EMC3 is a family affair for David Joner, daughter Marissa Joner, Linda Joner, son Cody Joner, and daughter Becky Marker. (Photo by Scott McCredie)
Four years ago, Bellevue resident David Joner asked his son Cody, who was 10 at the time, what he wanted to do for their annual summer project.
"Build a car," Cody replied. Not a model or a go-cart, but a real, full-size car.
In the next few months, the result of David and Cody's summer project will begin rolling onto auto dealership floors across the United States.
The vehicle is called the EMC3 Commuter: a three-wheeled, front-wheel-drive, two-passenger convertible. EMC is an acronym for the company the Joner family created: ECO Motor Company. And the "3" denotes the three-wheeled configuration of this most unusual car.
Having two wheels in front and one in back allows the body to flare into an aerodynamic teardrop shape. Powered by a 3-cylinder, 52-horsepower gas engine, the car boasts fuel economy in the range of 60-plus miles per gallon.
EMC3 facts
- Cost: $13,995 for the five-speed manual-transmission model, $14,995 for the automatic. Standard equipment includes air conditioning, electric windows and an AM/FM/MP3 player.
- For sale: The car will be available at Doug's Lynnwood Mazda (or its Everett location). The Joners plan to sell the car at 400 car dealerships in the United States.
- Web site: ecomotorcompany.com
When David and Cody started working on the project, they dismantled old cars to see how they were put together, sliced up and welded steel, and created drawings of concept vehicles. They received lots of advice from Cody's grandfather, Bruno, a Boeing engineer for 40 years who helped design the first helicopters in the 1950s.
By summer's end, they had built a full-size model. The car's unusual shape and configuration were spawned by a desire to achieve superior aerodynamics and thus better fuel efficiency.
"A lot of people came by to look at it," says David, who used to manage car dealerships. "They stood back and said, 'You've got something here.' " That's when the Joners decided to form a company and take the vehicle into production.
After calculating that the car would be too expensive to build in the U.S., they selected a Chinese auto manufacturer. David says he has 50 employees working at the factory to ensure high quality standards.
The EMC3 is designed to be a second car. "If you have to run to the store to get groceries, there's a huge space in back for storing groceries," says Linda, Cody's mother and marketing specialist for the company. "I mean, how many times do people just run out to get a gallon of milk? Just the savings in that alone is huge."
The car is also designed for those who want to reduce their carbon footprint. "[People] see the car as another avenue to save money and to help the environment," Linda says. "It's a win-win for everybody."
Despite the long hours, significant investment (all of which came from the family and friends), and stress of bringing a vehicle to market in an uncertain economy, the Joners have turned their summer project into an adventure that has brought the family closer together, Linda says.
Cody, now 14, says he wants to study engineering and business in college -- either that or "own the company," he says, smiling at his dad.
"They've actually been able to see their dreams come alive," Linda says. "How many kids have the opportunity to build a car with their father?"
10 Comments
By ratcityreprobate on May 23, 2009 2:09 PM
Whether or not this car proves to be commercially successful this is quite an achievement by Mr. Joner and his son. If an American family can do this in four years, even if they are a well to do family, it makes you wonder why the car companies have such a hard time bringing an alternative auto to market with the vast resources at their command. It has to be a lack of vision by the marketing and management people because the Joner family are demonstrating that it is not an engineering or manufacturing problem.
By UW Prof on May 23, 2009 5:39 PM
this was only viable becuase they used the three wheel platform and can register it as a motorcycle. It meets none of the safety standards of a four wheeled car. The big auto makers are marketing to a mass audience, not to a niche market. also, if you look at this vehicle, there is very little innovation. They are just making a sporty version of a three wheeled scooter.
By flysafely on May 23, 2009 9:38 PM
You are correct UW Prof. This is nothing new and little innovation.
By bovine9000 on May 25, 2009 7:58 AM
To add to UW Prof's comment, look at the housing for the rear wheel. It's square tube. Also, it looks like there's also square tubing under the front wheel well. It's light as heck and people build Caterham 7 replicas in their garages from square tube all the time, but it's not likely to save you in the event of a collision. Round tube is a better choice for a frame (there's a reason FIA, NASCAR, SCCA, and nearly every sanctioning body out there require round tube for roll cages), but assembling round tube requires a lot more skill or vastly more expensive robots than does square tube.
By norgreanernowthan1000yrsago on May 25, 2009 9:10 PM
I'd rather be on a motorcycle than trapped in the three wheeler.
I must hand it to the dad and his son. Fantastic quality time. Each learned a great deal from one another all the way to China and to market the thing.
Just imagine what the boy learned from his dad That boy is extremely lucky to have a father like this in these days. That is the real story here.
The car....well, nope not interested.
By David on May 26, 2009 9:42 AM
You are right we didn't go out to reinvent the vehicles of today. We just made it more economical by using technology that we have today. The one you see in the picture is a pre-production prototype.
This is designed for the commuter of today. Do you want to get better fuel economy? Do you want to spend less time traveling to and from work? What will you do with the monies saved and time? The vehicles will all come with a covertible top w/ zip out rear window, power windows/locks, air conditioning, heat, tilt wheel, am/fm mp3 player,air bags, dynamic side impact beams, crumple zones, break away motor mounts and yes full roll cage built into the sub frame. For more info please visit our website www.ecomotorcompany.com
By MTS on May 29, 2009 1:39 PM
A three-wheeler produced in China? No thanks. I'll buy a Subaru made in Indiana or a Honda made in Ohio (designed by professional automotive engineers) before I'd buy this. On top of that, Smart fourtwo is a better buy if you're determined to go this route.
By Elliot Horowitz on June 4, 2009 10:06 AM
15K down the drain. Chinese quality and reliability. REAL safety.
This thing will be remembered as the Vega from
@^#%.
By gerry g on June 4, 2009 1:34 PM
David,
You got to give him credit for trying, but if you want a real ( motorcycle ) then buy a Harley. Good luck.
people ride motorcycles or drive cars .
By dave rehwaldt on June 7, 2009 11:55 PM
I'm not so sure the Joners will be able to turn a profit but I'm extremely impressed with the family's abiltiy to put a dream into action!