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Delta
Motorsport, a highly innovative UK engineering consultancy based at the
Silverstone Circuit, has designed and built the battery-electric
Delta E-4 Coupé from the ground - up. Delta’s focus on light weight
and high-efficiency systems means that the stylish two-door coupe has a
range of 200 miles on a single charge and yet can accelerate from zero
to 60mph in less than five seconds.
May 9th saw
the launch of the E-4 at Silverstone where it was designed and
manufactured, attended by Quentin Wilson and Robert Llewellyn everyone
got to drive and discover the next generation of electric vehicles using
the very latest technological advances to achieve a greater driving
performance.
The
company, which was founded in 2005 by Simon Dowson and Nick Carpenter,
has considerable experience in the motor sport and mainstream automotive
sectors as well as other high performance engineering and clean
technology projects.
Dowson
says: "We became involved with the design of
hybrid and electric vehicles because they share many of the engineering
challenges associated with motor sport – light weight parts, aerodynamic
efficiency and innovative packaging solutions. We’ve had to re-think
road cars from the beginning, looking at low cost composite structures,
system efficiencies and novel occupant packaging."
The key to
the E-4 Coupé's impressive performance and range is the integration of
all these technologies into a single vehicle:
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The
carbon composite chassis, designed by Delta and manufactured by KS
Composites, weighs just 85kg – 2/3 less than a comparable steel
structure despite being designed to pass EU crash tests.
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The
high performance direct-drive electric motors were designed in
partnership with Oxford University and spin-out Oxford YASA Motors
and produce well over 600Nm of torque and over 120hp each while only
weighing 23kg.
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The
low, sporty seating position with the batteries mounted under the
floor means that the car handles superbly but it also helps reduce
aerodynamic drag.
Development
of the car was supported by a grant for research and development by the
Regional Development Agency for the East Midlands area, EMDA. Five
vehicles have been produced for the Technology Strategy Board Ultra Low
Carbon Vehicle Demonstrator Program, the vehicles are part of the EEMS
Accelerate consortium which aims to showcase high performance electric
vehicles with cutting edge British design and engineering.
The Delta
E-4 Coupe will be taking part in the RAC Future Car Challenge on
Saturday 5th November 2011, one day before the London to
Brighton Veteran Car Run, the world’s longest-running motoring event.
The event showcases the very latest low energy vehicles in a 60-mile
trial from Brighton to London, with the challenge of using the least
amount energy over the route. |
