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Electric Seven?!


arthur rayner

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Is this a provocative idea...or are caterham on the case already? I had a fascinating chat this afternoon with Gerry at Swindon Powertrain, and now know a lot more about EV motors/gearboxes/inverters etc, all very fascinating and seemingly not as expensive as I thought on the mechanical side, however it is battery cost that is the bugbear, which of course means overall range. Clearly in the next few years the costs will tumble. One assumes that Caterham must be on the case, any ideas anyone?

I'm thinking about electric three wheelers.

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Caterham Cars say not.  There was a recent interview with Graham Macdonald; he said that the weight penalty rendered the idea out of consideration at the moment.  I think anything they are doing is being kept carefully out of sight and understand that he is playing a very straight bat.

There have been discussions here.  The easy and obvious starting point is: motor where the gearbox sits and distributed batteries to get the weight balance right.  I have heard of a variety of organisations working on it, but working confidentially.

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As per GJT above.

I would add that my inference of the McDonald interview was that he was not ruling electric out, but that battery size and weight would have to be greatly improved before CC considered it feasible, but that, long term, some change was inevitable. 

But perhaps things like hydrogen cells might prove an alternative by then. I have the impression that people are beginning to give more consideration to the pollution of manufacturing batteries, electric cars simply shifting the pollution, often far more toxic, to a different location.

 

But perhaps that's an entirely new thread, and one in which I have absolutely no expertise, whatsoever.

 

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The hydrogen fuel & drive train systems available seem to suit large vehicle - BMW X5 & up. Not sure how far they can be scaled down though the Hyundai Nexo looks as though this is possible even for what is a large-sh SUV. 

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The dimensional layout of the 7 must pose serious restrictions to anyone wanting to adapt to electric based on current battery volume technology, but the same is likely to apply to cars such as the Elise because of the lack of a transmission tunnel. By contrast, a recreation of the Caterham 21 on an electric platform with the electric motor in the tunnel could be very viable. Zero EV have an MX5 conversion with this format and the 21 layout is no different.

Roll on the all electric Caterham 21 GTO *beer*

Stu.

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I have to say, that whole Bauhaus "Form Follows Function" thing is surely what makes the 7 the the work of genius that has sustained its existence.

If it can be electric, what's the point of the shape it is, other than sentimentality.  The weight will likely change, even if the distribution can be artificially fiddled with.  The drivetrain wont be the same, and I doubt the handling would.

People still love Austin 7s.  Perhaps we have to look to that as our future.  How many people go to work on a horse any more, but equestrianism certainly hasn't died out.

Now I'm rambling!

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Lotus Elan S4 DIY EV conversion.  28kWh battery capacity, 30kg lighter than it started.

I think for a Caterham putting an EV drive unit where the diff is makes the most packaging sense.  Problem with using one from an existing EV is going to be the gearing, might need to fit the wheels from that Grand Tour Caterham. 

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Interesting, thanks.

Putting aside the, for me, sacrilege, of of making changes to the automobile equivalent of a Grade II listed building, cars like Elan make more sense than a 7 for electric, simply because their shape is much more 'jelly mould'.  An efficient aerodynamic container for the mechanicals. 

Whereas the 7 has the aerodynamics of a brick pig, but has its shape is BECAUSE of its mechanicals.  Change the mechanicals and its raison d'etre ceases.

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Simon Lambert provides some interesting insight on Caterham Cars' current views on the subject

I am aware of a number of different projects in this area that may be or interest to members.  Look out for an article in Lowflying in future months *byebye* 

 

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In the April issue of Car, Graham Macdonald gives a bit of info on the future of Caterham with electric cars:

"We've done feasibility studies and we've actually driven a prototype on the track. It pleasantly surprised us; the experience of sheer torque, no gearbox. It was heavy, however: 800kg. And we reckon the price would be north of £100k were it to come to market today. As batteries and motors develop and prices and weight come down, we'll start talking with partners. It's not on the horizon for another four to five years, I think."

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It's only fairly recently that Tesla started making a profit, what EV's cost to build and what they can be sold for is vastly different which is going to make it difficult for smaller manufacturers such as Caterham to get anything to market any time soon.

Stu.

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The leasing / pcp deals do appear to be favourable on most electric models compared to ICE vehicles, but I'm not sure even at the high prices whether there's any way of knowing how much the manufacturers are subsidising EVs using other models. That can't happen with a smaller manufacturer like Caterham.

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We need to get used to cars costing more in the medium term with the new technology. We have refined ICE car production over 100 years, so they can be churned out fairly cheaply. With the billions invested in the new technology, car manufacturing company’s will need to recover some of it with reduced government subsidies as they become more mainstream. Leasing/ rental models will change, but Id have thought monthly costs will continue as the main driver in costs, but the balloons could be huge, driving new sales - as with now. But with the rapid evolution and development, a 3 year newer model could be much improved, not just cosmetically as it often the case now.

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