Our Electric Bugeye is moving forward nicely. This week, we put on the new wheels and tires and made our first highway test up to 78 MPH. You can see that happen for the first time in the video below.
I am still in awe of the simplicity of direct drive from an electric drive system. It feels to me like it will spin forever without any maintenance at all. No clutch issues, no slave cylinders to change, no synchros to wear and no valves or rings to wear out. And of course, no oil leaks!
Some have said that the exhaust note is elemental to the British sports car experience and while I completely agree, for me, I am willing to give up that sound in exchange for a (mostly) maintenance-free British Sports car. We have dedicated the last ten years to building more than 200 gas-powered Sprites that our clients drive with a high degree of reliability. This drivetrain takes the standard to a whole new level. Charge, get in and go.
On the lift this week for the wheel swap, I admired the clean electric motor with not a single oil drip in sight. You can see the bottom of the battery box in front of the motor. This is made of polyethylene sheet, with a thick plastic film showing at the edge. We’ll peel that off when we get the project completed.
We’re booking electric conversions for this fall. Electric kits will also be for sale, but not for a few more months.
