Lotus Elon

1969 Analogue Lotus Elan reborn without noise & smells. Same weight to keep handling balance

Generations of #EV #FUN. Yes - quiet, clean electric vehicles ARE fun ! bye-bye brum-brum 😆 #LotusElan #TeslaRoadster #Model3 All great #fun but totally different. Take favourite subject: steering feel: 1 #Elan: light, delicate, accurate near perfect (agree with @gordonmurrayautomotive). ~14:1 steering ratio 2 #Roadster: #Elise -like, grip combined with feel, chunky and accurate. ~>15:1 ratio. 3 #Tesla M3P: Fast v high ratio rack with 2/3 steering angle needed. Massive grip - although less feel this combination makes it fun too. ~<12:1 ratio !! #Track time testing needed for next favourite subject: overall balance+grip+steering around apex. #lotuselon #FortheDrivers #restomod #electricclassiccar #carhandling #SteeringFeel #steeringratio
Ali number plate .. and still no exhaust 😲 #LotusElan #FortheDrivers #poweredbythesun #diyev #electricclassiccar #yellow #650kgEV #hyper9 #fun #RetroEV #tesla #lotuscars
Thanks for the free miles 👍 @pod_point & @tescofood #Fun #Fast #Free what's not to like? 👌#650kg #LotusElan #Electric #FortheDrivers #100%Torque #GearsOptional @gordonmurrayautomotive #2030DriveClub #LotusElon
He he no exhaust on me 😆 50 year old roof on too - so original, must have been driven mostly topless. Kept the old fibreglass exhaust tunnel - I doubt it will ever be needed. #LotusElan #50yearsold #Fun #ForTheDrivers #silent #electric #efficient #EV #FreeEnergy #poweredbysun vs #23mpg ! #GordonMurray might approve.
He he no exhaust on me 😆 50 year old roof on too - so original, must have been driven mostly topless. Kept the old fibreglass exhaust tunnel - I doubt it will ever be needed. #LotusElan #50yearsold #Fun #ForTheDrivers #silent #electric #efficient #EV #FreeEnergy #poweredbysun vs #23mpg ! #GordonMurray might approve.
He he no exhaust on me 😆 50 year old roof on too - so original, must have been driven mostly topless. Kept the old fibreglass exhaust tunnel - I doubt it will ever be needed. #LotusElan #50yearsold #Fun #ForTheDrivers #silent #electric #efficient #EV #FreeEnergy #poweredbysun vs #23mpg ! #GordonMurray might approve.
He he no exhaust on me 😆 50 year old roof on too - so original, must have been driven mostly topless. Kept the old fibreglass exhaust tunnel - I doubt it will ever be needed. #LotusElan #50yearsold #Fun #ForTheDrivers #silent #electric #efficient #EV #FreeEnergy #poweredbysun vs #23mpg ! #GordonMurray might approve.
Graph: #Lotus #TwinCam compared to #netgain #hyper9 AC motor. Massive gob of #Torque from Zero is #EV signature. Works well with only 650Kg (20Kg lighter than before #evconversion ) #LotusElan #FortheDrivers #electricclassiccar #diyev #lotuscars #LotusElon
Lovely day for a fly drive. Rare northerly - perfect for slope soaring, above Dorset. #rcsoaring #60"racer #yellow #poweredbywind #EV #diyev #LotusElan #funwithinspeedlimit #poweredbysun #RetroEV #tesla #lotuscars #LotusElon
Elon and Son #LotusElon is Almost exactly half: Weight (650kg) Power (88kW), Battery size (28kWh). But, son, not 'alf the FUN #electricclassiccars #Teslapower #lotuscars #LotusElan #hethelbuilt #classicelectric #tesla #diyev #evconversion #EV #evija
Filling with sun - sharing energy #V2G #Tesla #PowerWall #13kWh #28kWh stored energy from #solarpower #LotusElan #650kgEV #range > #twincam #23mpg #lotuscars #LotusElon #addedLightness #EV #diyev #ColinChapman #lightWeight
#LotusElan in da House 😄 #NoGas #NoPetrol #NoSmells #Energy from the top: 1. #mandofootloose ebike 0.3kWh 2. #Tesla #PowerWall 13kWh 3. #LotusElon 28kWh ! (hence used for V2G /V2H) #RetroEV #classicev #650Kg #retroelectric #classicelectric #evconversion #diyev #Elon #zeroemissions #light #Elan #electricclassiccar #sunshine #hyper9 #electricvehicle #poweredbysun #smpBMS #classicPlastic #netgain #netgainmotors #Fun
