Could General Motors, Chevrolet and the Corvette team be working on an electrified Corvette? That’s for speculation to continue to run rampant following the trademarking of the “Corvette E-Ray” and “E-Ray” name.
In the meantime, Car and Driver’s very own Don Sherman has weighed in on the matter. Sherman is a self-professed Corvette enthusiast, and the latest news got him thinking about how the current C7 Corvette Stingray could be hybridized. Granted, if the “E-Ray” is a real thing, who knows if all-new technology and-or a new platform is underpinning such an idea.
He goes on to explain the following:
I’d do it by rearranging components behind the rear axle.
Hanging a motor/generator onto the rear of the differential would be the way to go. The added electric machine would capture normally squandered energy during deceleration and braking. The electricity would be stored in one or more compact lithium-ion battery packs also located at the rear of the Corvette. Then, during acceleration, this device would operate as a motor to ease the engine’s labor, yielding a slight fuel-economy improvement.
Granted, there would be much reconfiguration to occur to make this happen, and he explains the added weight would most likely keep a hybrid Corvette from attaining similar C7 Z06 numbers with its staunch 6.2-liter LT4 supercharged V8.
Though, we’re sure there’s weight to be cut elsewhere.
Comments
A true Corvette Guy such as Myself Does not want his Corvette to be anything other than V-8 GASOLINE. No!, Leave the Corvette Alone, Hybrids are politically Correct vehicles making a political statement saying I am Smug I am better than you.And To me It heresy to have anything other than a V8 Gasoline Engine in My Dream Car!
I am like you give me a V8 Corvette till I die. But the rules have changed and it is going to effect everything we hold precious.
If GM does a Hybrid it is going to be done only because they have no choice not make a political correct statement. They have much more to lose PR wise than gain there PR wise.
The problem is every model is under the 53 MPG standards that are coming and no one get out of it not even the Vette.
The Vette team said about two years ago, Tadge said he had no want to do a car like this unless there was no other way. Well I think you are going to see they have no choice.
The left leaning politicians have pushed their agenda through and now those on the right are not willing to fight to change it back. If anything I have heard both say they would like to take this to an even higher level.
Right now MFG are all scrambling to find alturnitives to make cars we can live with and be happy with but still meet the regulations. Doing it with ICE is going to become damn near impossible.
The cost of development, the price the cars will cost are a major issue for MFGs. They also are faced with durability issues long term and the fact they just have no more cylinders they can cut.
If they do not investigate hybirds the only other choice is to shrink the cars, engines and cut as much weight as possible. I really do not think you would like that. At least with a Hybrid system they can keep a 600 HP engine on board and use the electric drive to make it meet the CAFE.
While not my first choice the 918 has shown it can be done. I recommend watching the Top Gear test where Richard unloads all the power in the test. It is a very seamless and very powerful system.
The major issue is cost and how much. With work GM can work to get the price down but I still fear we all will have to pay the price that will be even higher. It will not be hundreds of thousands of dollars but it will be even more added cost the politicans do not care if you are force to pay with these systems.
Technology is a wonderful thing and the ideal of a Corvette Hybrid must feel foreign to a lot of people as some of the people at Porsche and Ferrari must have felt the same way when they were developing the 918 or the LeFerrari; but it’s still too early to make any criticism especially as the E-Ray may not be a replacement for the Corvette as the 918 didn’t replace the 911 as this electric or electric hybrid vehicle could be sold as a second distinct model which may or may not resemble the current Corvette as we now it.
I use my Corvette for joyriding and sometimes racing. A real purists isnt looking for an econo-car in a Corvette, just pure muscle and power. besides, who wants to spend all day charging the damn thing on a hot summer day.