arthur rayner Posted January 8, 2021 Share Posted January 8, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted January 8, 2021 Area Representative Share Posted January 8, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Toughie Posted January 9, 2021 Leadership Team Share Posted January 9, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Geoff Brown Posted January 9, 2021 Area Representative Share Posted January 9, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted January 9, 2021 Leadership Team Share Posted January 9, 2021 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 Stu. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Toughie Posted January 9, 2021 Leadership Team Share Posted January 9, 2021 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! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mechanical Moz Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Toughie Posted January 9, 2021 Leadership Team Share Posted January 9, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 GeoffSome 15 years back I drove a Fiesta with hydrogen cell, lovely car, light agile responsive, great range and quick to refuel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Toughie Posted January 9, 2021 Leadership Team Share Posted January 9, 2021 Now that sounds like the alternative, to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markiebabes Posted January 9, 2021 Share Posted January 9, 2021 Worth a watch Not sure if i like no induction roar though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team Mcalvert Posted January 10, 2021 Leadership Team Share Posted January 10, 2021 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed White Posted January 10, 2021 Share Posted January 10, 2021 There is a program called vintage voltage that follows these types of conversions. They have a 7 coming up, MK I think but all of it will be relative Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerobod - near CYYC Posted April 1, 2021 Share Posted April 1, 2021 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." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Area Representative Golf Juliet Tango Posted April 2, 2021 Area Representative Share Posted April 2, 2021 I'm surprised it is as expensive as that but running costs will be very low. The change of motive power technology puts emphasis on capital cost rather than running expenses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted April 2, 2021 Leadership Team Share Posted April 2, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Brown Posted April 2, 2021 Share Posted April 2, 2021 Stu, would suggest that trying to sell electric Corsas, Minis, etc at approaching 30k in any volume will be a problem also for the big manufacturers unless they can get very competitive leasing/pcp deals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leadership Team SLR No.77 Posted April 2, 2021 Leadership Team Share Posted April 2, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomB Posted April 2, 2021 Share Posted April 2, 2021 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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