XR-3 Hybrid

The XR-3 Hybrid is a plug-in hybrid kit vehicle from Robert Q. Riley Enterprises.

The top speed is 80 mph and fuel economy is 125 mpgus on diesel power only and 225 mpgus on combined diesel and electric power.

The vehicle body is FRP/foam composite.

The vehicle is built from plans, with parts sourced by the builder, although a kit with pre-assembled parts may be sold sometime in the future.

As of March 27, 2021, their official website is suspended. A member of Elio Owners Forum has reported that attempts to reach them on their facebook page were unsuccessful.

Powertrain and range
The two front wheels are powered by the diesel or biodiesel internal combustion engine (ICE) and the single rear wheel is electric powered. The two power systems are ground-connected, meaning that they both drive wheels along the ground but are not connected at all within the vehicle, which allows owners to add and remove the diesel and electric propulsion systems separately and use either or both. With only a diesel engine and the vehicle's standard tank holding 3 USgal, range is 400 mi, and with only an electric motor and full battery packs, range is 100 mi.

Price
A duplicate of the Lithium-ion battery powered prototype will top $25,000, including $7,500 for batteries and an advanced DC 8 in motor. Lead-acid batteries trim cost between $1,500 and $2,000. However, a diesel-only vehicle can be built for less than $10,000, and the modularity of the design allows an electric power train to be added easily later.

Safety
The vehicle has a roll bar, seat belts, foam in the sides and front of the vehicle ranging from 5 to(-), and a horizontal steering column intended to be pushed away by a driver thrown forward by an accident without harming the driver, unlike a conventional car's steering column. It does not have airbags, large steel beam crumple zones, or an anti-lock braking system.