Delta E-4 Electric Coupe Revealed
200 miles on a charge, and (or...) 0-60mph in under 5secs
Delta Motorsport, a UK engineering consultancy based at Silverstone, has launched a new battery-electric coupe which it designed and built from the ground-up. They say the Delta E-4 Coupe's focus on light weight and high-efficiency systems gives it a range of 200 miles on a single charge, but it can also accelerate from zero to 60mph in fewer than five seconds.
The car is built around a carbon composite chassis weighing just 85kg - 2/3rds the weight of a comparable steel structure, despite being designed to pass EU crash tests.
High performance direct-drive electric motors were designed in partnership with Oxford University and produce over 600Nm/120hp each while only weighing 23kg, while a low, sporty seating position with the batteries mounted under the floor means that the car handles superbly (they also say!) with low aerodynamic drag.
Development of the car was supported by a grant for research and development by the Regional Development Agency for the East Midlands area, EMDA. Five vehicles have been produced for the Technology Strategy Board Ultra Low Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator Program (Yawn... Ed.), and the vehicles are part of the EEMS Accelerate consortium which aims to showcase high performance electric vehicles with cutting edge British design and engineering. So you can't buy one.
If you want to see it anyway, the Delta E-4 Coupe will be taking part in the RAC Future Car Challenge on Saturday 5th November 2011, one day before the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.
The elecy car looks ok from the side but pants from the front.
Shall we add this to the list of 'eco projects' the Government has spunked OUR tax money on that never reach fruition ?
/grumpy bleeder.
Similarly quoting the motor weight without drive electronics weight is like only quoting the weight of an engine minus gearbox. Can't really complain I guess though because a lot of companies do that.
Going from how the Honda CRZ suffered with a few fast laps on 5th gear* I'd be interested to see how something like this will fare bearing in mind that was a petrol/electric hybrid whereas this will be a full hybrid and so even more prone to running low.
However it looks nice and I hope it can deliver on the claims.
- yes I'm aware 5th gear aren't a scientific journal but it was a good real world example by a show that is normally quite keen on the green.
Just noticed Steve Cropley's verdict on it and he said he'd invest his own money given the funds. High praise from someone who's driven more cars than I (or most here) have had hot dinners.
The real test would be running one day-to-day, but it comes away very favourably from a brief circuit-bound encounter.
Yeah, it'd bloody well have to!
"And in other news a Honda CRX has managed to rump a Fiat Coupe this week..."
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