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One of the largest challenges with high performance EVs is cooling and weight. Both of these affect performance. A Lotus Exige 380 Cup, with the 2GR-FE 3.5 sup

One of the largest challenges with high performance EVs is cooling and weight. Both of these affect performance. A Lotus Exige 380 Cup, with the 2GR-FE 3.5 supercharged V6 from the Toyota Camry weights just 1105KG, of which 163KG is the engine, excluding the supercharger. The 85KWh cells in the Model S weighs 540KG in comparison and is almost 50% of the Exige's total weight. I'm not sure how far off we are from solving this but I'm quite looking forward to improved cooling and lightweight cells that will make electric viable for ultra high performance sports cars.

gameswithgo 8y ago
on the bright side, that weight penalty can be located very very low. That doesn't help with acceleration but improves braking and cornering performance.
- georgerobinson 8y ago
  This is a common misconception. Mass is still mass, no matter how optimally it is placed in the chassis. A Lotus Exige already has near perfect weight distribution and low center of gravity. Since it is mid-engined it also has 160KG of engine over the rear axle which improves traction. Adding an extra 500KG and putting it lower in the vehicle will not improve braking performance, handling or agility.
m463 8y ago
I've wondered about something similar. The original roadster was based on the elise (similar to exige), and it was heavier. I think the highest performance models now have the largest batteries mostly due to marketing. basically "If you want the performance, pay for more battery than you need". Why not have a 35kwh car, a supercapacitor as a buffer and have it weigh significantly less for better performance? (at the expense of range)
- georgerobinson 8y ago
  It would be a pain. Take that 35KWh car on track, do a 15 minute session and then have to wait another 45-60 minutes for it to charge back up?
  - m463 8y ago
    If you're talking about the track, then swappable batteries? Also, I wonder how a supercapacitor could increase range? I suspect performance and efficiency would both increase without energy bottlenecks between the motors and the batteries.

gameswithgo 8y ago

on the bright side, that weight penalty can be located very very low. That doesn't help with acceleration but improves braking and cornering performance.

georgerobinson 8y ago
This is a common misconception. Mass is still mass, no matter how optimally it is placed in the chassis. A Lotus Exige already has near perfect weight distribution and low center of gravity. Since it is mid-engined it also has 160KG of engine over the rear axle which improves traction. Adding an extra 500KG and putting it lower in the vehicle will not improve braking performance, handling or agility.

m463 8y ago

I've wondered about something similar. The original roadster was based on the elise (similar to exige), and it was heavier. I think the highest performance models now have the largest batteries mostly due to marketing. basically "If you want the performance, pay for more battery than you need". Why not have a 35kwh car, a supercapacitor as a buffer and have it weigh significantly less for better performance? (at the expense of range)

georgerobinson 8y ago
It would be a pain. Take that 35KWh car on track, do a 15 minute session and then have to wait another 45-60 minutes for it to charge back up?
- m463 8y ago
  If you're talking about the track, then swappable batteries? Also, I wonder how a supercapacitor could increase range? I suspect performance and efficiency would both increase without energy bottlenecks between the motors and the batteries.