Cohousing-L Mailing List: The Elio

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

On Aug 31, 2014, at 4:35 PM, William New <wnew [at] stillcreek.net> wrote:

> The increasingly expensive SF Bay Area has driven out many service workers, 
> government employees, and single earner families toward the Central Valley, 
> with 100-200 mile commutes. This hours-long single-driver daily commute is a 
> primary market target for Elio [www.eliomotors.com] with their low-cost 
> ($6800), high-mileage (84 miles/gallon) full-highway-safety American-built 
> vehicle. Full-disclosure: I have reserved two for our (suburban) co-housers.

This is a really interesting car. I hadn't heard of it before you posted. An 
incredible price. A few years ago I saw a solar powered electric car running 
around the Mall during the annual contest for Universities designing solar 
homes. One of the requirements is that the house generate enough energy to 
power the home AND a car.

When I went online to see how much one would cost, it was well over the cost of 
a new Beetle, which was one of the smallest cars around then. The basic car was 
inexpensive enough but then you have to add doors, windshield wipers, etc. 
Basic things one would expect a car to have. Doors? How useful is a car without 
doors?

The Elio has a very smart design because it addresses the fact that the 
majority of the cars on the road contain one person or two at the most. And it 
also includes all the basic things people consider essential, including good 
design.

I also reserved one but don't tell anyone. They will think I'm nuts. I figure 
by the time it actually gets manufactured, they will have heard all the raves 
about it and will be jealous.

Sharon
----
Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org