Why The Prototypes Have To Wait On The Engine

[WilliamH]

The voting system we use by it's very nature encourages polarization and nurtures a 2-party system.
There are alternatives that encourage more compromise, but they're unlikely to take hold because they would need to be implemented by that very system.
When the margins are 49-51%, nearly half your country is going to be unhappy, and most of the other half just voted for what they saw as the lesser of two evils.

These things being said, can we ditch the politics and get back to the Elio?

It was strange for me to read all the discussion about adding a fourth wheel to meet reclassification requirements - have we already forgotten the Aptera?

We should not be even consider the Aptera next to the Elio.
The Aptera was planned with a range of about 100 miles / charge - pure electric.
The Elio is planned to give about 670 miles per 8 gal. tank of gas.
So we are at 100 miles vs. 670 miles.
We are 3 - 4 hour electric charge v. 5 minute gas fill up.
That shows an entirely different goal and target audience.

 

[Rickb]

Again, I don't really care what you do, but if you choose to be unsafe or reckless or even free, I shouldn't have to pay a penalty.

Well, I do care that you quit smoking! Kudos!

So are you pro or con seatbelt and helmet laws and mandated vehicle safety requirements?

 

[CompTrex]

So are you pro or con seatbelt and helmet laws and mandated vehicle safety requirements?

Pro seat belts. Pro helmets. Pro vehicle safety.
Con requirements. Con mandates. Con people that don't act safely especially to the point that it effects me and my pocketbook.
I haven't figured out a way to eliminate government intrusion, yet 'force' people to be smart. In our society, there are, and need to be, laws to protect people from themselves, and that's a shame.
How's that for a non-answer?
I like the idea of an insurance company saying, "yes, we'll insure you, but if you have an accident and are not wearing a seat belt, you are not covered." The problem with that, is then the onus is under the un/under insured motorist clauses and that is back to effecting MY premiums.
I don't know. I can't figure it all out..

 

[Rickb]

We should not be even consider the Aptera next to the Elio.
The Aptera was planned with a range of about 100 miles / charge - pure electric.
The Elio is planned to give about 670 miles per 8 gal. tank of gas.
So we are at 100 miles vs. 670 miles.
We are 3 - 4 hour electric charge v. 5 minute gas fill up.
That shows an entirely different goal and target audience.

Vehicle design and aerodynamics to achieve their anticipated goals seem the same for both vehicles. Possibly even a few engineering requirements are similar when comparing ICE to E vehicle design. I watched the Aptera's performance run at the 2010 X-Prize competition. Awkward handling and the driver's door flew open, not a good showing and experience for the Aptera Team.

 

[Rickb]

Pro seat belts. Pro helmets. Pro vehicle safety.
Con requirements. Con mandates. Con people that don't act safely especially to the point that it effects me and my pocketbook.
I haven't figured out a way to eliminate government intrusion, yet 'force' people to be smart. In our society, there are, and need to be, laws to protect people from themselves, and that's a shame.
How's that for a non-answer?
I like the idea of an insurance company saying, "yes, we'll insure you, but if you have an accident and are not wearing a seat belt, you are not covered." The problem with that, is then the onus is under the un/under insured motorist clauses and that is back to effecting MY premiums.
I don't know. I can't figure it all out..

I understand. It is the very reason for mandates. I have used your 4th point in your previous post in the argument for seatbelt and helmet mandates on numerous occassion. I hope owners buckle up in their Elios even though seatbelts aren't mandated for motorcycles.

I'm thinking in the new legislation being drafted exempting MC endorsements and helmet requirements for autocycles they should include the clause helmets exempt, but seat belts required.

 

[Rickb]

Yes, a lot of that was discussed.
But then again there is the issue of the folks who wore full face and rolled while sliding on the pavement. They ended up as very pretty bodys in their coffin because their helmet stuck on the pavement causing their C1/2 to break. (I think it was referred to as "spinal stickstion")
On the other hand, I always wore leathers. Didn't like the idea of road rash to the bone. Cringed at the sight of kids riding wearing full face helmet, flip flops, and cutoffs. Gave up riding because of back problems.
(wish I still had the Healey, but that was over 50 years ago)

Is full face mandated or was that a choice of helmet design used by the rider?

 

[outsydthebox]

We should not be even consider the Aptera next to the Elio.
The Aptera was planned with a range of about 100 miles / charge - pure electric.
The Elio is planned to give about 670 miles per 8 gal. tank of gas.
So we are at 100 miles vs. 670 miles.
We are 3 - 4 hour electric charge v. 5 minute gas fill up.
That shows an entirely different goal and target audience.

I do agree with your reply. Although, I think CharlieG was making reference to Aptera's "change of direction." IIRC, since "getting the laws changed" (to be more favorable towards 3-wheels), was taking too long, Aptera changed direction by unveiling a 4-wheel design.

 

[ecdriver711]

I due like the Aptera body. I wonder how the new EM engine when tested completly, would due in the the Aptera body as far as mpg.

 

[Lil4X]

Yikes! I feel like I'm being whipsawed by the variety of topics in this thread!

Back to the OT for a moment, I thought I read somewhere that the Elio engine had a 120-degree crank, giving it a smooth(er) operational cycle than the 180-degree, 2-1 crank that would be more typical of a "bandsawed" 4-cylinder.

I know a 3-cyl, 2-stroke is very smooth, getting evenly-spaced firing pulses, but does this still apply to a 4-stroke?

Sure, the dynamic balance should be really good, but overlaying this with staggered power pulses makes the net result a bit less clear.

 

[WilliamH]

Is full face mandated or was that a choice of helmet design used by the rider?

Full face was a choice, put the cervical vertebrae break applied to all helmet types.
But, if you demand "brain buckets", why would you let someone ride in a pair of "cut offs" and "flip flops"?