If you think the fact that Elio Motors has taken 15,000 reservations for its high-MPG three-wheeler is something to scoff at, well, consider the fact that Honda sold less than 21,000 of its hybrids, plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles combined last year. But, if you think that the company's claim that the trike is cleaner than a year's worth of farts from a cow? Well, go ahead and scoff.
The vehicle, which is set to debut next year, has upped its reservation count to more than 15,000 units from about 10,000 as of late February and from about 6,300 as of the end of 2013. The three-wheeler is priced at $6,800 and gets 84 miles per gallon and prospective buyers need to put down a $100 non-refundable deposit to get on the list. More intriguingly, Elio says that 20,000 miles of driving will produce fewer greenhouse gases than the methane produced by the farts and burps from a cow over the course of a year. Granted, an Elio probably doesn't taste too good if you grind it up and cook it, but that's a different story.
Elio has said the three-wheeler will be engineered well enough to receive a five-star crash-test rating, while power windows and door locks as well as airbags and a radio will all be included in the little-bitty vehicle. Check out Elio's press release about cow farts below. Have we seen everything now?
The vehicle, which is set to debut next year, has upped its reservation count to more than 15,000 units from about 10,000 as of late February and from about 6,300 as of the end of 2013. The three-wheeler is priced at $6,800 and gets 84 miles per gallon and prospective buyers need to put down a $100 non-refundable deposit to get on the list. More intriguingly, Elio says that 20,000 miles of driving will produce fewer greenhouse gases than the methane produced by the farts and burps from a cow over the course of a year. Granted, an Elio probably doesn't taste too good if you grind it up and cook it, but that's a different story.
Elio has said the three-wheeler will be engineered well enough to receive a five-star crash-test rating, while power windows and door locks as well as airbags and a radio will all be included in the little-bitty vehicle. Check out Elio's press release about cow farts below. Have we seen everything now?
Elio Motors: More Environmentally Friendly than a Cow's What?
Enclosed three-wheeled vehicle to launch in 2015, will get 84 mpg, trap less CO2 than a year's worth of one cow's farts
Yes, we said it. Elio Motors is more environmentally friendly than cow farts.
With Earth Day (April 22) approaching, Elio Motors, Inc., CEO Paul Elio challenged his team to come up with unique ways to show the environmental impact of the company's enclosed three-wheeled vehicle. Set to launch in 2015, the vehicle will sell for $6,800 and get an astounding 84 miles per gallon.
Of course, the team came up with some compelling information. If the company reaches its sales targets, it will save American drivers 8 million gallons of fuel a year. It will reduce CO2 emissions by 160 million pounds. It could cut the average consumer's annual fuel bill by approximately $1,500.
But, one thing caught Mr. Elio's eye. Elio Motors vehicle will be more environmentally friendly than a year's worth of one cow's farts. Here's the science:
One cow produces 242 lbs of methane a year through burps and flatulence. Methane traps 20 times more heat than CO2 over a 100-year period. (SOURCE: Get Green Living) In a year, the average cow will emit 4,840 lbs of CO2 equivalent greenhouses gases.
Elio Motors vehicle, driven 20,000 miles, will only emit only 4,500 lbs of CO2. So... the Elio is more environmentally friendly than cow farts.
"I'll admit, it's not the most conventional measure for environmental efficiency," Elio said of the cow comparison. "But, when you realize that we are more environmentally friendly than something found in nature every day, we are clearly on the right path. The internal combustion engine is going to be part of the transportation industry for many years into the future. The key will be for companies such as Elio Motors to come up with revolutionary vehicle designs to use existing technology in a more Earth-friendly way."
Mr. Elio concedes that there are other futuristic technologies such as electric vehicles and hydrogen propulsion that will eventually reduce emissions even further.
But, consumer demand and infrastructure needed to support these technologies might keep them from the mainstream for another 20 years. In the meantime, he sees Elio Motors vehicle as an important bridge to the future – an affordable, efficient vehicle that meets consumer demand and can hit the road right away.
In fact, Mr. Elio has his own "Cash for Clunkers" plan, aimed at getting rid of some of the 95 million "clunkers" on America's highways today. Most people drive a low-mileage, low-price clunker because they don't believe they have any other option. With a vehicle from Elio Motors, clunker owners can get a new vehicle for a low price that is under warranty, inexpensive to ensure and provides significant fuel savings.
"Many people simply don't believe they can afford a new vehicle," Elio said. "But, we are providing a transportation option that can get literally thousands of people into a new vehicle who couldn't afford one before. A good outcome from this will be getting a lot of inefficient, gas guzzling vehicles off the road."
