Elio Motors: Three wheels, 84mpg, and a 5-star crash rating all for $6,800

By Nick Jaynes May 13, 2013

Elio Motors — Image used with permission by copyright holder

There are a shocking number of eco-minded automotive upstarts in America. It’s shocking given the fact that Chrysler was the last – not counting Tesla – freestanding automaker launched in the U.S. to survive. Within the last few months two more went the way of the buffalo: Fisker Automotive and Coda.

In spite of the odds, a few men still have the audacity to give it a go. One of those men is Paul Elio, who created Elio Motors.

Based in Troy, Michigan, Elio Motors has just released a three-wheeled prototype.

The Elio trike looks a bit like the original Honda Insight that’s been on a crash diet. Despite its post-futuristic, kit-car looks, the Elio is kind of impressive. The prototype is reported to achieve 86mpg and Elio hopes it’ll be given a 5-star crash rating.

We’ll withhold our enthusiasm on those two figures until we see the final test results. The number that has us rather jazzed, however, is the anticipated asking price: $6,800. We freely admit we’d drive an eco trike for that little money. Other than our dignity, what do we have to lose?

The Elio Motors trike will be built in former General Motors assembly plant in Shreveport, Louisiana and production is slated to begin next summer, according to The Detroit News.

Interested in one of the first Elio trikes? You can get in on the ground floor with a $100 reservation.

If an Elio can get 80+mpg, a great crash rating and comes out for under $7,000, will it make your city car list? Here’s their pitch video. Leave a comment below.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…

Cars

Best electric car charger deals: $100 off home charging stations

The handle of the Grizzl-E EV charger plugged into a vehicle.

A few years ago, electric vehicles were pretty rare or cost a fortune, but with more and more of the larger car brands getting into the game, there are a lot of excellent and even budget-friendly choices nowadays. That said, the electrical network for charging your cars might not be that widespread, so instead you'll have to rely on charging your car at home. Luckily, there are a lot of excellent car chargers at a discount, so if you've just bought an EV or want to upgrade your current charging solution, be sure to check out our favorite deals below.
Shockflo EV charger — $205, was $220

This EV charger by Shockflo is a Level 2 EV charger, which offers six times faster charging than a standard charger. It delivers 24 miles with just one hour of charging, and it can act as a mobile charger you can throw in the trunk or be mounted to a wall. It has an LCD display with useful information like charging rate, voltage, and charging time, as well as LED indicator lights that lets you know charging progress and errors.

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.