Maybe not electric for the introductory model. Like I suggested in my first post, they already have a huge obstacle just getting this thing to market for around the price they've suggested and getting similar economy to what they've promised.
As a certain other electric based thread has suggested, there's some common (and convincing) misconceptions and inconveniences associated with electric vehicles right now. These include range, performance, charging, initial cost etc etc.
I think Elio is going to have enough challenges bringing this trike to market as promised, why throw electric into the mix for the first iteration? Maybe as a second model, electric could be feasible. As an entry to the market? I think electric would take this from a feasible second vehicle for suburbia or city-dwellers to a niche product with a big base of haters and I doubt they'd make it even close to their expected cost. Give it time and I'm right there with you; an electric driven Elio would be badass.
I personally would be thrilled if they could get this thing to market with 65 mpg highway, 50 city. IF (and that's a huge if) they can actually get the 85 like they're suggesting without making it unable to get out of its own way and overpriced, I'd be very impressed.