Huge power and heavy battery, that’s EV, right? Well, maybe it doesn’t have to be. Caterham built two prototype electric vehicles, simply called the EV Seven, to see if an electric car could be built that offered the lightweight, minimalist fun that the company’s petrol-powered vehicles offer.
Starting with Caterham’s most important stat, weight, the numbers are very impressive. The company says the EV Seven weighs just under 150 pounds more than the 485, just under 1,543 pounds (700 kg). This is even more impressive considering it has a battery pack with a usable battery capacity of 40 kWh (51 kWh total). No range estimates were given, but the entry-level Nissan Leaf has the same amount of capacity and has a range of around 150 miles. All in a larger version of the Caterham chassis currently in production with a little more interior space. Specifically, the battery fills the engine bay and transmission tunnel.
The battery itself is also interesting. Caterham says the cells are immersed directly in a dielectric solution made by MOTUL to provide maximum cooling. We wouldn’t be surprised if this more direct cooling system also helps save space and weight. Cooling is important as Caterham’s goal is to make the EV Seven very suitable for track use. We want to be able to use the track at full speed for 20 minutes, then charge it for 15 minutes and then be able to drive it for another 20 minutes. This is a lot of work, as batteries generate a lot of heat. Caterham is equipped with a DC fast charger that can charge up to 152 kW, which also produces considerable heat.
In addition to having the durability of a petrol Caterham, the EV Seven also has raw performance numbers on target. The motor and gearbox are from Swinden Powertrain. It is mounted in the rear and makes 240 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque. A single-speed gearbox and limited-slip differential channel that power to the rear, propelling the EV Seven to 60 mph in an estimated 4 seconds and reaching an estimated top speed of 130 mph. It sits right behind the Seven 420 and 485, Caterham’s most powerful naturally aspirated street cars. And to match the power, the EV Seven is equipped with 420 Cup adjustable Bilstein shocks and a set of four-piston brake calipers.
The Caterham EV Seven sounds like an almost perfect small electric sports car. Except for the fact that it may take a while to get your hands on it. In a press release, Caterham CEO Bob Reichley said: “We intend to bring this to market when the time is right for future generations of battery technology to become possible, so now is the time to try out this concept. is,” he said.
This means that the cars listed here are not for sale immediately. But the public will get a first-hand look at the car when it debuts at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July. And Caterham will undoubtedly have something on the market in the future once it gets its EV tech into full swing.
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