Automotive X-Prize Profile: Delta Motorsport

This is part of an ongoing sub-blog in which I've been profiling official contenders in the Progressive Automotive X-Prize, providing links so interested readers can explore them further, and encouraging you to post your opinions of each contender, their technologies, and how you think they’ll do in this extraordinary competition.

This entry looks at Delta Motorsport out of Silverstone in the UK

Delta Motorsport

Vehicle name: ULEnV (Ultra Low Energy Vehicle)

Fuel(s): Electric

Class*: Mainstream

In the Mainstream class “specifications [are] derived from typical existing small, 5-passenger economy mixed-use vehicles.”

Vehicle Characteristics

The ULEnV is a 4-seat, 4-wheel drive coupé-style plug-in electric vehicle with a lithium-ion battery, fitted with four separate electric motors, one per wheel. Top speed is predicted to be in excess of 100 mph and full battery charge range, around 250 miles. The team's background in motor sport is reflected in the vehicle's aerodynamic efficiency and light-weight structure.

Key Technology / Team Goal

Delta is working according to the principle that, in any given journey, a vehicle should use the minimum amount of energy possible. Reduced emissions logically follow.

Delta

They draw an important distinction between ULEV (Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) and ULEnV (Ultra Low Energy Vehicle), one that points towards their vehicle and their goal in this competition.

In their words, "Powering an Audi Q7 or a BMW X5 from batteries would turn either into a low emissions vehicle, but we believe this is missing the point since they would still consume a huge amount of energy in any journey. All this energy ultimately has to come from somewhere, even if it’s from renewable sources, and we believe that over the next few years a sharper focus will gradually fall on reducing all cars’ energy consumption."

Quote

"There’s much greater scope to innovate within the broad regulatory framework of the X-Prize than in any top level motorsport category, and surely that’s a challenge that no self-respecting engineer could resist."

Leader

Nick Carpenter. Carpenter earned a degree in Automotive Engineering from Loughborough University in 1992. He worked as a designer for Reynard Motorsport for 5 years before joining Piper Design as Chief Engineer.

Financial backing

In addition to other funding, Delta Motorsport has been awarded a “Grant for Research and Development” by the Regional Development Agency for the East Midlands area (EMDA).