Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

How about offering a kit?? Tell us more - PLEASE!

Electric 1960's Elan. Why oh why? You've killed most of the character!! We'll be inundated with electric cars in the next 10-15 years. Why wreck something that's a piece of history and unique. By all means have fun with the technical aspects of EV conversions but save it for Toyota Corollas. Electric conversions of some models of those would actually add a bit of character! The best EVs are new EVs and not conversions.

Hi Richard,

I got a kit ,ironically, from Australia .

There?s a crowd that?s not too far from you that will. https://www.electricclassiccars.co.uk/.

I weighed it today and it came out at 700kg.

Once the Europa?s body is repaired and painted the motor is going back into that and the Elan will revert to gasoline. The performance will be better as the Europa is much lighter than the Elan.

at 700kg youre adding not only this very heavy fan BUT ALSO an entire car on top of the europa- unlike colin sj

Bombay Racing Green wrote:Hi Richard,

I got a kit ,ironically, from Australia .

There?s a crowd that?s not too far from you that will. https://www.electricclassiccars.co.uk/.

I weighed it today and it came out at 700kg.

Once the Europa?s body is repaired and painted the motor is going back into that and the Elan will revert to gasoline. The performance will be better as the Europa is much lighter than the Elan.

Yuck!!! If you really want to be a Greenie why not put it in your everyday grocery getter where it actually will have an environmental impact due to the mileage covered rather than in a hardly used museum piece.

Here's one for the all the Greenies out there by the way!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqVwHJPV-XE

The environmentally friendly bit with that Cummins will come when they recycle all the bits following the sweep up...
What's that phrase? Turning ???? into noise...

Impressive

innesw wrote:Thread revival rather than a new thread.
Anybody on here know Mark Sanders? Are you already here Mark?
He is rebuilding an Elan on Instagram with an electric motor and Tesla batteries.

His tag is @lotus_elon
Looks like a nice project, well thought out and properly engineered.
Here's a link for those without smart phones and apps -
https://instagram.com/lotus_elon?igshid=rksi506rowtt
Innes

Hi There,
Yes .. I'm on here a long time lurker
I've owned over 6 elans over the years, and most other lotus. I Also like EV's so the 'Lotus Elon' Project was born, with the aim of maintaining ALL the best Elan bits, bit without the noise, smells (and occasional agro).

I'm pleased to say - it works and meets aims.
https://mas-design.com/lotus-elon/ (click on pictures of descriptions)
or if on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lotus_elon/

Now its a rolling test-lab ... there are so many adjustments for the drive system all via laptop, which makes a change from tweaking carbs !!.
Still plenty of other things to do .. many 50 year old things, like wiper motor

Handling is still awesome.
1st gear goes to 45mph (@8000 rpm, with wheel spin) 2nd gear, most useful, goes up to 70. There is no clutch but if ever needed, shifts are easy as low rotor, rotational inertia.

In comparison to other recent drives (Tesla Model 3 and Boxster 718) I find although once in corner Elan is so adjustable, its steering rack is a tad slow .. so I will be trying the faster moss rack soon and will report back ... if not to my personal preferences I'll go back to standard.

I know DOUBLE bad
All the best, and thanks to you ALL for wonderful tips and support over the years xx
Mark

Well done Mark! I was wondering how it was going. Glad it’s working out well, despite the naysayers! I recently got two more model s modules to increase the voltage on my car. I also got a leaf motor and inverter for another project. Despite what people thought my conversion ended up lighter than the original car.

interesting ... I looked through the photos and did not notice the total number of Tesla packs : can you tell the battery capacity and battery weight location ?

I've been looking into vintage electrical conversion for decades (though not for elans), was looking into VW conversions in the 90s in California (and original vintage EV since a number small manufacturers made limited series during the 40s due to fuel shortage, usually small two seaters, almost bought a Breguet A2... prices have gone 10x since), then modern batteries have changed the game, but our administration is rather conservative here and would make it very difficult to get the car back on the road - yet they promissed a change in legisltation during 2020 (waiting for actual measure, as devil will be in the details).

Bombay Racing Green wrote:Well done Mark! I was wondering how it was going. Glad it’s working out well, despite the naysayers! I recently got two more model s modules to increase the voltage on my car. I also got a leaf motor and inverter for another project. Despite what people thought my conversion ended up lighter than the original car.

Well done, Sir !
I guess having local EV hero Damien Maguire nearby might be a help with your conversion.

And yes mine too is about 10 -20 kg under its original weight ... to add weight *would* be sacrilege to a Lotus.

nmauduit wrote:interesting ... I looked through the photos and did not notice the total number of Tesla packs : can you tell the battery capacity and battery weight location ?
).

Need to look carefully .. there are 3 Tesla modules in the front + motor same weight as Twincam. And 2 modules in the boot (same weight as 1/2 full tank, spare and exhaust) ...overall same weight distribution and slightly lighter.
Full spec: https://issuu.com/mark77a/docs/1_page_a ... y_on_elan_

LotusElon wrote:

nmauduit wrote:interesting ... I looked through the photos and did not notice the total number of Tesla packs : can you tell the battery capacity and battery weight location ?
).

Need to look carefully .. there are 3 Tesla modules in the front + motor same weight as Twincam. And 2 modules in the boot (same weight as 1/2 full tank, spare and exhaust) ...overall same weight distribution and slightly lighter.
Full spec: https://issuu.com/mark77a/docs/1_page_a ... y_on_elan_

thank you for the precision : so about 120V, 26kWh ... I'm looking forward the range and road tests reporting !

ps: I understand you did not consider a liquid cooled battery temperature management necessary?

I've got liquid temperature management built in .. rather than cooling. The controller gets warm, but in UK weather batteries are usually below their optimum, as are my feet !!!
So, next fun / experimental work is: setting up the valves/pump/heater/small radiator .... I'm trying to use the 'heater' knob on the dash to control all this and still look original in the cockpit

When I purchased my +2 for an electric conversion. My plan was to turn the rear differential around. And have the motor in the rear. No transmission. That was 10+ years ago.
Batteries through tunnel, and under bonnet. Controller and charger where ever they fit.
I understand having a transmission helps, and is certainly a nice thing for cutting power.
This is where the Europa seems like the right way to go. Then, one would consider building packs. Rather than off the shelf.
Swindon has a very expensive, but ultimately perfect Europa, or 7 solution.

Mark
Great work.
I see you have gearbox but no clutch. How necessary do you think the gearbox is?
What is the performance from 0 like in 3rd or 4th?
David