Caterham Working On Electric Sportscars?

Oh please oh please oh please ... if anyone can make an EV sportscar, Caterham can. Sure, it might seem sort of an odd idea, even a bit of a stretch, even blasphemous to some, but from an engineering standpoint, it sounds like a good starting point.

For starters, Caterhams are light, so the addition of heavy batteries will add up to less, over-all then if you put them in a more conventional ride. Yes, adding weight for whatever reason goes against what Colin Chapman, and the evergreen Lotus 7 stands for, but hey, why NOT make an EV 7?

Not only is their less weight to start with, but if you've ever taken the hood off a 7, you'll notice there's a lot of room under there. Plenty of room for a big motor, batteries, and just forward of the scuttle, there's a nice shelf like area for controllers and other electronic components that can be kept out of the elements, yet still easily accessed.

According to Brit Mag Autocar, Caterham chief Ansar Ali mentioned at the Tokyo Motor Show that Caterham would unveil an eco-friendly prototype before the end of the year. Allegedly they are looking into both hybrid and EV options, and that the various bits and bobs will come from as yet unnamed manufacturers.

And no, this doesn't sound like just some idle auto show rumor either. Caterham says they are planning a one-make race series to show off its new green sportscar in 2011. If all goes well with the EV series, then plans are to roll out the production model if sufficient demand is found by sometime in 2012

"Ah yes," you might well say, "all this is well and good, but who wants a 7 that's slow?" Good point. Caterham says that the performance will be just as energetic in its EV variant as it is with the amazing gasoline-fed models.

Which is good ... damn good as a matter of fact, because the "normal" Caterhams are flat our wonderful cars. If I had the extra garage space, there'd be a Caterham in it. They've been at the top of my short list for many, many years now.

Source: AutoBlogGreen