RE: All-electric Caterham Seven promised
Discussion
I really think people are underestimating how different this is going to feel to a ‘normal’ electric car. With no noise deadening or concessions to ‘luxury’ whatsoever it should be totally savage. It could be what changes a lot of minds about EVs as drivers’ cars. It won’t necessarily be too heavy; how far do customers really need a 7 to go?
I love the existing cars but this could be a good thing. It adds to the offer and doesn’t prevent Caterham making ICE cars as well for as long as they possibly can, which might be beyond 2030 depending on what the legislation actually looks like.
As for the cameras/radar... am I missing something... the current cars don’t even have ABS or airbags. Surely they’ll be just as exempt from this most recent EU hell?
I love the existing cars but this could be a good thing. It adds to the offer and doesn’t prevent Caterham making ICE cars as well for as long as they possibly can, which might be beyond 2030 depending on what the legislation actually looks like.
As for the cameras/radar... am I missing something... the current cars don’t even have ABS or airbags. Surely they’ll be just as exempt from this most recent EU hell?
Edited by Bobby Lee on Thursday 13th May 13:09
A lot of people seem to be completely lacking in engineering imagination on here. Batteries are heavy now, but they won't always be. Batteries can also be swapped in and out (take a couple of spare packs to the track day, have them on charge at all times and you'll be able to keep swapping them in and out for laps and still have a full "tank" left to go home). Thinking beyond the constraints of batteries, supercapacitors can be incredible lightweight. The future is bright and I, for one, am glad that marques like Caterham will be a part of the transition to electric cars.
deadscoob said:
It’s not about waking up it’s about removing a few of the fundamental elements that entice owners to the brand, sensory overload and lightweight agility. Remove that and what is left to make you spend that much money on one?
It’ll be quick for sure, but heavy, no real sensory enjoyment outside the Electric grunt. It just becomes a small normal car.
That’s over simplifying it a bit but like any vehicle like this, electric power won’t help them survive because it’s replacing a core part of their appeal with something unappealing.
Pro EV people will disagree but in the main they’re not the customer base for these cars anyway.
I’m in complete agreement with this. The article makes a reference to mandatory cameras also. This will further reduce my desire fir a new model. I’d better get saving to buy that Caterham for life before the brand and more importantly before the cars are ruined. It’ll be quick for sure, but heavy, no real sensory enjoyment outside the Electric grunt. It just becomes a small normal car.
That’s over simplifying it a bit but like any vehicle like this, electric power won’t help them survive because it’s replacing a core part of their appeal with something unappealing.
Pro EV people will disagree but in the main they’re not the customer base for these cars anyway.
Given that driving a Caterham for say 80miles is pretty hardcore, and that requires about 20kWH of batteries, i see no reason this EV Caterham can't be reasonably lightweight. No, not Caterham Hayabusa light, but not exactly a heavy weight.
A 250 bhp motor, which will have massive torque compared to the normal sorts of engines in these cars is about 20 kg these days, call it 40 with inverter and wirin, so you might just get the powertrain in at around 300kg, which is about say 80 kg, or 1 passenger, away from an ICE caterham.
The biggest problem will be to replace the fun of changing gear with something similarly fun. They could put in a two speed trans for proper rip your head off acceleration, with a driver actuated shift at say 65 mph, which would keep you busy.
A 250 bhp motor, which will have massive torque compared to the normal sorts of engines in these cars is about 20 kg these days, call it 40 with inverter and wirin, so you might just get the powertrain in at around 300kg, which is about say 80 kg, or 1 passenger, away from an ICE caterham.
The biggest problem will be to replace the fun of changing gear with something similarly fun. They could put in a two speed trans for proper rip your head off acceleration, with a driver actuated shift at say 65 mph, which would keep you busy.
uremaw said:
jet_noise said:
I'd be very surprised if it does handle like a Caterham.
Batteries are heavy. Car is not designed to be electric so batteries'll not be readily sited in helpful places - low and central.
The entire engine bay of a caterham is low and central! Fill that with batteries, ditch the gearbox, tank and diff, then chuck a couple of motors in the back and you'll have something fast, planted and significantly lighter and more exciting that any mainstream EV.Batteries are heavy. Car is not designed to be electric so batteries'll not be readily sited in helpful places - low and central.
Any EV-angelist that thinks it's going to be great and can't wait just isn't getting it. Do you think they'd be doing this if they weren't being backed in to a corner. DO you really think they believe it will be a better Caterham? “no less exciting, but [instead] exciting in a different way” In other words, it'll be s
t.
I really don't understand why extremely low number manufacturers of cars that do extremely low mileage can't be subject to alternative rules. How much damage to we really think all the Caterham in the world are doing each year? Its fking moronic.
t.I really don't understand why extremely low number manufacturers of cars that do extremely low mileage can't be subject to alternative rules. How much damage to we really think all the Caterham in the world are doing each year? Its f
king moronic.I’m sure its something that the marketing division feel they need to do and talk about.
But could not think of anything worse, the performance in a straight line might be fantastic, but the weight of the batteries will dramatically affect the purity and balance of the car.
Remember Colin Chapmans mantra was to increase performance add lightness.
That’ is the complete opposite of batteries !
But could not think of anything worse, the performance in a straight line might be fantastic, but the weight of the batteries will dramatically affect the purity and balance of the car.
Remember Colin Chapmans mantra was to increase performance add lightness.
That’ is the complete opposite of batteries !
Assuming that after the 2030 ban you can keep your old petrol stuff going and use anywhere....
I’d be interested to see if new sales are sustained or if people just keep the old caterham.... in a car as visceral as this, what is the incentive to switch? It’s not a daily driver.
Can’t wait to see it though!
I’d be interested to see if new sales are sustained or if people just keep the old caterham.... in a car as visceral as this, what is the incentive to switch? It’s not a daily driver.
Can’t wait to see it though!
nigelpugh7 said:
I’m sure its something that the marketing division feel they need to do and talk about.
But could not think of anything worse, the performance in a straight line might be fantastic, but the weight of the batteries will dramatically affect the purity and balance of the car.
Remember Colin Chapmans mantra was to increase performance add lightness.
That’ is the complete opposite of batteries !
A post above suggests an EV Caterham with current battery tech might weight about 80kb more than an ICE version, So not a huge difference and one which should drop as batteries get lighter.But could not think of anything worse, the performance in a straight line might be fantastic, but the weight of the batteries will dramatically affect the purity and balance of the car.
Remember Colin Chapmans mantra was to increase performance add lightness.
That’ is the complete opposite of batteries !
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