Delivered today, yet another project. Lots of work needed!
Thinking GS300H gearbox as the 450H is probably too big to fit into the backbone.
Re: Lotus Excel
Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2020 6:16 pm
by 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 7434 times
Re: Lotus Excel
Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2020 8:35 pm
by 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.
Re: Lotus Excel
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2020 2:04 pm
by bobby_come_lately
Awesome! An Esprit has been my dream car for years. Would love to do a Lotus.
Re: Lotus Excel
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2020 3:24 pm
by 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.
Re: Lotus Excel
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2020 6:18 pm
by zippy500
nice project
Re: Lotus Excel
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2020 8:03 pm
by bobby_come_lately
SciroccoEV wrote: ↑Sun Aug 16, 2020 3:24 pm
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?
Re: Lotus Excel
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2020 8:55 pm
by SciroccoEV
bobby_come_lately wrote: ↑Sun Aug 16, 2020 8:03 pm
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.
Re: Lotus Excel
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2020 9:21 pm
by 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?
Re: Lotus Excel
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2020 7:17 am
by 4markowen
What if you went overboard on the sealant?
Re: Lotus Excel
Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2020 12:41 pm
by SciroccoEV
Leaf meets Lotus.
Re: Lotus Excel
Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2020 1:50 pm
by 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.
Re: Lotus Excel
Posted: Wed Sep 23, 2020 5:16 pm
by 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.
Re: Lotus Excel
Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2020 1:19 pm
by DaveH
Nice. Is that 8 modules worth?
Re: Lotus Excel
Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2020 1:41 pm
by SciroccoEV
DaveH wrote: ↑Thu Sep 24, 2020 1:19 pm
Nice. Is that 8 modules worth?
I am after 4 modules of these same batteries. Where did you source yours? Have you got any left from your project?
Cheers
CZ
Re: Lotus Excel
Posted: Fri Dec 31, 2021 9:29 pm
by 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.
Re: Lotus Excel
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 3:09 pm
by SuperV8
SciroccoEV wrote: ↑Fri Dec 31, 2021 9:29 pm
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???
Re: Lotus Excel
Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2022 4:46 pm
by SciroccoEV
SuperV8 wrote: ↑Wed Jan 12, 2022 3:09 pm
I'm sure I was watching youtube last night and saw you on 'the late brake show' & projects of the people???
