{"id":208528,"date":"2021-09-09T10:28:31","date_gmt":"2021-09-09T14:28:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thedetroitbureau.com\/?p=208528"},"modified":"2021-09-09T10:42:12","modified_gmt":"2021-09-09T14:42:12","slug":"resurrection-of-elio-motors-begins-with-electrified-version-of-three-wheeler","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/2021\/09\/resurrection-of-elio-motors-begins-with-electrified-version-of-three-wheeler\/","title":{"rendered":"Resurrection of Elio Motors Begins with Electrified Version of Three-Wheeler"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This story has been updated with new information.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All-American dreams die slowly, and Paul Elio\u2019s \u2014 Elio Motors \u2014 clings to life as he attempts to nurse his three-wheeled car company back to health. Now the vehicles are powered by an all-electric powertrain with a \u201ctargeted\u201d starting price of $14,900.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Paul
Paul Elio, CEO of Elio Motors, is mounting a comeback for his three-wheeler, scrapping the gas engine for an all-electric powertrain.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

“We never quit working to make this dream happen,”\u00a0said\u00a0Paul Elio, CEO of Elio Motors, in a press release.\u00a0“The market has changed, and investors and consumers are looking for innovative, environmentally conscious, low-cost electric vehicles, and we have a great option that will appeal to a very large underserved market.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elio, who also heads his own engineering firm, formed the company in 2009 looking to provide inexpensive, but reliable vehicles. The\u00a0original Elio was a three-wheeled autocycle<\/a><\/u><\/strong>\u00a0powered by a 1.0-liter, 3-cylinder gasoline engine. Initially, it was slated to cost $6,800, later rising to nearly $7,500. An email to Elio Motors had not yet been returned as of publication of this story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The powerplant produced 70 horsepower, offering fuel economy as high as 84 mpg, but it was formally rated at 49 mpg by the EPA. The car, which was to be built at a former General Motors plant in Shreveport, Louisiana, reportedly ran from 0 to 60 mph in about 10 seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it never got to full production, building several prototypes. While many assumed it quietly shuttered its operations<\/a><\/u><\/strong>, the company \u2014 once based in Detroit, but now headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona \u2014 is apparently mounting a comeback, pinning its hopes on a new electric powertrain and the rise of other three-wheeled vehicles from Arcimoto, Aptera and more to add legitimacy to the effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new Elio<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Using what appears to be the same shell, the front-wheel drive three-wheeler reportedly enjoys a 150-mile range and a top speed of 110 mph. It features the Elio Safety Management System that includes three airbags, unibody frame, anti-lock braking system and electronic stability control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Elio
The new model will travel 150 miles on a charge, the company says on its website.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The vehicle\u2019s 160.5 inches long with a 110-inch wheelbase. It\u2019s 75.5 inches wide and 54.2 inches long. Most of the width comes from the front wheels and suspension as it\u2019s a 2+1 set up like most three-wheelers in the segment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can handle two passengers, who sit one behind the other, just like on a motorcycle. This differs from some other three-wheelers where driver and passenger sit side-by-side. According to the company\u2019s website, the new version will be available in rocket silver, sour apple, creamsicle, red hot, true blue, licorice and marshmallow. It will also come with a 3-year\/36,000-mile warranty<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company, according to its website, plans to develop a network of \u201cstand-alone Retail Centers in the top 60 markets across the country.\u201d Those sites reportedly will be located in 32 states, with at least one store in each region of the country, and they\u2019re expected to have a unique feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Elio retail experience won\u2019t follow the crowd, but it\u2019s certain to attract one. Think \u2018genius-bar\u2019 as opposed to in-your-face plaid jacket high pressure,\u201d the company claims on its website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Special \u201cfinancing\u201d method<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Elio
The new electric model comes with a “targeted” starting price of $14,900.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

