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        home > news > Automakers > Resurrection of Elio Motors Begins with Electrified Version of Three-Wheeler

        Resurrection of Elio Motors Begins with Electrified Version of Three-Wheeler

        Long-struggling company attempts comeback with all-electric powertrain.

        Michael Strong
        Michael Strong , Managing Editor
        Sept. 09, 2021

        This story has been updated with new information.

        All-American dreams die slowly, and Paul Elio’s — Elio Motors — 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 “targeted” starting price of $14,900.

        Paul Elio of Elio Motors
        Paul Elio, CEO of Elio Motors, is mounting a comeback for his three-wheeler, scrapping the gas engine for an all-electric powertrain.

        “We never quit working to make this dream happen,” said Paul Elio, CEO of Elio Motors, in a press release. “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.”

        Elio, who also heads his own engineering firm, formed the company in 2009 looking to provide inexpensive, but reliable vehicles. The original Elio was a three-wheeled autocycle powered 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.

        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.

        However, it never got to full production, building several prototypes. While many assumed it quietly shuttered its operations, the company — once based in Detroit, but now headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona — 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.

        The new Elio

        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.

        Elio E1C Prototype - LAAS intro 11-17-16
        The new model will travel 150 miles on a charge, the company says on its website.

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

        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’s 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

        The company, according to its website, plans to develop a network of “stand-alone Retail Centers in the top 60 markets across the country.” Those sites reportedly will be located in 32 states, with at least one store in each region of the country, and they’re expected to have a unique feel.

        “The Elio retail experience won’t follow the crowd, but it’s certain to attract one. Think ‘genius-bar’ as opposed to in-your-face plaid jacket high pressure,” the company claims on its website.

        Special “financing” method

        Elio P5
        The new electric model comes with a “targeted” starting price of $14,900.

        While the company will take a full cash payment, it’s proposed a different way of allowing owners to “finance”the vehicle: a credit card.

        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. 

        “Think 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!” the company said on the website.

        Plenty of competition

        The first issue the company faces is that there are several electric three-wheelers already or nearing availability, including Arcimoto, Aptera, Electra Meccanica and Daymak’s Spiritus, plus others, like Sondors, which has a prototype, but isn’t on the road yet. 

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

        Aptera EV side
        Aptera unveiled its new solar electric vehicle in 2020. It gets 45 miles of range from the panels.

        Launched earlier this year, it reports a top speed of 75 mph and a “city range” of 102 miles. Starting at $17,900, they’re currently they’re available in Washington, California, Florida and, of course, Oregon with “more states to come.”

        Aptera roared back to life last year with a new formula: solar panels to help with charging. 

        “With Aptera’s 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,” said Co-Founder Chris Anthony in a statement.

        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.

        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.

        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.

        Daymak Spiritus three-wheel EV
        Production on the Spiritus is slated to begin in 2023, according to Daymak officials.

        Change is not a guarantee of success

        In addition to competition, the company faces other headwinds as it attempts a comeback, including making the wrong choice initially.

        “(It’s) what they should have been all along,” said Sam Abuelsamid, principal auto analyst, Guidehouse Insights. 

        Abuelsamid wasn’t particularly optimistic about the shift to an electric powertrain, “particularly in North America. There’s just not much of a market for a vehicle of that type. Maybe in India … 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.”

        However, even that comes with issues as he notes it would be unlikely it could be built in the U.S. — it’s still scheduled to be produced in the Shreveport plant — and still be profitable. Still, there is a bit of hope, he suggested, if expectations are scaled back.

        “These guys have been kicking around for a long time. They’re like (Aptera), which was around for a while about 10 years ago and is now back again,” he said. “I think there’s a niche for those types of vehicles, but I don’t expect it to ever be a huge market in North America. It’s got to coexist with so many other large vehicles. People here don’t 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.”

        The “old” Elio

        While dormant, the gas-powered model may not be entirely dead — it’s now the Elio-G and there’s a chance it could return.

        Elio Motors secured more 65,000 reservations for the (Elio-G) gas-powered vehicle, proving the demand for its unique styling and design. Once the electric version is produced, Elio plans to potentially launch the Elio-G for consumers looking for a gas-powered alternative. There is no word on whether or not those reservation holders are still eligible for either the electric- or gas-powered versions.

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        17 responses to “Resurrection of Elio Motors Begins with Electrified Version of Three-Wheeler”

        1. freddie winters says:
          September 9, 2021 at 2:58 pm

          Elio, Arcimoto, Solo and Aptera should all consider operating out of the old GM plant in Shrevesport, Louisiana. Think of the economy of scale, sharing of common parts, electric motors, wiring, tires, paints, supply chains, lower prices with larger orders, moral support of management with a similar vision. You could call it a visionary incubator for a cleaner world!!!

          Reply
        2. Jim says:
          September 10, 2021 at 2:56 pm

          They could operate out of my pole barn and still have enough capacity.

