Caterham Partners With Yamaha To Elevate Project V: A Sports EV With 200-Mile Range

In a bold move to shake up the electric vehicle (EV) market, British sports car automaker Caterham has announced a partnership with Japanese powerhouse Yamaha to develop its ambitious Project V sports EV. 

Project V: Caterham’s Electric Vision

Project V, first unveiled as a concept at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed, represents Caterham’s vision for an electric future that doesn’t compromise on the brand’s core values of simplicity, lightness, and driving pleasure. Unlike Caterham’s iconic Seven, Project V is an all-new design that aims to redefine the market of sports EVs.

Project V inherits Caterham’s DNA with principles of lightweight, simple, and driving pleasure design. As a result, Project V is made to offer a light, minimalist sports EV without the high price point of premium sports EVs. 

Yamaha’s Crucial Role

According to Caterham, Yamaha’s involvement brings a wealth of expertise to the project. The Japanese company will supply its advanced e-axle technology and contribute its knowledge in vehicle motion control. This partnership leverages Yamaha’s recent foray into electric powertrain development, which began in 2020.

In detail, Yamaha announced that it will be “developing and supplying an e-axle exclusively for prototype vehicles.” The e-axle is a key part of the electric powertrain, which Yamaha will supply for the prototype’s trial model. In addition, the company will provide the necessary technologies and expertise for vehicle motion control, with the goal of achieving a “Caterham Powered by Yamaha Motor” collaboration.

Technical Specifications and Performance

The concept version of Project V presents some impressive targets, though final specifications may vary for the production model. The sports EV aims for a lightweight build, weighing around 2,624 pounds (1,190 kg), powered by a 55 kWh battery pack. It features a single electric motor producing 268 horsepower (200 kW) and utilizes rear-wheel drive (RWD).

In terms of performance, the EV is expected to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph) in under 4.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 230 km/h (143 mph). 

Project V also targets a driving range of 400 km (249 miles) on the WLTP cycle, which could translate to around 200 miles based on EPA estimates. With this combination of performance, range, and efficiency, Project V is positioned as a promising contender in the electric sports car market.

Development Timeline and Production

The project is now moving into its next phase, with Tokyo R&D, a specialist engineering firm, tasked with developing a prototype. This prototype, featuring Yamaha’s e-axle, is expected to be completed by mid-2025.

Caterham EVo Limited, a United Kingdom (UK)-based subsidiary of VT Holdings (headquartered in Nagoya, Japan), is leading the project. The collaboration aims to advance Project V toward mass production and commercialization, though Caterham has not yet announced a targeted on-sale date.

Furthermore, this partnership aligns with Yamaha Motor’s companywide environmental goal to achieve carbon neutrality in Scope 3 emissions by 2050. The company is leveraging its strength in developing advanced small and lightweight electric powertrains for this project.

Industry Implications

The Caterham-Yamaha partnership represents a growing trend of collaboration between traditional automakers and technology companies in the EV space. It also highlights the potential for niche manufacturers to carve out unique positions in the EV market.

As the EV market watches with keen interest, Project V stands poised to write a new chapter in the history of both Caterham and sports EVs. With Yamaha’s technological prowess and Caterham’s storied heritage, EV enthusiasts looking for an alternative option may seek the Caterham Project V to be a viable choice.

Want to learn more about EV? Thinking of buying an EV? Head over to EV.com and discover more.