While the company will take a full cash payment, it\u2019s proposed a different way of allowing owners to \u201cfinance\u201d<\/a><\/u><\/strong>the vehicle: a credit card.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The plan allows you to pay for your Elio over time when you charge fuel. Each time, there will be an extra charge equal to twice the fuel amount that automatically applies to the vehicle price. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThink of it this way: For about what you have been paying to fuel your existing vehicle, you can fuel your Elio and buy it too!\u201d the company said on the website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plenty of competition<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first issue the company faces is that there are several electric three-wheelers already or nearing availability, including Arcimoto, Aptera,\u00a0Electra Meccanica<\/a><\/u><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Daymak’s Spiritus<\/a><\/u><\/strong>, plus others, like Sondors, which has a prototype, but isn\u2019t on the road yet.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arcimoto, which is based in Oregon, is the most like the Elio, in that passengers sit one behind the other. Unlike the Elio, it\u2019s not completely enclosed, but it also offers a delivery variants that makes it appealing, especially for last-mile or local delivery needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Aptera
Aptera unveiled its new solar electric vehicle in 2020. It gets 45 miles of range from the panels.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Launched earlier this year, it reports a top speed of 75 mph and a \u201ccity range\u201d of 102 miles. Starting at $17,900, they\u2019re currently they\u2019re available in Washington, California, Florida and, of course, Oregon with \u201cmore states to come.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aptera roared back to life last year<\/a><\/u><\/strong> with a new formula: solar panels to help with charging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith Aptera\u2019s Never Charge technology, you are driven by the power of the sun. Our built-in solar array keeps your battery pack topped off and anywhere you want to go, you just go,\u201d said Co-Founder Chris Anthony in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Never Charge is built into every Aptera, designed to capture enough sunlight to travel more than 11,000 miles annually in most parts of the U.S. Aside from the solar cells dotting the top side of the vehicle, the Aptera vehicle is made of lightweight composites, allowing its unique body shape to slip through the air with an unheard-of drag coefficient (Cd) of .13. The result is about 45 miles of range without plugging in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s powered by two liquid-cooled electric motors, the Aptera races from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds, topping out at 110 mph. All-wheel drive and vectorized torque control provide the driver with plenty of stability and excelling handling, the company claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pricing is between $25,900 and $46,900, depending on which spec you choose. Some of the models have already sold out, the company said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Daymak
Production on the Spiritus is slated to begin in 2023, according to Daymak officials.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Change is not a guarantee of success<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to competition, the company faces other headwinds as it attempts a comeback, including making the wrong choice initially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c(It\u2019s) what they should have been all along,\u201d said Sam Abuelsamid, principal auto analyst, Guidehouse Insights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abuelsamid wasn\u2019t particularly optimistic about the shift to an electric powertrain, \u201cparticularly in North America. There\u2019s just not much of a market for a vehicle of that type. Maybe in India \u2026 in India and Southeast Asia there is a lot more demand for this type of vehicle. If they were going to sell it there, they might be able to find a market for it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, even that comes with issues as he notes it would be unlikely it could be built in the U.S. \u2014 it\u2019s still scheduled to be produced in the Shreveport plant \u2014 and still be profitable. Still, there is a bit of hope, he suggested, if expectations are scaled back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThese guys have been kicking around for a long time. They\u2019re like (Aptera), which was around for a while about 10 years ago and is now back again,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u201cI think there\u2019s a niche for those types of vehicles, but I don\u2019t expect it to ever be a huge market in North America. It\u2019s got to coexist with so many other large vehicles. People here don\u2019t want small vehicles, they want larger ones, like SUVs. People who are into motorcycles who might be interested. Europe is another potential market where you have a chance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u201cold\u201d Elio<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While dormant, the gas-powered model may not be entirely dead \u2014 it\u2019s now the Elio-G and there\u2019s a chance it could return.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Elio Motors secured more 65,000 reservations for the (Elio-G) gas-powered vehicle, proving the demand for its unique styling and design.\u00a0Once the electric version is produced, Elio plans to potentially launch the Elio-G for consumers looking for a gas-powered alternative.\u00a0There is no word on whether or not those reservation holders are still eligible for either the electric- or gas-powered versions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

All-American dreams die slowly, and Paul Elio\u2019s \u2014 Elio Motors \u2014 clings to life as he attempts to nurse his three-wheeled car company back to health. Now the vehicles are powered by an all-electric powertrain with a starting price of $14,900. Find out more at TheDetroitBureau.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4389,"featured_media":90898,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,8,5,10,9],"tags":[1325,2577,2579,395,2578],"make":[],"post-state":[],"category_old":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/208528"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4389"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=208528"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/208528\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":208538,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/208528\/revisions\/208538"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/90898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=208528"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=208528"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=208528"},{"taxonomy":"make","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/make?post=208528"},{"taxonomy":"post-state","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-state?post=208528"},{"taxonomy":"category_old","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thedetroitbureau.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/category_old?post=208528"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}