The Caterham EV Seven Concept is the British sports car brand's vision for a future all-electric Seven. The concept aims to test the feasibility of a lightweight electric Seven, bringing Caterham one step closer to launching a battery-electric model that's as driver-focused as its petrol counterpart. The concept was developed in collaboration with Swindon Power Train developed by a touring car engine specialist who has worked with Caterham in the past. The new concept combines the existing architecture of the Seven with “top of the range” battery technology and a rear-mounted electric motor.
Caterham EV Seven Concept
As Caterham says the electric Seven must conform to the car's lightweight performance ethos, the company has limited the size of the battery to 51kWh, allowing the whole vehicle to weigh less than 700kg. This is still an increase of 70kg compared to the current Seven 485 (SV) sold in Europe and Japan. This, combined with the 240 PS & 250 NM electric motor, enables the electric Seven to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in around four seconds, which roughly corresponds to the Seven 485 (SV).
In addition to comparable performance, Caterham also promises similar “driveability” to the petrol-powered example, with a “absolute focus on a fantastic driving experience". To that end, the company has fitted the electric Seven with a limited-slip rear differential, adjustable Bilstein dampers and four-piston brake calipers to complement the engine's regenerative braking.
still for the road AND the racetrack
Caterham's quest for electric performance also extends to charging and range, with the company boss emphasizing that every Caterham must be usable on the road as well as on the track. For track use, the company has developed a charging system that allows 20 minutes of track driving, then 15 minutes of charging and gaining enough energy for another 20 minutes of high-speed track time. To achieve this, the battery's usable capacity is limited to around 40 kWh, or less than 80 percent of the total "gross" capacity. In this way, the battery should be able to charge at speeds of up to 152 kW without causing "premature degradation" of the cells.
The battery pack itself is housed in the Seven's bottom gear tunnel and is liquid-cooled for better heat management when charging or discharging. The Caterham EV Seven Concept is not yet a production model, but a prototype to explore the possibilities of an electric Seven. However, Caterham plans to unveil an all-new model on July 12 that will potentially use some elements of the concept as a development platform. We are excited to see what the future holds for the legendary sports car brand.
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