To turn the gasoline-powered DeLorean into an EV, the company worked with Epic EV and Flux Power, Inc. (ironically, Flux Power did not name itself for the famed "flux capacitor" that powered the time machine in Back to the Future). Flux, which previously provided the battery pack for the well-known WheeGo electric car, created a 720-lb battery pack for the DeLorean, using 52 large format lithium iron-phosphate cells. The 32kWh battery pack does not have its own active cooling system, but does employ a battery management system to monitor every cell in the pack.
"We believe that if you manage each individual cell, you'll understand more about what the system is doing," said Anthony of Epic EV. "By connecting all of our cells to the management system, we know the internal impedance, voltage and heat of every cell, and we can make decisions based on those parameters."
To boost the new car's performance and its fuel efficiency, DeLorean Motors re-engineered the original vehicle underbody, thus cutting its weight from 450lbs to 250lbs. The old body, a combination of fiberglass and steel that was designed by Lotus Engineering 30 years ago, has been replaced by modern composites. The lighter body and a 220kWh DC motor combine to make the new DeLorean accelerate faster than the original.
Anthony contends that the DeLorean EV compares favorably to the Nissan Leaf in some key respects. "The Leaf weighs about 4,300 lbs, while this vehicle comes in at sub-3,000," he told us. "The DeLorean also uses a 32kWh battery, compared to the 24kWh battery in the Leaf."
The DeLorean's "battery bay" houses the vehicle's electric motor and half of its battery pack. (Photo courtesy of DeLorean Motor Co.)
Still, the DeLorean costs three times as much as the Leaf and, because it's a conversion, incorporates few of the safety features of today's vehicles.
Its real appeal, however, remains its futuristic look, Anthony said. "Whenever I drove it, people would ask, 'Is that a DeLorean? Could you open the doors for us?' "
Espey acknowledges that vehicle's mass appeal still stems from the trilogy of Back to the Future movies. Without those, he said, media coverage would have been only a fraction of what it was after the company rolled out the prototype DeLorean EV on October 14.
"I guarantee, somewhere in the world right now, one of those three movies is on television," Espey said. "Someone will watch the movie, get curious about the car, and look it up on the Internet. And when they do, they'll find our company."
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For a look at GM's Chevy Volt, go to the Drive for Innovation site and follow the cross-country journey of EE Life editorial director, Brian Fuller. In the trip sponsored by Avnet Express, Fuller is taking the fire-engine-red Volt to innovation hubs across America, interviewing engineers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and students as he blogs his way across the country.
Seems a bit gimmicky to me. Do they even sell DeLorean vehicle any more and did they ever really sell any in the first place? Then again, a fair percentage of the people buying electric vehicles are doing so to be pioneers and to stand out--maybe this is just the vehicle they're waiting for.
DeLoreans really didn't get a chance to sale. I had always heard that the drug trafficking charges were a setup brought about by the big three. Who knows, but they have done plenty of other similiar nasty things in the past.
I think DeLoreans going electric is a great thing. Maybe someone will do something totally different.
The present DeLorean Motor Company in the article is not the same DeLorean Motor Company that produced the original DMC-12 seen in Back to the Future. The original DeLorean Motor Company folded in 1982. In the mid 90's, someone bought all of the parts and logo of the original DMC and named the new company DeLorean Motor Company. They specialize in spare parts and rebuilds of the existing DMC-12 vehicles on the road. At one time, I think that you could actually buy a new gas powered car from them, but I am not sure if they still offer this now that they are looking to go all electric.
As a note, a friend of mine has an original DMC-12 (without flux capacitor). It is fun to ride in, but you will hit your head on the gull doors every time you get out.
I was listening to an episode of "Top Gear" last night on the BBCA. They had a Delorean on there. It is assembled from several car manufacturers. The front axel from one, the rear from another; and the interior is ghastly (Halloween left over). Plastic pieces everywhere and poorly fitted. The gentleman discussing this owned one, because he was from Ireland, where it is manufactured.
1.21 Gigawatts!!! Stainless steel is great for corosion resistance but horrible for accident repair. I aggree its gimmicky... but maybe this is what it needed all along.
It is interesting that DeLorean has introduced what to most Americans is actually a coal-fired steam car. (The boiler and engine live at the coal-fired power plant.) Iwould be lucky if 0.01% of the public could afford it and of those, perhaps 1% would buy it instead of their macho gas-hogs.
What we really need is a cheap light electric, even with limited range and speed, AND solar charging stations. 2-car families or city dwellers could use the electric to commute and for local trips, neither of which requires grand prix performance. The electric might be designed with the same market philosophy as the Ford T, or the VW beetle, economical, simple, and reliable. An electric need not, and should not, try to mimic a gas car. It's a different species.
One advantage of solar charging is that the panels produce DC which can charge the battery even with no power converters. (There is a tradeoff between the slight gain in efficiency with peak power tracking and the simplicity of direct connection.)
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