Why aren’t there more convertibles?

[Pixelpeep 135]

I guess the answer is 'because they're spending their research budget getting the meat and two veg models right first'

but is there anything further that is preventing even one, brave manufacturer to bring out a soft top EV ?

Weight? flex? batteries in the lower tray without a stiff roof to hold it together ?

I would have thought a little (fiat 124 / mx5) electric car with a 180 mile range and 6 second ish to 60 would be ideal - perfect city / weekend / fun car ?

[anonymous-user]

I imagine an EV with a "skateboard" floor for the batteries would lend itself well to being a convertible.

At the moment though it's likely a niche too far - they can't keep up with demand for the grass roots models as it stands.

[SWoll]

Convertibles make up a tiny % of ICE sales, so really not the market for them in the Ev worldat the minute I'd suggest.

I always thought the drivetrain from the 120h i3 would make a great platform for a 2 seater. 180bhp, RWD, 200 miles of range, relatively lightweight. Only downside would be the 50kW max charge rate.

[paradigital]

SWoll said:

Convertibles make up a tiny % of ICE sales, so really not the market for them in the Ev worldat the minute I'd suggest.

I always thought the drivetrain from the 120h i3 would make a great platform for a 2 seater. 180bhp, RWD, 200 miles of range, relatively lightweight. Only downside would be the 50kW max charge rate.

I don’t even see the 50kW being a downside. My Mk1 TT roadster is the kind of car that I take out on nice days and do at most 100 miles at a time. I could happily cope with 50kW, indeed I’d probably never charge it away from home.

[IAmTheWalrus]

I may be wrong but I think convertibles look less aerodynamic than normal cars so that's probably a big issue in terms of further limiting their range.

[Canon_Fodder]

Rain

[Panamax]

Imagine a typical convertible with the doors open. The whole car is supported by a fairly narrow slice of floor. Now make the floor of the car massively heavier - and see if you can get the doors shut.

[OutInTheShed]

Aerodynamics?

I imagine it might knock the range quite badly?

[Uncle boshy]

Market development, mass market for now with niche sectors to follow.

Alfa reckon the next spyder will be an ev

Vw claim to be working on a drop head id3, ( I’m not sure either)

Ev boxter due in 2025

[T1berious]

Rumour has it that the 718 Cayman / Boxster replacement will be an EV. Boxster is still a strong seller (OK, nowhere near Macan sakes) so I'd be surprised if it doesn't arrive in the next few years.

Battery tech is improving and solid state batteries will offer double the density of the current cells, so who knows, maybe the weight penalty of the battery will half over the next few years and niche models will only be 100Kg heavier than the ICE alternative?

[dhutch]

Rain.

[boyse7en]

dhutch said:

Rain.

How does rain affect the mechanicals of a convertible in a way that doesn't happen with a hardtop?
I'm not that au fait with EV tech, but i'm pretty sure that the battery pack will be sealed against moisture, otherwise you wouldn't be able to drive through puddles

[dhutch]

boyse7en said:

How does rain affect the mechanicals of a convertible in a way that doesn't happen with a hardtop?

If its raining, which it often is, no point in being able to put the top down.

Its one of the key reasons there are not more of them!

[Pixelpeep 135]

dhutch said:

boyse7en said:

How does rain affect the mechanicals of a convertible in a way that doesn't happen with a hardtop?

If its raining, which it often is, no point in being able to put the top down.

Its one of the key reasons there are not more of them!

[300bhp/ton]

Pixelpeep 135 said:

I guess the answer is 'because they're spending their research budget getting the meat and two veg models right first'

but is there anything further that is preventing even one, brave manufacturer to bring out a soft top EV ?

Weight? flex? batteries in the lower tray without a stiff roof to hold it together ?

I would have thought a little (fiat 124 / mx5) electric car with a 180 mile range and 6 second ish to 60 would be ideal - perfect city / weekend / fun car ?

Market demand and car makers slow to react I suspect. Rag tops always cost more, so would be a premium on a premium. And EV's seem to be priced as high as car makers dare at the moment.

I drove the MINI electric last year. Crap range, but I liked the car very much. If they'd done it as a convertible I'd have likely ordered one by now.

[RDMcG]

The only convertible I have owned ( and still own) is a 2003 SL500 which I bought new. The attraction was that it had a proper metal roof. I always felt that the soft tops tended to deteriorate over time.

Secondly, I would not buy a performance convertible as in my experience they are noisy over 70 MPH in general with the top down. I recall taking a Porsche 997 convertible for a quick run in the desert and finding it unpleasant when running hard.

Thus the old Mercedes fits the bill. Quiet, unhurried and not a sports car.

[LankyFreak]

Because convertibles are cool and EVs aren't...

[Pixelpeep 135]

LankyFreak said:

Because convertibles are cool and EVs aren't...

Nope, you're right.

[otolith]

[anonymous-user]

Panamax said:

Imagine a typical convertible with the doors open. The whole car is supported by a fairly narrow slice of floor. Now make the floor of the car massively heavier - and see if you can get the doors shut.

I think you mean massively heavier and also massively stronger...........