The criteria for the ATVM loan is set by Congress, and yes, it applies to all applicants.
It is not accurate that DoE requires a company to raise the amount of private capital equal to the amount of the loan sought. However the loan seeker does need to demonstrate they would be viable business over the length of the loan, and be able to repay the loan.
I think Elio Motors has a good shot at getting the ATVM loan, however it's highly dependent on both the results of their engineering vehicle testing, and demonstrating actual sales of production vehicles, e.g. 100 vehicles being sold to fleet reservations, these are key criteria areas of the ATVM loan program in the due diligence stage Elio Motors is currently at.