Jump to content

Self Balancing Electric Bike with car steering


turnone

Recommended Posts

I've been following both Lit Motors and Elio Motors for several years now.  I like the Lit concept vehicle better than Elio's, but they have been promoting and promising W-A-Y more than they have been delivering.  I think Elio is closer to market than Lit, although the price point of under $7000 for the Elio is unrealistically low and will surely spell a death knell for the company if they try to market at that level.  Lit Motors originally had promised a market product in 2013, then 2014, and it doesn't appear any closer to reality now than it did in '12.  The price point is supposed to be around $22K - $24K for the Lit C-1, which is high but maybe a realistic price for an all-weather vehicle with heat/air/greater collision protection than a motorcycle but with the true feel of one.

 

Interesting in theory and I'd love to see them succeed, but I'm keeping my money in my wallet for now….

Edited by Bubba
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I am also following both - Lit at $24 will make it end up a low volume fad. And its fugly. - Then Elio at under $10k would def sell a few,  I think Elio was stupid to publish seemingly unobtainable goals of $6800 price tag and 80ish mpg. Stupid marketing. No doubt more than a few engineers are cursing thier ass. Still I put my hundred bucks down on one.  If it ends up under $8500 and gets in the 50mph range, it hits the mark for a good commuter vehicle. 

Edited by mello dude
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm a bit intrigued by the Lit concept.  On one hand, the vehicle is self-stabilizing--using a gyroscope to hold it upright when stopped and at low speed--and yet they state it tilts in a turn just like motorcycle, which implies there's a method to 'uncouple' the gyro stabilizer from the frame when the speed increases.  I presume it would have to be a magnetic lock of some sort, but the company has not been very forthcoming with engineering details as of yet.  Based on the few short videos they've released, I'd hazard a guess that they are encountering a myriad of technical hurdles that will ultimately make the product a no-go.

 

As for Elio, here is a recent analysis (Sept 2013) of the company's latest marketing strategy….not very promising:

 

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/08/19/paul-elio-motors-releases-financials/

 

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1086583_elio-3-wheeler-is-small-and-clever-but-do-its-financials-work-out

Edited by Bubba
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm a bit intrigued by the Lit concept.  On one hand, the vehicle is self-stabilizing--using a gyroscope to hold it upright when stopped and at low speed--and yet they state it tilts in a turn just like motorcycle, which implies there's a method to 'uncouple' the gyro stabilizer from the frame when the speed increases.  I presume it would have to be a magnetic lock of some sort, but the company has not been very forthcoming with engineering details as of yet.  Based on the few short videos they've released, I'd hazard a guess that they are encountering a myriad of technical hurdles that will ultimately make the product a no-go.

 

As for Elio, here is a recent analysis (Sept 2013) of the company's latest marketing strategy….not very promising:

 

http://cleantechnica.com/2013/08/19/paul-elio-motors-releases-financials/

 

http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1086583_elio-3-wheeler-is-small-and-clever-but-do-its-financials-work-out

Agree Elio's business model seems to be a long shot, but I'm routing for them.   

Anyhoo, here's action on some engine work

http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=24b371802c83d81776b06aa68&id=9f913529d9&e=7b7037cc05

Link to comment
Share on other sites

50 MPG highway. That's a you expect? That would be stupid low. I have a 2015 Golf TDI that I have averaged just above 50 mpg over the first 6.5K miles in the last 6 weeks. Fully loaded with all options (sans parking sensors) including 18" wheels. Best tank was 58.2 over 600+ miles.

Little thing should do 80 mpg highway to have a chance.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...