Morgan Enlists Help With Sporty Electric Vehicle

Morgan announces a technical partnership with Frazer-Nash Energy Systems to help with production of its all-electric retro-styled 3-wheeled sports car.

The Morgan EV3 is slated for production in 2018 and management is hoping the partnership will give the car improved performance with rapid charging technology, proven reliability, a lower center of gravity and greater acceleration beyond what was previously expected.

The production EV3 now will feature a more robust architecture, greater levels of torque, a stiffer chassis and an underslung battery beneath the skin. Encased within the tubular space frame chassis is a 34-hp lithium battery and a liquid-cooled motor driving the rear wheel.

The EV3 claims a range of 120 miles (193 km) and promises what Morgan calls a hands-on, exhilarating driving experience not normally associated with electric vehicles. The production EV3 is expected to have performance figures comparable to its gasoline sibling which, using a 2.0L S&S V-Twin engine with 85 hp at the rear wheel, enjoys a 0-60 mph (97 km/h) sprint time of 6 seconds on the way to a top speed of 115 mph (185 km/h) thanks to a curb weight of just 1,155 lbs. (525 kg).

Production will begin in Q3 2018 at Morgan’s Pickersleigh Road factory following the completion of a rigorous testing and development program.

Steve Morris, managing director of Morgan Motor Company, says: “We are delighted to announce our technical partnership with Frazer-Nash Energy Systems as we enter this exciting phase of EV3 production.

“We have been working closely on optimizing the EV3’s architecture in every way to develop a car which will offer proven reliability, range and cooling performance, combined with the pure driving experience that is expected of every handcrafted Morgan.

“The greatest challenge lies within introducing EV technology into our factory work flows, customer experience and supporting dealer network in a robust and most importantly safe manner. Frazer-Nash Energy Systems offer us every confidence in achieving this.”