Lotus Excel

[SciroccoEV]

Delivered today, yet another project. Lots of work needed!

Thinking GS300H gearbox as the 450H is probably too big to fit into the backbone.

[TFirenza]

should be a great build, has some delorian similarities, feel like its calling out for that louvered rear window.

delorian.jpg (17.3 KiB) Viewed 6919 times

[MattsAwesomeStuff]

Looks a bit like a boxy 928.

Cool. I wanted to convert a Lotus Elise for years. Never knew anything about cars or how much they cost. Dug around and saw an Exige for $16,000 here a few years ago, and figured, okay, I could afford that, I'll wait around and see what the market is like, pick one up cheap.

I've since learned that even a salvage Elise is a bargain at $30,000. Hrmph.

[bobby_come_lately]

Awesome! An Esprit has been my dream car for years. Would love to do a Lotus.

[SciroccoEV]

I've been wanting to do a Lotus conversion since the 90's when I was prepping and developing the Porsche 914 race EV in the US each year.

The 1985 Excel is actually lighter than the same year Esprit and has also four seats, rather than two. It's also a lot cheaper, so although I would have liked to do an Esprit, I think the Excel may be a better choice.

I'm now leaning more towards a Leaf motor onto the original gearbox. The Lotus's 4.1 rear diff poses gearing problems compared to the 2.764 of the 300h and drop in alternatives ratios are limited. It's a Toyota Supra derived unit with a uniquely Lotus mounting arrangement.

[zippy500]

nice project

[bobby_come_lately]

I've been wanting to do a Lotus conversion since the 90's when I was prepping and developing the Porsche 914 race EV in the US each year.

The 1985 Excel is actually lighter than the same year Esprit and has also four seats, rather than two. It's also a lot cheaper, so although I would have liked to do an Esprit, I think the Excel may be a better choice.

I'm now leaning more towards a Leaf motor onto the original gearbox. The Lotus's 4.1 rear diff poses gearing problems compared to the 2.764 of the 300h and drop in alternatives ratios are limited. It's a Toyota Supra derived unit with a uniquely Lotus mounting arrangement.

Probably not the last 'uniquely Lotus' thing you'll have to deal with I suspect. Brilliant project though.

Will original gearbox deal with the torque?

[SciroccoEV]

Will original gearbox deal with the torque?

The Toyota W58 should be fine, even the version with the alloy centre plate gets used in V8 conversions.

[PacEmaker]

What a great project idea! I'm looking forward to progress reports...

If you put a Leaf motor up front of the original gearbox, will you be able to retain install batteries in a way that allows something like the original weight balance for the Lotus?

[4markowen]

What if you went overboard on the sealant?

[SciroccoEV]

Leaf meets Lotus.

[arber333]

Really nice conversion.
With a small weight of that car and power/torque of the Leaf motor i think you better install some wings on that car.
I do think the suspension is really good so this will have some great cornering capability.

[SciroccoEV]

I just had a 22kw BMW i3 pack delivered today. Relatively low capacity, but easy to upgrade to the later higher capacity modules in the future.

Got a deal on ebay, just under £100 per kwh.

[DaveH]

Nice. Is that 8 modules worth?

[SciroccoEV]

Nice. Is that 8 modules worth?

Yes.

[SciroccoEV]

OK, time for a battery upgrade.

But you haven't started on this one yet!

I know, but I couldn't resist.

18 off CALB modules, 6S1P, ~112Ah, 12.35Kg 355mm long, 152mm wide, 115mm tall.

[ZooKeeper]

Leaf meets Lotus.

Does that make this a "Lotus Leaf"???

[Gigas]

I like this build! I feel an 80s music montage is in order

[SciroccoEV]

The lotus is second in the queue. My 1984 Scirocco, which I converted 20 years ago, is the priority at the moment.

[carloz]

OK, time for a battery upgrade.

But you haven't started on this one yet!

I know, but I couldn't resist.

18 off CALB modules, 6S1P, ~112Ah, 12.35Kg 355mm long, 152mm wide, 115mm tall.

I am after 4 modules of these same batteries. Where did you source yours? Have you got any left from your project?
Cheers
CZ

[SciroccoEV]

The Excel finally got some attention. It's up on my portable vehicle lift and I've started the suspension/brake rebuild.

Although it's a galvanised chassis, it stood in someone's garden since 2006 and some (unplated) suspension components are beyond use. I had always planned to take the body off the chassis, but many people had tried to discourage me from doing so, "It will be fine, they never rust". Whilst I don't think there are any areas actually rusted through, I've seen enough areas of concern that I am going to split the body and chassis, so that it can be cleaned up at the rust pprotection renewed.

[SuperV8]

IMG_20211217_103836.jpgThe Excel finally got some attention. It's up on my portable vehicle lift and I've started the suspension/brake rebuild.

Although it's a galvanised chassis, it stood in someone's garden since 2006 and some (unplated) suspension components are beyond use. I had always planned to take the body off the chassis, but many people had tried to discourage me from doing so, "It will be fine, they never rust". Whilst I don't think there are any areas actually rusted through, I've seen enough areas of concern that I am going to split the body and chassis, so that it can be cleaned up at the rust pprotection renewed.

I'm sure I was watching youtube last night and saw you on 'the late brake show' & projects of the people???

[SciroccoEV]

I'm sure I was watching youtube last night and saw you on 'the late brake show' & projects of the people???

Yes, I'm a repeat offender.

[SuperV8]

I'm sure I was watching youtube last night and saw you on 'the late brake show' & projects of the people???

Yes, I'm a repeat offender.

Aha great, i'll be sure to check out the other episodes...

[SciroccoEV]