to spin when there is only a driver ?
The EMV Solo is small and made for 1 so this one drive tire traction problem is somewhat mitigated ?

 

[Maurtis]

Actually 2 things I am doubtful about.
1. Wheel Hub Motors: Are they viable yet? - DIY Electric Car Forums
2. Tadpole design works best with front wheel drive.
If it is powerful enough to haul 3 people, is the rear tire going to spin when there is only a driver ?
The EMV Solo is small and made for 1 so this one drive tire traction problem is somewhat mitigated ?

1) No one in that thread has driven a Protean powered vehicle. Maybe Protean was able to do it right and minimize the impact of the extra unsprung weight, seal reliability, and cooling. Or maybe it was a short sighted choice to save money. We will not really know until they get at least some rolling prototypes for testing and (hopefully) test drives.

AFAIK, there are no production vehicles that use hub motors. I know they make conversion kits, but I do not think there are OEM manufacturers using them in passenger vehicles.

2) Agreed, I really wish they had gone front wheel drive. I do see how the single rear wheel drive saves on money and complexity, but seems to limit the use quite a bit. The Polaris Slingshot gets away with a good deal of power for a lightweight vehicle and a single driven rear wheel, but it is a wiiiiiide rear wheel and the vehicle is intended for good weather only. At least, I would assume it is not meant for rain or snow since it has no roof.

I think the key here for Sondors will be the motor controller limiting the amps to the motor at low speed and some pretty clever traction control logic for rain and snow.


What really bugs me is on every progress post on the Sondors FB page people talk about how much more quickly the Sondors is coming together than the Elio.

From what I can see, Elio was founded in 2009 (according to Wikipedia) and the P2 was unveiled in February 2010. So about a year to get a rolling prototype out. Sondors was founded September 2016 and mid-July 2017 they are still working on the first prototype. People are just assuming the first Sondors prototype will be E1C quality and nearly production ready. It took Elio a LOT of engineering hours to get the body/chassis/suspension refined.

I think that if both the Elio and Sondors make it to market, that the additional years of engineering in the Elio will shine through. But if it never makes it to market, all that engineering was for nothing.

 

[wizard of ahs]

Yeah, I couldn't swing both unfortunately...

I've got a solo reservation too !!! First horse out the gate gets the $$$

 

[Elio Amazed]

1) No one in that thread has driven a Protean powered vehicle. Maybe Protean was able to do it right and minimize the impact of the extra unsprung weight, seal reliability, and cooling. Or maybe it was a short sighted choice to save money. We will not really know until they get at least some rolling prototypes for testing and (hopefully) test drives.

AFAIK, there are no production vehicles that use hub motors. I know they make conversion kits, but I do not think there are OEM manufacturers using them in passenger vehicles.

2) Agreed, I really wish they had gone front wheel drive. I do see how the single rear wheel drive saves on money and complexity, but seems to limit the use quite a bit. The Polaris Slingshot gets away with a good deal of power for a lightweight vehicle and a single driven rear wheel, but it is a wiiiiiide rear wheel and the vehicle is intended for good weather only. At least, I would assume it is not meant for rain or snow since it has no roof.

I think the key here for Sondors will be the motor controller limiting the amps to the motor at low speed and some pretty clever traction control logic for rain and snow.


What really bugs me is on every progress post on the Sondors FB page people talk about how much more quickly the Sondors is coming together than the Elio.

From what I can see, Elio was founded in 2009 (according to Wikipedia) and the P2 was unveiled in February 2010. So about a year to get a rolling prototype out. Sondors was founded September 2016 and mid-July 2017 they are still working on the first prototype. People are just assuming the first Sondors prototype will be E1C quality and nearly production ready. It took Elio a LOT of engineering hours to get the body/chassis/suspension refined.

I think that if both the Elio and Sondors make it to market, that the additional years of engineering in the Elio will shine through. But if it never makes it to market, all that engineering was for nothing.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1462709754027750

 

[Coss]

Dam, got part way into the video, and it quit.
It says "Video Unavailable"
"Sorry, this video could not be played"

It looked good until that. Oh well

 

[floydv]

That was actually quite impressive, especially the frozen breakaway test and the alpine descent simulation. Thanks for posting.

 

[W. WIllie]

I watch it all the way through also.
Looks very impressive.

 

[Elio Amazed]

"Things are continuing to move along nicely.
The team is prepping the exterior of the car for primer.
During this processes, the car is sprayed with a polyester film and sanded down by hand."