Delta
E-4 Coupe
Delta
Motorsport, the Silverstone-based automotive engineering firm, have been
developing the E-4 Coupe since 2007.
Last
year they entered the car in the Automotive X-PRIZE Competition, and this year
they've brought the design a step closer to full production.
The
Delta E-4 Coupe was designed and engineered from the ground up to be an
electric powered car - unlike many other electric powered vehicles which are
based on platforms originally fitted with internal combustion engines.
Because
the car was solely designed for electric power, the engineers were able to
optimize the car's weight, layout and structure, without having to make
compromises.
The
Delta E-4 Coupe features a bonded carbon-fiber one-piece chassis/body which is
both light and strong.
The
batteries are all placed low down in the vehicle to keep the center of gravity
as low as possible. The batteries make up a significant proportion of the
vehicle's overall weight, so finding the best place to put them was an
important engineering consideration.
The
Delta E-4 Coupe can be fitted with a range of different electric motors and
battery packs. The most expensive and powerful setup uses four individual
motors, one for each wheel, and offers 553 lb-ft (750 Nm) of torque. That means
the 0-60 mph sprint is over after just 4 seconds, and the car is capable of
hitting 150 mph. The lower-spec options include just two motors, one for each
rear wheel, and a less powerful battery pack.
The
Delta E-4's range is also dependent on which powertrain is fitted. The most
potent system has a 200 mile range, while the cheaper option runs out at 140
miles.
