Electric Seven due in 2023 / 2. or is it 3?
Discussion
agreed, but it was, as pointed out, rather old news! There's not a hope in thingy that Caterham will get an electric car out in anything like those times. 5 years away I reckon. Mind you, I for one am excited by it. I love the world of electric sports cars. My hope is to have a two car garage. An old school petrol sports car - might be my crossflow 7, plus a mega electric one from Lotus maybe or even Caterham.
Well it wasn't old news to me, and I was wondering what the future would be for Caterham.
Personally I have no interest in EV's, and to say they are zero emission is a total lie. Are people realy so dim that they don't consider what's involved in the production and disposal of the batteries, or where the electricity comes from to charge them? Even if you were off grid, and had solar, what about the production and disposal of solar panels and batteries? Does no one think of that? Although I think it's crazy there's not more solar, I'm considering it, living in Spain and having 300 days a year of sunshine, it would be crazy not to.
Basically the way the human race is living isn't sustainable.
Dare I say it, but improved public transport is the way ahead for our planet, but that was knocked on the head years ago by oil the companies, (who are now investing in electricity coincidently... Do you see a pattern here?) big Auto, and construction companies making political donations.
Google "California's great cycleway" and what GM did with the tram system.
But I digress.
I would like to see an electric Seven on the scales.
I doubt very much that I will ever own an EV, my 25 year old Jaguar made it's carbon footprint all those years ago, and the fuel I burn at the weekends (I use my work van for the daily commute) I'm sure, will be less that the Carbon footprint of the production of a brand new EV. To me it makes more sense to keep it maintained and in good condition than buy a new white goods they now call cars. But I wish Caterham luck for the future.
Personally I have no interest in EV's, and to say they are zero emission is a total lie. Are people realy so dim that they don't consider what's involved in the production and disposal of the batteries, or where the electricity comes from to charge them? Even if you were off grid, and had solar, what about the production and disposal of solar panels and batteries? Does no one think of that? Although I think it's crazy there's not more solar, I'm considering it, living in Spain and having 300 days a year of sunshine, it would be crazy not to.
Basically the way the human race is living isn't sustainable.
Dare I say it, but improved public transport is the way ahead for our planet, but that was knocked on the head years ago by oil the companies, (who are now investing in electricity coincidently... Do you see a pattern here?) big Auto, and construction companies making political donations.
Google "California's great cycleway" and what GM did with the tram system.
But I digress.
I would like to see an electric Seven on the scales.
I doubt very much that I will ever own an EV, my 25 year old Jaguar made it's carbon footprint all those years ago, and the fuel I burn at the weekends (I use my work van for the daily commute) I'm sure, will be less that the Carbon footprint of the production of a brand new EV. To me it makes more sense to keep it maintained and in good condition than buy a new white goods they now call cars. But I wish Caterham luck for the future.
I can understand the apprehension about an EV Caterham, and why some petrol heads my feel it's all doom and gloom.
But having been privy to a few EV sport car projects now, all I would say is that the fun will be enhanced, track records will be broken, and we'll look back to see how ridiculous a big heavy complicated chunk of metal that grinds itself to bits (tied to a box of gears trying to make it work) really is.
And don't worry, the 'old timers' will still be welcomed with fond nostalgia as they drip oil and attempt to keep up. And there'll be plenty of vintage piston engine rallies for them to attend too.
But having been privy to a few EV sport car projects now, all I would say is that the fun will be enhanced, track records will be broken, and we'll look back to see how ridiculous a big heavy complicated chunk of metal that grinds itself to bits (tied to a box of gears trying to make it work) really is.
And don't worry, the 'old timers' will still be welcomed with fond nostalgia as they drip oil and attempt to keep up. And there'll be plenty of vintage piston engine rallies for them to attend too.
DCL said:
big heavy complicated chunk of metal
I'll bet an electric Caterham won't be under 550kg. And you won't be able to fix it yourself when it lets you down.And what about the driving experience? the joy of a nice snickety gearbox, and the sound, and the smell of hot oil and metal.
Push the pedal, whizz. brake. It's not all about the numbers, I don't care about track records, it's about the experience of driving.
No thanks.
I'd rather walk.
Edited by mickrick on Saturday 18th June 18:44
mickrick said:
I'll bet an electric Caterham won't be under 550kg.
As I pointed out on the original discussion, linked above, the electric Westfield WiSPER was 550kg with 200kg's worth of lead acid batteries aboard, a quarter of a century ago.If Caterham can't beat that with Lithium ion (or other modern) battery tech, it would be a sad state of affairs indeed.
Weight isn't an issue - the general philosophy of EV conversions is to replicate the engine as an engine size battery box and fill it with batteries to match the weight distribution and handling of the original car. If you are not aiming to reproduce that, then the benefits are enormous with a very low C of G and a power to weight of your choice - you are effectively juggling range against performance.
For a 300 BHP car you would typically use the Tesla power train which is similar in weight to a small ICE, or for lower powered cars, a much lighter motor driving a prop shaft can be used. No flywheels, clutches, or bellhousings needed - all very compact and relatively light (compared to an ICE). The electronics packages are now off the shelf, and can be very simple. The high performance systems do need some heat management, but nothing like as large as a conventional engine.
It's a technology that's really coming of age and it well suited to low volume production. Perhaps the only frustration is the speed of charge - we can only hope that technology gets better in that respect.
For a 300 BHP car you would typically use the Tesla power train which is similar in weight to a small ICE, or for lower powered cars, a much lighter motor driving a prop shaft can be used. No flywheels, clutches, or bellhousings needed - all very compact and relatively light (compared to an ICE). The electronics packages are now off the shelf, and can be very simple. The high performance systems do need some heat management, but nothing like as large as a conventional engine.
It's a technology that's really coming of age and it well suited to low volume production. Perhaps the only frustration is the speed of charge - we can only hope that technology gets better in that respect.
If they can make them that light, that'll be impressive. Current EV's are heavier than my Jag. I dread to think the state the roads will be like with most cars weighing the equivalent of a truck pounding them every day. People moan about pot holes now.
Either way, it'll not be for me. I'm a petrol head, and I like those big heavy complicated engines and gearboxes. (none of mine leak oil
)
Either way, it'll not be for me. I'm a petrol head, and I like those big heavy complicated engines and gearboxes. (none of mine leak oil
)Gassing Station | Caterham | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff