This might be my range extender

The logic is, if I need to take more than myself on a road trip, we can take their car. If I have to go more than once charging stop, I might just take this car. It's cheap, gets 85 miles per gallon, and shouldn't cost much to insure. What do you all think, or have heard about this car?

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I paid the $100 for some reason?to get on their wait list.I'll probably buy 1 .Very in-exspensive.I'll look like the town idiot .But, I like new stuff auto.This is for sure new. Really doesn't do much better on mpg them my cmax energI. though.

Ha. I'm used to being the town idiot. I like it because I can have it for road trips, but it won't take up much space in my garage. I'll still be using the leaf for most of my miles. It's taking a chance I know.. but I'm used to that too, buying my leaf.

Worse gas mileage than a motorcycle.
Takes up more garage space than a motorcycle.

Have you considered a motorcycle?

I guess this will be a bit safer than a motorcycle, but it doesn't have to meet the same safety standards as a car, so it's hard to say just how safe (Elio Motors - Safety).

There is already a topic or two on this car - search "elio". I'd rather drive one of these in the rain, but I'd also prefer an EV version.

It looks like the Corbin Sparrow which was an EV. That product was unsuccessful after huge publicity and lots of money spent. I hope Elio has more success. It looks interesting, also reminds me of the new Morgan 3 wheeler.

I'd get one of those just because I quite like the car!

More spec details would help, though.

That sort of mpg is not exactly 'unbeatable' in small euro diesels, though. The 5 seater Skoda Fabia 1.2 TDi achieved over 120 mpg (imp), 100 mpg (US), on a test drive.

.. I'd still like one of these, though! And I'd certainly enquire about buying a rolling shell and consider adding my own EV power train. They could really make a killing on that if they can act fast and work something out. Tesla seem willing to help other VMs out with power train and battery ideas. Maybe there could be a joint opportunity there. I'd love to get an EV like this next. The XL1 is just a bit past my price range!

There is more to this too - the advent of smaller vehicle start-ups. This is really great if it can continue. With more flexible manufacturing techniques than ever before and a supplier base ready to deliver to small volumes, it feels to me as if we are witnessing the revival of small motor manufacturers. And that can only be a Really Good Thing in my book!

LeftieBiker said:

There is already a topic or two on this car - search "elio". I'd rather drive one of these in the rain, but I'd also prefer an EV version.

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IE - Aptera . . . . another nice hunk of vaporware that never came to be.

I believe one issue that all these designs face is that some states (MA included I believe) classify motorcycles as open (i.e. no shell) and once you put the shell around it it becomes a car. In order to register the "car" you have to meet all safety testing/compliance which these have difficulty passing.

So before you go put money down on one of these, be certain you can actually register it in your state.

I consider this a problem with RMV policies, but not one easily changed (is anything in government regulation easily changed?).