Initial customer enthusiasm for Elio Motors is high, as more than 14,000 people have made reservations for the vehicle. The company already has more than 100,000 fans on Facebook and is averaging more than 250,000 unique visitors per month to its web site this year.
About Elio Motors: Founded by car enthusiast Paul Elio in 2008, Elio Motors Inc. represents a revolutionary approach to manufacturing an ultra-high-mileage vehicle. The 3-wheeled Elio will attain a highway mileage rating of 84 mpg while providing the comfort of amenities such as power windows, power door lock and air conditioning, accompanied by the safety of multiple air bags and an aerodynamic, enclosed vehicle body. Elio's first manufacturing site will be in Shreveport, La., with plans for the first production vehicle to roll off the assembly line in 2015 and significant production, sales and distribution during the next two years. For more information, visit www.eliomotors.com or www.facebook.com/ElioMotors.
Enclosed three-wheeled vehicle to launch in 2015, will get 84 mpg, trap less CO2 than a year's worth of one cow's farts
Yes, we said it. Elio Motors is more environmentally friendly than cow farts.
With Earth Day (April 22) approaching, Elio Motors, Inc., CEO Paul Elio challenged his team to come up with unique ways to show the environmental impact of the company's enclosed three-wheeled vehicle. Set to launch in 2015, the vehicle will sell for $6,800 and get an astounding 84 miles per gallon.
Of course, the team came up with some compelling information. If the company reaches its sales targets, it will save American drivers 8 million gallons of fuel a year. It will reduce CO2 emissions by 160 million pounds. It could cut the average consumer's annual fuel bill by approximately $1,500.
But, one thing caught Mr. Elio's eye. Elio Motors vehicle will be more environmentally friendly than a year's worth of one cow's farts. Here's the science:
One cow produces 242 lbs of methane a year through burps and flatulence. Methane traps 20 times more heat than CO2 over a 100-year period. (SOURCE: Get Green Living) In a year, the average cow will emit 4,840 lbs of CO2 equivalent greenhouses gases.
Elio Motors vehicle, driven 20,000 miles, will only emit only 4,500 lbs of CO2. So... the Elio is more environmentally friendly than cow farts.
"I'll admit, it's not the most conventional measure for environmental efficiency," Elio said of the cow comparison. "But, when you realize that we are more environmentally friendly than something found in nature every day, we are clearly on the right path. The internal combustion engine is going to be part of the transportation industry for many years into the future. The key will be for companies such as Elio Motors to come up with revolutionary vehicle designs to use existing technology in a more Earth-friendly way."
Mr. Elio concedes that there are other futuristic technologies such as electric vehicles and hydrogen propulsion that will eventually reduce emissions even further.
But, consumer demand and infrastructure needed to support these technologies might keep them from the mainstream for another 20 years. In the meantime, he sees Elio Motors vehicle as an important bridge to the future – an affordable, efficient vehicle that meets consumer demand and can hit the road right away.
In fact, Mr. Elio has his own "Cash for Clunkers" plan, aimed at getting rid of some of the 95 million "clunkers" on America's highways today. Most people drive a low-mileage, low-price clunker because they don't believe they have any other option. With a vehicle from Elio Motors, clunker owners can get a new vehicle for a low price that is under warranty, inexpensive to ensure and provides significant fuel savings.
"Many people simply don't believe they can afford a new vehicle," Elio said. "But, we are providing a transportation option that can get literally thousands of people into a new vehicle who couldn't afford one before. A good outcome from this will be getting a lot of inefficient, gas guzzling vehicles off the road."
Initial customer enthusiasm for Elio Motors is high, as more than 14,000 people have made reservations for the vehicle. The company already has more than 100,000 fans on Facebook and is averaging more than 250,000 unique visitors per month to its web site this year.
About Elio Motors: Founded by car enthusiast Paul Elio in 2008, Elio Motors Inc. represents a revolutionary approach to manufacturing an ultra-high-mileage vehicle. The 3-wheeled Elio will attain a highway mileage rating of 84 mpg while providing the comfort of amenities such as power windows, power door lock and air conditioning, accompanied by the safety of multiple air bags and an aerodynamic, enclosed vehicle body. Elio's first manufacturing site will be in Shreveport, La., with plans for the first production vehicle to roll off the assembly line in 2015 and significant production, sales and distribution during the next two years. For more information, visit www.eliomotors.com or www.facebook.com/ElioMotors.
Featured Gallery Elio Motors' new wheel-covered design
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