Ariel E-Nomad Is An EV That Can Go Anywhere & Do Anything
Ariel is a small volume car maker that focuses on ultra-lightweight performance vehicles. Their latest creation, the E-Nomad concept is a fully electric version based on the Nomad 2. Meant as a go-anywhere, do-anything vehicle, it combines sportscar like acceleration with rugged off-road suspension for offroad adventures.
Weighing just 896kg the E-Nomad uses all-new natural fibre bio-composite bodywork that is recyclable. Designed to be aerodynamic; the body consists of long, continuous, cellulose fibres of flax plants have excellent tensile strength and stiffness.
For additional strength, the panels are backed by reinforcing ‘Power Ribs’ made from more bio-composite natural fibre. The material is supposed to be 9% lighter than the carbon equivalent. These weight saving materials as well as the aerodynamic efficiency allow the new E-Nomad to achieve a range of 240km.
Designed, developed, and manufactured at Ariel’s headquarters in Somerset, the E-Nomad has a 41kWh battery that consists of 12 Pegasus V3 modules. It’s the company’s all-new high energy lithium-ion pouch cells that offer decent performance without compromising on its weight saving ethos.
The entire pack weighs under 300kg and is placed behind the driver/passenger bulkhead. It’s heated and cooled via an integrated system that keeps it operating within the optimum temperature window. This ensures that the motor receives the required power both on track and off-road.
As for its drivetrain, the E-Nomad uses a Cascadia Motion IDM90 combined motor, gearbox, and DX inverter drive unit weighing just 92kg. The 210kW, Borg Warner eDM motor sends power to the rear wheels. This drive unit is water cooled via a secondary system, independent of the battery and uses the front mounted, split-circular radiator.
The E-Nomad can sprint from 0 to 100km/h in about 3.4 seconds. Its TFT instrumentation provides data on the battery, inverter, powertrain temperatures, drive mode and charging status. The car also has a full data logging system and other information that can be used to develop the platform even further.
Ariel has given the E-Nomad a new ABS system with driver selectable on- and off-road modes as well as regenerative braking. Drivers can select between two drive modes: Eco and Sport. The latter unlocks the full power of the drivetrain while the former reduces power and torque with different throttle and regenerative characteristics.
There’s a central switch panel that allows selection of drive, neutral, reverse and park settings. There a also secondary functions to activate the battery heater, charge system and switch between drive modes.
A revised Power Delivery Management (PDM) system manages battery power states allowing automatic system ‘wake up’ or ‘sleep’ for charging and battery management as well as minimising low battery drain when not in use.
Ariel will debut the E-Nomad concept in the UK during the Cenex Expo 2024 on 4 September at UTAC Millbrook. The E-Nomad is not for sale but will be used as a test bed to explore future possibilities for such a platform.