Ready for some more testing. Sun powered, quiet, light, little, fun machine #LotusElon #blond #650kg #1420lb #addedLightness #electricclassiccar #LotusElan #electricvehicle #20kgLighter #sustainableliving #F1 #steering #lotuscars #poweredbythesun #tinycar #evija #200milerange
'Fuel' gauge, tacho and speedo all behaving nicely. Colin Chapman's signature steering wheel now very happy - proper 'hot knife thro' butter'. Ditto the nut holding it 😉 #LotusElan #steering #Elan #electricclassiccar #restomod #LotusElon #oldSkoolFitting #oldjoke
More Steering system honing... to carry Colin Chapman's signature aiming for #steering perfection. Now every joint and bearing between the wheels and the nut behind the wheel 😄 has been carefully 'run in' and aligned. Zero play, zero friction 👍. And yes it makes a huge difference - fingertip control and feel even the skid marks on the tarmac 😁. #LotusElan #lotuscars #lotus #restomod #electricclassiccar #light #LotusElon #colinChapman
A bit of 'steering UJ tweakage' extracting every last once of the wonderful 'knife through butter' #LotusElan steering feel. Yes - friction can change when clamp bolts are tightened. #LotusElon #electricclassiccar #restomod#oldSkoolFitting #RollsRoyceApprentice #MechEng #Fun #steering
200Miles Range Testing ! (keeping under 60, cross country, top gear, yet trying to average 59 🙂 light right foot, great handling and lots of regen!) "Look Ma, no exhaust" #netgainmotors #teslamodules #hyper9 #simpBMS #LotusElan #Tesla #LotusElon #nofossilfuels #nosmells #nonoise #diyev #electricclassiccar #diyelectriccar
Finally Persuaded 'Mrs Elon' to drive. Found it easy and 'cute'. #soundoff #windysmartphone #rpm #mph #volts #amps #kW #cantseeoverbonnet #lotuscars #LotusElan #LotusElon #diyev #electricclassiccar
Energy filling hole ! Both #Lotus and #diyev people will recognise this. #electricclassiccar #type2 #sunfiller #LotusElan #lotuscars #simpBMS #LotusElon #poweredbysun
Carpet in - with viewing windows for DC-DC mcb's and, of course, #Tesla battery. #morespacethanyouthink #electricclassiccar #diyev #LotusElan #LotusElon #lotuscars
Electric 2-Bike Delivery Device 🙂 #multimodaltransport #distanceDrive #urbanRide #4FootWide #electricclassiccar #Strida #foldingbike #LotusElan #LotusElon
Setting off in top (sensible) gear. No drama. Instrument view .. including correct tacho, speedo, and 'fuel' gauge plus Amps, Watts, and kW, #netgainmotors display (also set to 'rpm' using 84mm wheel diameter). More useful than an ashtray ! #TopGear 😆 #LotusElan #diyev #electricclassiccar #simpBMS #Tesla #lotus
#LotusElon in Lilliput ! #4FootWide #MonsterSUV #electricclassiccar #netgainmotors #diyev #LotusElan
Boot Sorted, with fuse and battery viewing windows - carpet next. Only added 0.85Kg by using bonded ply and aluminum. More space than original. #electricclassiccar #LotusElan #electricvehicle #diyev #LotusElon #addedLightness #Tesla #Lotus #interlocking #structure
Finally getting round to finishing inside the boot. 1st stage, with hidden tool storage - plywood , just like the original. Next stage carpet ! #electricclassiccar #LotusElan #diyev #electricclassiccars #LotusElon #Tesla
After several recent suspension tweaks I'm happy with 'The Stance' ... As there is no exhaust to grind on the road, the ride height can be optimised .. nice parallel wishbones as Colin Chapman intended. With low rolling centres and negative camber. Still got several more tweaks to play with .. it's amazing how much small but interrelated details like stiffer ball joints, tyres, pressures, shox, springs (rate and length), tracking etc ALL have effects. All this is also SO subjective - many owners just want to go as fast as possible eg on track, but I'm more interested in steering feel, balance and controllability at sensible, legal speeds - for example I prefer lower grip tyres (and not just for hooning about in empty car parks 😆) .... Each to their own.
