Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

I am in process of a Ford Eluminator motor, in a Lotus (Caterham/VT) 7
Wish i Luck

h20hamelan wrote:I am in process of a Ford Emulator motor, in a Lotus (Caterham/VT) 7
Wish i Luck

Not a cheap motor!

I looked at a V8 one when I was contemplating going electric with my Cortina wagon but$$$$$$$$$$'s.

$4k with associated is much cheaper than the alternatives. They sold out the first offerings in a few hours.
There seem to be lots of motor options out there for $2k, not as complete. Not Ford, this is designed for vehicle use. Tesla motors are $10k used, same with many others. The only close thing is a Toyota Hybrid transmission which needs hacking and is still not as complete, again $2k used.

Ford offers 2 drive units, front which is smaller (narrower/lower) and only about 120hp (if the car ends up being 1000kg because of batteries and capacitors.
The rear which is heavier and more complicated with internal brakes etc, 270hp.
Pricing seems fair, the drive shafts likely dictate only the front drive unit will work. But with 2 adults, enough power to climb a hill. The rear drive motor only allows about 20” for driveshafts on either side, maybe enough. But at 270 hp fairly substantial power, so then one would want to add another battery stack again adding weight…Argh.
So maybe some capacitors, that only charge under braking. And expel the power to get up the next hill, or at least start the climb.

Anyone know if 20” shafts will be too short, I should probably start asking on 7 chat forums.

I depends on what sort of rear suspension design you intend to use and how much suspension travel you want. Off the top of my head the Elans drive shafts are less than 20 inches and work OK

cheers
Rohan

I should just edit my last post, but. Ford it seems have 5 Drive Units, 3 look sort of similar, the other 2 seem near identical.
There are only a few at dealers in Canada yet, I likely need a GT vin# to finish the motor/DU puzzle.
Basically it seems there is one PCM controller, and the inverters are specific to each drive motor along with wiring.

Yes, I am not so sure the shaft length will be a problem, but the layout is important.

Has that electric motor been made to look like a V8?? Why oh why?

It must be the same mob that try to make vegetarian meat substitute look like real meat. If it’s a vegetable it surely has to look like a vegetable and not meat. No one ever tries to fake a rump steak by making it look like a carrot. Maybe that means the truth of the matter is that a real genuine rump steak is actually better!

I should just put one of these in and be done with it

https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/Detai ... ged-engine

Yes, too bad it sold!

Another view



Close/tight fit with 1/2 shafts

Now that some pictures are here, anyone with, or better yet, someone thats built a 7 care to comment please.

h20hamelan wrote:Now that some pictures are here, anyone with, or better yet, someone thats built a 7 care to comment please.

I can't but maybe this will help ("stolen" from the weekly LCCBC email)

"Jim Gould: I do quite a bit of 7's livestreams and thought I’d let LCCBC Members know about a show coming up on Jan 16th at 10 am PST which might be of interest. It’s all about electric 7s!

Featuring Martin Coghill (in California) with his: 1. Fab (self made) Locost and 2. his Electric Cyber 7. Also joining the show will be Greg Kelly from Ireland to have a chat about his Electric Westfield conversion, Graeme Finlayson from Barbados a long-time Westfield racer and "build team member" of Dan Johnson's Electric Westfield will join the panel. Dan's Electric Bajan Westfield ) Also Julian Turner of Westfield Sportscars will tell us all about everything Electric at Westfield!

Here is our new website with LiveStream schedule https://7spot.nationbuilder.com/_live_1

Do you want to win or sound good? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HviNb4LpPfY&t=2s

Cheers,

Jim"

Cheers, yes. Got the memo. Had a viewing.
There are some really talented electric car buffs out there. Yes, many options. but.
The Ford offering is very nice.
I am not planing production, though I have molds etc. I would like to build more than a few. So having the right motor has stopped me for many years. I know the Leaf Bolt Tesla etc are all doable, and maybe cheaper long term. I like Ford, and Borg Warner and while all manufacturers reduce costs and make junk. This may be, as its offered “crate” the most viable option. I am sure there are problems. #1 no claimed support for pin outs etc, though Ford claims there is support. I need to find the right persons email to get this I suspect.

The electric Élan “Elon” is perfect, though some 7’s built years ago in NZ and UK are good examples of what not to do. I suspect VT (Caterham) has figured layout for whatever is happening there.

I should know this week if Ford will offer the schematics, diagrams, pin outs etc. My guess is there is going to be a whack of new bits, controllers, power train control, traction, inverters etc…

How’s the snow in the Lower Mainland. We had over 4’ the last 10 days…ouch!

h20hamelan wrote:Cheers, yes. Got the memo. Had a viewing.
There are some really talented electric car buffs out there. Yes, many options. but.
The Ford offering is very nice.
I am not planing production, though I have molds etc. I would like to build more than a few. So having the right motor has stopped me for many years. I know the Leaf Bolt Tesla etc are all doable, and maybe cheaper long term. I like Ford, and Borg Warner and while all manufacturers reduce costs and make junk. This may be, as its offered “crate” the most viable option. I am sure there are problems. #1 no claimed support for pin outs etc, though Ford claims there is support. I need to find the right persons email to get this I suspect.

The electric Élan “Elon” is perfect, though some 7’s built years ago in NZ and UK are good examples of what not to do. I suspect VT (Caterham) has figured layout for whatever is happening there.

I should know this week if Ford will offer the schematics, diagrams, pin outs etc. My guess is there is going to be a whack of new bits, controllers, power train control, traction, inverters etc…

How’s the snow in the Lower Mainland. We had over 4’ the last 10 days…ouch!

And we had about 4" here but most people were wailing and hoarding toilet paper etc- if they ever get real snow, they are effed!

My only concern with a conversion of this type is weight and range, everything can be worked out BUT - I would ideally have someone else pioneer this and then copy/improve from there....

Random thought here, you need to create something like this for Elans as the world is running out of TwinCams

Stopped snowing here! Hooray, as the backcountry is a bit off and I doubt it will recover this year. Alas, the spring paddling will be good.

True about someone else pioneering, but I am getting older and though the batteries/capacitors dont seem to be changing. I am a 50 minute drive to shopping, so likely it can work.
I will wait to hear about Ford’s pin out and services. As I cant imagine they have plunked this here with no support.

I figure Ford is still making blocks, heads are produced and expensive too. We will see, I gave up on electric a few times now. Might again for a couple years, as the world seems to be in great turmoil for many reasons now.

Ive taken to reading as of late, “beyond the trees” Adam Shoalts. Takes me back to my youth, or, because i am sore from shovelling.