Two truly British electric car concepts are set to make an appearance in 2012, as hand-built luxury car brand Morgan Motor Company teams up with a consortium of other British brands to produce the Morgan +E programme.
This new programme will see the proven Aero Supersport’s aluminium chassis combined with Zytek’s high-power density electric powertrain. Usually this will be teamed with a manual-rather than automatic-gearbox, a near first for an electric vehicle.
Worcestershire-based firm will ditch the 4.8 litre BMW V8 engine usually used in its Aero SuperSports model in favour of an electric powertrain as part of the collaborative research and development project being part-funded by a £100,000 grant from the Niche Vehicle Network CR&D Programme.
This grant fund, managed by CENEX, is designed to support the development and application of new, low carbon technology within the niche vehicle sector.
Lichfield-based Zytek is experienced in consulting on electric vehicle projects, staring its first high-performance EV projects way back in 1997, when it converted a Lotus Elise to battery-power. design led to engineering programmes with Chrysler and General Motors, closely followed by a long-term relationship with Daimler to develop and build electric powertrains for the smart fortwo ed (electric drive).
The first prototype Morgan will use a new derivative of Zytek’s proven 70kW (94bhp) 300Nm electric powertrain. Power will come from a Li-Ion battery pack integrated into the vehicle’s aluminium structure to offer a lightweight and powerful EV solution.
Zytek’s sales and marketing director Steve Tremble says that one of the reasons for joining the consortium is to show the ease with which his company’s technology can be integrated with a rear-wheel drive platform. “With maximum torque from zero rpm, electric power can deliver an immediate, thrilling driving experience,” he says. “Our intention is to demonstrate drivability, performance and refinement that comfortably meets the expectations of Morgan’s most discerning customers.”
An unusual feature of the vehicle will be that drive from the electric motor is taken through the standard manual gearbox. “Keeping the motor in its sweet spot will help it use energy more efficiently, which will increase the vehicle’s range,” explains Zytek’s engineering programme manager Neil Cheeseman. “It also allows us to provide lower gearing for rapid acceleration from pull-away and higher gearing for top speed. It should also make the car more engaging for keen drivers.”
Zytek is to exhibit at the Low Carbon Vehicle event at Rockingham on September 7 and 8, 2011.
