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1974 Enfield 8000 ECC illustrates how far batteries have come [Fully Charged Video]

Fully Charged’s latest video features Jonny Smith’s modified Enfield 8000 ECC now called the “Flux Capacitor”. The vehicle beautifully illustrates how far batteries have come in the last few decades. When originally manufactured in 1974, the car was equipped with 300 kg of lead-acid batteries for 96 volts, now Smith equipped his with 145 kg of li-ion batteries for 378 volts.

The video and specs below:

The specs of the original and Jonny’s version:

ORIGINAL ENFIELD 8000 TECH SPEC

BODYSHELL: Handbuilt aluminium two-seater

CHASSIS: Square-section tubular steel space frame

SUSPENSION: Coil-over McPherson strut front, four-link rear axle

MOTOR: 8hp / 6kw / 150amps

WHEELS: 10-inch Mini wheels

BRAKES: Non servo Hillman Imp drums

BATTERIES: 8 x 12v 55-amp hour lead acid batteries

TOP SPEED: 40mph

PERFORMANCE: Erm. Well, 0-30mph in 12.5 seconds

RANGE: 35-55 miles, depending on climate and quantity of hills

WEIGHT: 975kg (a lot for such a midget – over 300kg is batteries)

LENGTH: A mere 2.84m / 112″ (a Mini was 3.05m / 120″)

WHEELBASE: Just 1.725m / 68″ (a Mini was 2.04m / 80.3″)

FUEL: 240v mains Economy Seven

FLUX CAPACITOR ENFIELD 8000 TECH SPEC

BODYSHELL: Restored with new (aluminium) sills and bare metal painted in Lambretta GP ‘Yellow Ochre’ colour, Plastics4Performance Lexan windows, glassfibre moulded bumpers

CHASSIS: Custom Webster Race Engineering roll cage welded to original chassis.

SUSPENSION: AVO adjustable shocks, custom rose-jointed four-link rear suspension with narrowed Ford 9-inch LSD back axle with 6-inch long (!) prop shaft, bolt-on rear wheelie bars, urethane bushes on front A-arms

MOTORS: Twin series-mounted 9-inch DC Current Racing motors with Helwig carbon split brushes, silicone insulation rated for 2000 amps at 170v with a max rpm of 5500rpm. No gearbox. Direct drive.

WHEELS/TYRES: British made Wolfrace slot mag 12×5 fronts with 165/55/12 Yokohamas and 14×7 rear Nitto Extreme NT555R 205/55/14 drag radials

BRAKES: Bespoke front disc conversion with AP Racing Caterham caliper and CNC machined hub carrier by BG Developments, Ferodo pads, American spec Ford drum brake rear.

BATTERIES: ithium-ion Kokam military grade cells originally used as starter and mini-gun batteries for the Bell SuperCobra helicopter, discharge 378v/1600amps in a 10 second pulse. Hyperdrive Innovations BMS (Battery Management System)

TOP SPEED: 120mph (est)

PERFORMANCE: 1000lb ft. 500+hp. 0-60 in sub 4 seconds. Quarter-mile in 12 seconds…or less

RANGE: up to 30 miles (est)

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Comments

  1. Evangelos - 8 years ago

    There is a video documentary about the creation and demise of the Enfield 8000 called “A tale between two isles”.
    You can see the trailer here: https://youtu.be/1Ob-6VK1o-I
    and the facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/ataleoftwoisles/?fref=ts

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