Electric 150mph Delta E-4 Coupe Launched

A new electric vehicle has been officially launched today at the Silverstone Circuit: the Delta E-4 Coupe, a 150mph (241 km/h) two-door vehicle capable of accelerating from naught to sixty in less than five seconds and with a range of 200 miles (322 km) on a single charge.

The vehicle’s carbon composite chassis, designed by Delta and manufactured by KS Composites, weighs just 85kg – 2/3 less than a comparable steel structure despite being designed to pass EU crash tests.

The high performance direct-drive electric motors were designed in partnership with Oxford University and spin-out Oxford YASA Motors and produce well over 600Nm of torque and over 120hp each while only weighing 23kg. The low, sporty seating position with the batteries mounted under the floor means that the car handles well and also helps reduce aerodynamic drag.

The Delta E-4 Coupe will be taking part in the RAC Future Car Challenge on November 5, 2011, one day before the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, the world’s longest-running motoring event. The event showcases the very latest low energy vehicles in a 60-mile trial from Brighton to London, with the challenge of using the least amount energy over the route.

"We became involved with the design of hybrid and electric vehicles because they share many of the engineering challenges associated with motor sport – light weight parts, aerodynamic efficiency and innovative packaging solutions. We’ve had to re-think road cars from the beginning, looking at low cost composite structures, system efficiencies and novel occupant packaging," stated Simon Dowson, co-founder of Delta Motorsport.