Aston Martin reveals some secrets about all-electric Rapide E

Share

Tweet

Share

Share

Email

Comments

Its been over a year since we heard about the all-electric version of Rapide. Aston Martin now has some interesting details to share with us, or “secrets” as the company likes to call it.

To begin with, the final name is ‘Rapide E’, probably to avoid confusion with the conventional Rapide. Personally, i like the original ‘RapidE’. Anyways, the car will be built at the St Athan facility which is getting ready for the DBX SUV as well.

Aston Martin is working with the Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) who was the sole supplier of battery system for the entire Formula E grid since the FIA racing series began in 2014 to the end of season 4 in 2018.

The Rapide E will be powered by a 65 kWh battery pack which comprises of over 5600 lithium-ion 18650 format cylindrical cells. The pack sits at the same place where the original 6.0-litre V12 and its gearbox were located.

This battery pack powers the two rear mounted electric motors producing a combined target output of over 610 hp and a colossal 950 Nm of torque. Aston Martin is targeting a range of over 200 miles or 320+ km under the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP).

Aston Martin predicts that the car is capable of charging at a rate of 185 miles of range per hour using a typical 400 V 50 kW charger. However, the car’s 800 V high-voltage battery system enables faster charging of 310 miles of range per hour, using an 800 V outlet delivering 100 kW or higher.

The company also expects a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h) and a sub-4.0 sec 0-60 mph time, and a 50-70 mph time of just 1.5 sec. These figures are not only when the batteries are fully-charged, but throughout the majority of the battery state of charge, as would be expected from a conventional internal combustion-engined car.

Aston Martin says that the Rapide E will be able to drive a full lap of the Nürburgring with absolutely no derating of the battery and can cope with the daily demands of repeated hard acceleration and braking.

Also, the goal is to retain and enhance the feel, character and delivery of the V12-engined Rapide S. Careful attention is being paid to the development and tuning of both the electric powertrain and the chassis, with particular focus on software integration. The rear-wheel drive Rapide E’s twin electric motors will drive through a Limited-Slip Differential.

Only 155 units will be built and the first customer deliveries are scheduled for Q4 2019.