The small sports car maker has begun development of hybrid and electric vehicles, and will reportedly unveil a prototype by the end of this year. Caterham started its work by purchasing an existing hybrid drivetrain that it can fit to its existing engines from another manufacturer. Ansar Ali, managing director of Caterham cars, said the EV system also was sourced from another manufacturer, but would not reveal either system’s origins.
“We’ve been told by our suppliers that the Caterham layout is good for an electric car -- there’s a lot of space under the hood,” said Ali. He also said that unlike most electric vehicles, an all-electric Seven would not weight any more than a conventional gasoline-powered Seven.
As racing these days is trying to become more efficient with Formula 1’s KERS device, the American Le Mans Series Michelin Green X Challenge, and the announcement of a hybrid Le Mans car, Caterham wants to create a one-make race series to help develop the car. The race series would debut around 2011 and help to get the first road-going hybrid/electric Seven on the streets by 2012.
“We’re looking first and foremost at motorsport, which we see as a test bed for the technology,” said Ali.
Source: Autocar