The Elio Engine

[Ekh]

There are small delivery vans all over the East and in Europe. An Elio engine, if it were inexpensive enough, would work well for all those applications.
How about using one in a Zamboni? For airplanes you'd have to turbocharge it to be competitive, but if you've priced Rotax engines lately, you'll see that it could be done, maybe even profitably. Maybe change the exhaust manifold, too, which would increase the HP rating somewhat.

 

[electroken]

I'm curious as to what other markets. Don't get me wrong, a small 3 cylinder engine is simple and awesome, but it limits your market. For example in the U.S., it won't go in any other cars.

Overseas, they have such fuel efficient cars that I don't think this engine would do much for them. Possibly other types of off road vehicles?

Look at the Suzuki G10 (3 cyl) engine. You really don't see those anywhere other than in Suzukis/Geos....

I've seen lots of landscaping and smaller construction equipment with 3-cylinder diesel engines displacing about 1 liter. The guy cutting the grass outside my office window is using one of them. He also has two different fuel containers on his trailer because that one mower is diesel, while the rest of his stuff runs on gasoline. His life gets a bit simpler with an Elio engine in that big mower.

 

[NSTG8R]

I've seen lots of landscaping and smaller construction equipment with 3-cylinder diesel engines displacing about 1 liter. The guy cutting the grass outside my office window is using one of them. He also has two different fuel containers on his trailer because that one mower is diesel, while the rest of his stuff runs on gasoline. His life gets a bit simpler with an Elio engine in that big mower.

Better yet. Throw a couple 48" lawn mower decks on either side of an Elio and mow in air conditioned comfort! Probably cheaper than a good zero-turn mower too!

 

[WilliamH]

OK. I'll play.
How about fixed mount (non-mobile) units?
How about a backup generator?
Or maybe a pump engine on a Type 4 Forestry Engine?

 

[AriLea]

You know, the point isn't what can you do with an Elio motor, but "What can it do better than other engines in it's class?". The engine will be clean enough for California specs, and it will have very nice power and torque profiles. The price will be low, or hopefully competitive with other comparable engines.
I'm not sure the engine HP spec will be unique in the range, but maybe it is for that weight/size. The comparable quality is going to be good as well.

Anyway, Elio found there was nothing comparable for the application and made their own accordingly. Therefore, this will likely be true for other applications as well. It may be a lot of current city-cars and mini-trucks will be candidates. This will likely enable new vehicle designs as well.

It would seem that this unique engine would take advantaged for some of the other uses as we have noted previously. It will displace some competitors there as well.

How many engines do they have to sell to make this worth-while? I don't think there will be a problem.

My other question is, will new vehicles using an Elio engine actually compete with the Elio overseas? Probably a little, although in that weight class these are usually urban speed applications. You need to cut the weight to a tandem three-wheeler like the Elio to reach full high-speed drivability.

So what countries have highway systems as primary transportation comparable to the USA? Canada, Mexico, ... .. and?
??China, Brazil, Russia??

Those countries will have a market to use the Elio engine with-in an Elio spec vehicle.

 

[Sethodine]

Small off-road vehicles (in the same size class as the aforementioned mini-trucks) would also benifit from the low-end torque of the Elio engine. And in places like France, where they are trying to eliminate diesel engines due to smog concerns, the "little diesel" (as the Elio engine was affectionatly dubbed) could be a viable option as well.

Or how about a replica Renault FT-17? The original only had a 35hp engine, so 55 horses should be plenty for a lighter-weight replica (as in, lighter than the original 7 tons)

 

[acamara]

Once the 3 cylinder 55 hp engine is fitted with a Turbo. I believe the 3 cylinder nay sayers may be whistling to a different tune.

What could a turbo to for this 55 hp Engine? 25% 33% I know little of turbos so wonder if our knowledgeable Members could discuss this.

 

[Horn]

Once the 3 cylinder 55 hp engine is fitted with a Turbo. I believe the 3 cylinder nay sayers may be whistling to a different tune.

I don't think anyone here is a 3 cyl nay sayer.

 

[Sethodine]

Once the 3 cylinder 55 hp engine is fitted with a Turbo. I believe the 3 cylinder nay sayers may be whistling to a different tune.

What could a turbo to for this 55 hp Engine? 25% 33% I know little of turbos so wonder if our knowledgeable Members could discuss this.

The thing is, the Elio engine has a 12:1 compression ratio, which is not the best for fitting a turbo onto in the first place, so we'll just have to see what the engineers come up with. I've read around here of people guessing at a 5hp bump.

 

[acamara]

I don't think anyone here is a 3 cyl nay sayer.

You have that right. The Nay sayers I was referring to are the ppl saying that the 3 cylinder is too small to make the Elio a viable choice.