Morgan showcases electric sports car with five speed manual transmission at Geneva

The Morgan Plus E electric sports car features a five-speed manual gearbox and was designed by Morgan with the support of British technology specialists Zytek and Radshape. Click to enlarge.

Morgan Motor Company showcased an electric sports car with a five-speed manual gearbox at the Geneva Motor Show. Designed by Morgan with the support of British technology specialists Zytek and Radshape, Morgan showed it as a concept to test market reaction, suggesting that it could enter production if there is sufficient demand.

The Plus E is based on a tailored version of Morgan’s lightweight aluminium platform chassis clothed in the revised traditional body from the new BMW V8-powered Plus 8, also launched at Geneva. Power is delivered by a new derivative of Zytek’s 70 kW (94 bhp), 300 N·m electric motor, which is already proven with US vehicle manufacturers.

The Morgan Plus E concept will be powered by a derivative of Zytek’s production 70kW E-Drive, providing 300 N·m of torque. Click to enlarge.

Mounted in the transmission tunnel, the Zytek unit drives the rear wheels through a conventional five-speed manual gearbox. The clutch is retained, but because the motor provides torque from zero speed the driver can choose to leave it engaged when coming to rest and pulling away, driving the car like a conventional automatic.

A multi-speed transmission allows the motor to spend more time operating in its sweet spot, where it uses energy more efficiently, particularly at high road speeds. It also allows us to provide lower gearing for rapid acceleration and will make the car more engaging for keen drivers.

—Zytek Automotive managing director Neil Heslington

The program will deliver two engineering concept vehicles. The first, with the five-speed manual box and Li-ion batteries, will be used for preliminary engineering assessment while the second will be closer to potential production specification, with alternative battery technologies and possibly a sequential gearbox.

The collaborative research and development project is part-funded by a £100,000 (US$157,000) grant from the UK Government’s Niche Vehicle Network Programme, which is managed by CENEX to promote the development and commercialization of new low-carbon vehicle technologies.

Zytek’s sales and marketing director Steve Tremble said that one of the reasons for joining the consortium is to show the ease with which his company’s technology can be integrated with a rear-wheel drive platform.

Zytek’s first experience with a high-performance electric sports car was in 1997 when it converted a Lotus Elise to electric drive. The award-winning design led to engineering programs with Chrysler and General Motors, closely followed by a long-term relationship with Daimler to develop and build electric powertrains for the smart fortwo ed (electric drive). In motorsport, Zytek was the first company to race a hybrid at Le Mans and supplied technology for the first KERS-equipped Formula 1 car to win a grand prix.

The Niche Vehicle R&D Programme provides support and grant funding for groups of companies throughout the UK that are active in the niche vehicle sector. The programme is funded by Advantage West Midlands and the Technology Strategy Board. Managed by CENEX, it promotes the development and application of new technology to take advantage of the increasing market opportunities for lower carbon vehicles.

Radshape, one of the UK’s leading specialist manufactures of high-precision sheet metal components and assemblies, built the modified chassis.

Source: Green Car Congress