After the hooning, it's more tuning .... This time bedding in 2 of the new ballpoints and 2 track road ends for more of that lovely buttery legendary fingertip #LotusElan steering feel. #electricclassiccar #LotusElon #steering #gordonmurray #diyev #electricclassiccars
"How come your batteries are not sealed in metal boxes ?" Good Question. EV conversion companies use heavy metal, crash, fire and water resistant battery boxes, as they are selling a product. The 5 #Tesla battery modules used here, (3 front, 2 rear) are mounted structurally, and are only water resistant (in polyprop boxes). They are also internally water cooled, and every 2220 cell has its own fuse. As #Classic #Lotus owners know, the lightweight 60's Elan relies almost 100% on its primary safety - brakes and handling - eg it has zero side impact protection, fire protection etc. etc. Before conversion to the front carb float valve was stuck - running rough and literally pouring petrol onto the distributor ! So, in this case, the battery boxes are the least risk! Their low weight to power, and minimum volume are key to the project primary aim: same weight and balance to keep the #Elan #Handling #electricclassiccar #LotusElon #1960s #electriccar #riskassessment
"How come your batteries are not sealed in metal boxes ?" Good Question. EV conversion companies use heavy metal, crash, fire and water resistant battery boxes, as they are selling a product. The 5 #Tesla battery modules used here, (3 front, 2 rear) are mounted structurally, and are only water resistant (in polyprop boxes). They are also internally water cooled, and every 2220 cell has its own fuse. As #Classic #Lotus owners know, the lightweight 60's Elan relies almost 100% on its primary safety - brakes and handling - eg it has zero side impact protection, fire protection etc. etc. Before conversion to the front carb float valve was stuck - running rough and literally pouring petrol onto the distributor ! So, in this case, the battery boxes are the least risk! Their low weight to power, and minimum volume are key to the project primary aim: same weight and balance to keep the #Elan #Handling #electricclassiccar #LotusElon #1960s #electriccar #riskassessment
"How come your batteries are not sealed in metal boxes ?" Good Question. EV conversion companies use heavy metal, crash, fire and water resistant battery boxes, as they are selling a product. The 5 #Tesla battery modules used here, (3 front, 2 rear) are mounted structurally, and are only water resistant (in polyprop boxes). They are also internally water cooled, and every 2220 cell has its own fuse. As #Classic #Lotus owners know, the lightweight 60's Elan relies almost 100% on its primary safety - brakes and handling - eg it has zero side impact protection, fire protection etc. etc. Before conversion to the front carb float valve was stuck - running rough and literally pouring petrol onto the distributor ! So, in this case, the battery boxes are the least risk! Their low weight to power, and minimum volume are key to the project primary aim: same weight and balance to keep the #Elan #Handling #electricclassiccar #LotusElon #1960s #electriccar #riskassessment
"How come your batteries are not sealed in metal boxes ?" Good Question. EV conversion companies use heavy metal, crash, fire and water resistant battery boxes, as they are selling a product. The 5 #Tesla battery modules used here, (3 front, 2 rear) are mounted structurally, and are only water resistant (in polyprop boxes). They are also internally water cooled, and every 2220 cell has its own fuse. As #Classic #Lotus owners know, the lightweight 60's Elan relies almost 100% on its primary safety - brakes and handling - eg it has zero side impact protection, fire protection etc. etc. Before conversion to the front carb float valve was stuck - running rough and literally pouring petrol onto the distributor ! So, in this case, the battery boxes are the least risk! Their low weight to power, and minimum volume are key to the project primary aim: same weight and balance to keep the #Elan #Handling #electricclassiccar #LotusElon #1960s #electriccar #riskassessment
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