84 mpg $7300

.......Henry's IM electric's are in production...now  !

I have followed this scam for a year plus, all the people that plunked down deposits got was a Tee shirt and a statement that someday they'll fulfill the thousands of orders, there is no plant and only a few rolling cars for show purposes. They keep pushing back production dates because there is no factory. Do a detailed read on Elio.

• Manufacturing facility is former General Motors Hummer H3 facility in Shreveport, Louisiana.  Nope there's no production or even the beginnings of a factory, just an empty former GM plant in Shreveport, La.
• Estimated that upwards of 1,500 direct US jobs will be created in Shreveport.
• An additional 1,500 jobs from the supply base, Elio Motors corporate, as well as sales and service once full production is underway.
• This has gone on   since 2013
• SEE  http://www.crowdfundinsider.co...-close-february-1st/

I bet Steve at SAS is backing this one . . .  Sounds like his MO.

El Frazoo posted:

I bet Steve at SAS is backing this one . . .  Sounds like his MO.

If he is then he has perfected the scam. Elio has taken non-refundable deposits from more than 50,000 people.

The thought of 100 mph in that is just scary!

So you could plunk down a $7,300, non-refundable deposit (are these people DAFT?) and then lose it, or you could save a bit longer and get an Ariel Atom and really have a lot of fun!

Me?  I'd spring for the Ariel and never look back.

That Elio looks like a viable concept but I don't think it could be done for $7300. Maybe $12k or so? 

I agree with Alan: If they've really taken 60,000 deposits and have no plant then they ought to be prosecuted. 

There's $ome 60,000 Idiot$ out there who believe in, awww never mind PT Barnum said it best.

By Q1 2016 he claimed to have lost $54 million already. On...something.

Jalopnik article from March, 2016.

Something else to consider. Elio claims 100 mph and 84 mpg.

Here's another vehicle from a company with some experience in fuel-efficient design. This also does around 100 mph, weighs just 426 pounds, and is quite a bit more streamlined than the Elio.

But the best that Honda's engineers can do is about 60 mpg.

Tucker the car builder was in the same trouble and got closed down by propaganda according to the movie while getting ready to deliver.... 

For those with a few minutes to burn, Google "Elio SEC filings"

Read the most recent filing on 11/18/2016 pursuant to SEC requirements. They have both refundable deposit customers and non refundable deposit customers. (See notes section towards the end of the filing document.)

Of greater interest is their balance sheet and the amount of money they have blown through. They have applied for federal government ATVM loan in the amount of $185 million, your tax dollars, and expect to get Credits from the CAFE program once they get up and running.

Maybe something has changed since November to shore them up, but they only had a little more than $100,000 cash on hand.

I have been involved in a couple of start ups and they were both rollercoaster rides like this. 

What I find is that the start up company executives make sure they really have their expenses covered  and your salaries are at high rates

so you're fueling their dream

beware  if it's too good to be true it's because it is 

I wont invest in an idea

I've followed the story for years. I'd love one if it were true or could ever work out

I must be a total moron, because here is how I would build a car like this:

1. I would build the car and drive it. 

2. I would improve the design and re-build and/or redesign it.

3. I would begin to talk to people about it and show it off.

Steps 1-3 would require, I guess, south of $50,000. 

4. (if) People like it and want one. Just a few. I ask them to pay half up-front and be patient. Five months to delivery, say. I build three cars like this my first year of production from my garage. I have now turned a profit & have zero debt but I do not have a viable business.

5. (If more people want one) I talk to lenders and potential equity partners about what I have & what it could be.... Now we discuss scaling up, patents, regs & other legal nonsense, various paths to business sustainability. 

How a man could burn through $50 million + and only have one or three working vehicles...it raises questions...like: wtf'd you do with all that money, bubba?

Ed,   Time to hawk your investigative journalism talents and do an independent $tory on Elio......you would be amazed who was on board ( big names in the industry) with Elio Motors and who went by the wayside.

_____________________________________________________________________________

Elio Board of Directors:

Mr. Holden is the former Chief Executive Officer of DaimlerChrysler

Mr. Way served as the Chief Executive Officer of Lear Corporation from 1988 to September 2000

 Mr. Lichter is founder, President and Chairman of the Board for IRG, LLC. He  has held positions with General Services Administration of the United States Government, Mortgage Loan Department of New York Life Insurance Company

 Mr. Hari Lyer brings nearly 25 years of product development, business strategy and  valuable experience from several executive level and senior operating positions for established and startup automotive companies.

Mr. Schembri previously was the President of smart USA, a Penske Automotive Group company. He was responsible for the successful launch of smart USA (a division of Mercedes-Benz), 

 Rousch   https://www.eliomotors.com/eli...r-elio-momentum-v44/

Sacto Mitch posted:

 

Something else to consider. Elio claims 100 mph and 84 mpg.

Here's another vehicle from a company with some experience in fuel-efficient design. This also does around 100 mph, weighs just 426 pounds, and is quite a bit more streamlined than the Elio.

But the best that Honda's engineers can do is about 60 mpg.

 

 

This vehicle might just go a tad over 100 mph, and I'll dispute that it's more streamlined than the ridiculous little pod. Less frontal area for sure, but bikes are notorious for having horrible aero.

This reminds me of the Aptera saga, except that one seemed more promising.

http://www.greencarreports.com...-complete-chronology

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aptera_Motors

And a possible comeback?: http://jalopnik.com/formerly-d...planning-a-512605401

Years ago I had a 2 seater Honda CRX that did get 54 mpg highway

I remember Hondas from the '70s routinely getting 40-50 mpg with no fuel injection or computers. Of course, they weren't hauling around a thousand pounds of side girders, crumple zones, airbags, or creature comforts and didn't have to meet today's emissions standards or the performance expectations of today's market.

Which is why I bring up the motorcycle. This looks to me like the most efficient mix of price, performance, and fuel economy that a major manufacturer can produce today and still meet all the government safety and emission regs - supposedly the same regs the Elio is trying to squeeze into by rolling on three wheels instead of four.

This Honda is a 500cc (not one of their rocket ships) and is targeted at the entry level commuter market. It does top out at about 112 mph, but it wouldn't if it had to haul around the Elio's 'bodywork' or drive the heat and AC systems the Elio is advertised to have.

With a 900cc gas engine in a much less streamlined package, carrying more weight and driving more  auxiliary systems, how can the Elio beat the motorcycle's mileage numbers by 40 percent? And at just $1000 more than the Honda?

So I guess getting an Elio to drive around until Steve finishes "my" SAS is out of the question?  LOL

Heck, my 2010 300ie Vespa gets 60mpg at 60mph with Kathy, me and a boat-load of luggage onboard. Plus, it looks good and is fun to ride.

I can even haul my Santa Cruz MTN bike on it with the topcase removed.

How's that song go ?      " Me and " Elio " down by the school yard"                                Just don't stick your tongue onto the flag pole or send your hard earned cash....