Shortly after the debut of the Ariel Nomad 2 last month, the UK-based company unveiled a fully electric version of its all-terrain model. The Ariel E-Nomad is still a concept, but it previews a production EV set to arrive in 2026. The E-Nomad is visually distinguished from its ICE-powered counterpart thanks to a redesigned bodywork made of a recyclable flax fiber bio-composite material. The new panels, developed by Bamd Composites, are 9 percent lighter than carbon fiber, and produce 73 percent lower CO2 emissions during the manufacturing process.
Furthermore, the E-Nomad benefits from a
30 percent reduction in drag compared to the Nomad 2, without affecting the
downforce. This was achieved by covering the tubular chassis and adding a
sleeker roof that integrates the full-size spare wheel. More importantly, the
E-Nomad trades the Ford-sourced turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine of the
Nomad 2 for a zero-emission powertrain. A Borg Warner eDM motor produces 281 hp and 490 Nm of torque, powering the rear wheels
with the help of a limited slip differential. Performance is said to be
equivalent to the ICE version, with the 0-96 km/h sprint completed
in 3.4 seconds.
The drivetrain comprises a Cascadia Motion
IDM90 combined motor, gearbox, and DX inverter drive unit, tipping the scales
at 92 kg. The E-Nomad is fitted with Ariel‘s new ABS system with
selectable drive modes, and also features regenerative braking. Energy is
sourced from a 450V battery pack with a capacity of 41 kWh, which was developed
specifically for the Ariel E-Nomad by Rockfort Engineering. The battery is
mounted behind the two-seater cabin and weighs 300 kg. It
comprises Pegasus V3 modules with high density and features integrated cooling
and heating systems.
According to Ariel, the E-Nomad tips the
scales at 896 kg and has 240 km of range.
Furthermore, the battery pack is compatible with DC fast charging, taking it
from 20 to 80 percent in under 25 minutes. The Ariel E-Nomad Concept will make
its official debut at the Cenex Expo 2024 on September 4 and is set to continue
testing. The production version will reportedly hit the market in 2026.
According to Autocar, the price of the EV is estimated to be around £ 10,000
(US$ 13,236) higher than the ICE-powered Nomad 2, which starts from £ 67,992
(US$ 90,023).