          Reply
        3. ROBERT says:
          September 12, 2021 at 8:42 pm

          I just looked up my Elio reservation… May 10, 2013. $250 bucks. LOL. I had written that reservation off…..
          I have 70 bucks down on the Aptera and a 100 down on the Ford EV Truck.
          By the time any of them come around I maybe dead of old age.
          Elio was supposed to use a Ford 3 cylinder engine but decided they could do better from scratch. That was stupid. They should of stuck with that plan.

          Reply
          1. Imad says:
            September 28, 2021 at 1:02 am

            They Already rob my $200 made me wait for four years and then refused to pay my money back and did not build cars either

            Now again come back to make people fool again and collect double money name of electric car

            Reply
        4. Eugene B. Kordahl says:
          September 27, 2021 at 10:13 am

          I’m wondering, is my Elio $1,000 gone or does it apply to the electric version?

          Reply
          1. Paul A. Eisenstein says:
            September 27, 2021 at 12:47 pm

            I can’t answer that, Gene. You need contact the company. I would think it’s still accessible as Elio did not go bankrupt, something that might have cost you your deposit. But do check with the company.

            Paul E.

            Reply
          2. eksine says:
            October 28, 2021 at 12:20 am

            it’s gone, don’t fall for their scam twice. the other companies will produce cars first and elios will go back into the pits of hell like before with your money

            Reply
        5. Vincent says:
          September 27, 2021 at 2:58 pm

          I called two numbers listed for the company and neither work!

          Reply
          1. Paul A. Eisenstein says:
            September 27, 2021 at 6:20 pm

            Please try their website contact info. If that doesn’t work please reach out to us.

            Paul E.

            Reply
        6. A Nich says:
          October 11, 2021 at 5:03 am

          I’d have loved the IC version for commuting and wish they’d have gone with an off-the-shelf Japanese motor to get started, (with paddle shifter gearbox), but might consider an electric version, depending on range, as either a poor man’s Aptera or a cautious man’s motorcycle.

          But it’s a moot point until they have something for sale.

          This IC engine is looking promising for trucks; image the fuel consumption potential in an Elio-styled vehicle:
          https://www.autoweek.com/news/technology/a36068845/opposed-piston-engines/

          Reply
        7. Kenn Gibson says:
          October 19, 2021 at 1:13 pm

          I noticed on the company’s website their most recent press release states the following:

          “ELIO MOTORS ANNOUNCES INTENT TO PRODUCE AN ELECTRIC VERSION OF ITS POPULAR VEHICLE.
          Phoenix, AZ— September 9, 2021 — Elio Motors OTCMKTS: ELIO, (eliomotors.com) is announcing their intention to produce an electric version of their three-wheeled vehicle”.

          Notice how there’s supposedly an “intention” to build an electric version, however there is no target date shown to begin building this contraption. Are we to believe that it will be in the near future (sometime in 2022), or somewhere out between 2023 and 2033? Also, why would Elio go so far as to price these out at $15K per copy when everything (especially labor) is astronomically high and increasing exponentially seemingly by the day? Just a couple of things to ponder on here.

          Reply
        8. Greg Moscini says:
          October 23, 2021 at 2:32 pm

          Model III owner… We love this vehicle in spite of numerous flat tires thanks to California Road Ways. Note Tesla Service will not repair their tires… then will replace them at 357 a crack (Continentals). American Tires came through. That aside. I am a reservation holder and appealed to Paul Elio to consider the Electric Alternative and work with Tesla. Could you imagine an Electric Elio able to charge at the numerous Super Chargers and maybe even take advantage of Tesla’s superior Battery Technology? A Gas Engine alternative is still worth considering, but not in California. My family was disappointed that I put down a deposit but I never lost faith in Mr. Elio.

          Reply
        9. Loretta Randolph says:
          October 24, 2021 at 9:33 am

          Well, I am all for a “shot of redemption”, but sincerity does not deliver vehicles.

          What about the idea of sharing the facility, and focusing on the specific use and benefits of the smaller, safer , electric vehicles——-gues the idea is better than the Segway, or maybe not. Has The Segway inventor produced anything recently?

          Loretta Randolph crossfoot@rocketmail.com

          Reply
        10. Martin says:
          December 4, 2021 at 3:26 am

          The Elio G… which stands for “Grifters”. Yet another way to rob people of their money and never produce anything, except pie in the sky.

          Reply
        11. john says:
          May 28, 2022 at 7:08 pm

          I’ve got news for you… if they produce any kind of vehicle the original reservations, in the form of a written agreement, will still win in court. There will be 65,000 class-action suers.

          Reply
        12. Carlos C says:
          June 7, 2022 at 1:28 pm

          I’d like to see it happen. Glad they kept the gas version. Hard to understand zero product at this point. Like “shot of redemption”. I Invested in Aptera and that still looks good.
          Make them immediately and get hero business status with this gas nonsense. Get it done and all will be forgiven anyway (maybe most will be forgiven).
          I still want one.

          Reply
        13. Michael Bailey says:
          August 21, 2022 at 5:38 pm

          I put 1000 down in May 2014. I waited long enough. When I hear of event I will be there to warn prospective buyers

          Reply

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