Rockfort Engineering, expert consultants in Advanced EV Powertrain Developments and Technology, are pleased to announce their collaboration with Ariel Motor Company on the development of the new Ariel E-Nomad.
The grant funded project, backed by the Niche Vehicle Network (NVN), showcases the production intent all-electric off-roader with full control, safety and engineering integrity required for low-volume series production.
Building on the work completed in an earlier NVN backed Proof-of-Concept E-Nomad vehicle, Rockfort have designed, manufactured and developed a bespoke 450V, 41kWh Lithium-Ion battery system, packaged specifically for the E-Nomad.
With integrated high voltage power electronics, safety and powertrain control systems, the battery is presented as a self-contained package for simplified installation and direct connection to the standard Nomad electrical and chassis stability systems.
The E-Nomad battery system produces up to 210kW of power and offers both AC (Type 2) Domestic Charging and DC (CCS2) Fast Charging – the latter permitting bulk charge of 20%-80% in under 25 minutes.
Weighing less than 300kg as a fully dressed, complete assembly, the E-Nomad battery features an advanced battery thermal conditioning system to optimise performance and range while also extending the life of the battery pack. Despite its high energy and power density, the battery pack is also designed to live up to the E-Nomad’s rugged reputation and go-anywhere ability.
The E-Nomad battery also showcases Rockfort’s all-new 3.4kWh Pegasus V3 Lithium-Ion Battery Modules. Integrated into a lightweight enclosure, the modules offer best-in-class energy density, prioritising range and performance without compromising weight, providing a flexible building block for the rapid design of any form of EV propulsion battery pack.
Rockfort’s high-performance battery management electronics also combines full powertrain and vehicle dynamics control with integrated safety management functionality; offering multiple modes with tuneable performance and driveability characteristics.
Together with the Pegasus V3 architecture, Rockfort is able to offer cost-effective, production-ready, modularised and bespoke powertrain solutions with high refinement levels in short timescales.
The launch of the technology showcased on this exciting vehicle also represents the beginning a new chapter of growth and renewed ambition for Rockfort, with details of new investment and brand partnerships to be announced soon.
Rockfort Director Angus Lyon said: “The launch of the Ariel E-Nomad marks the conclusion of many years of hard work by the team at Rockfort to develop our EV technologies. This fantastic car will be driving around at the CENEX LCV show at Millbrook this week marking the first public showing of both the E-Nomad and the Rockfort technologies that it contains. This is an exciting moment for Rockfort and one which shows our commitment to the design and manufacture of innovative EV technologies for the future.”
Simon Saunders, Ariel Director said: “While the E-Nomad is a concept, it does show production intent for the vehicle and hints at just a small part of Ariel’s future. Once it has been through our usual, gruelling testing regime we could opt to add E-Nomad alongside its ICE Nomad 2 sibling, so we’ll take great interest in customer feedback on the concept car.”
Battery Specifications
- 41kWh, 450V (150 miles est. range for E-Nomad)
- <300kg fully dressed weight
- 210kW Peak Output
- Type 2 AC and CCS DC Charging Capability
- Integrated High-Voltage Control and Safety Systems including Battery Management and Vehicle Control electronics
- Multi-mode capability and tuneable drive mapping.
About Rockfort Engineering
Rockfort Engineering is a UK based technology and consultancy business specialising in in complex electronic systems design, integration and control systems.
Rockfort is a team of highly skilled engineers and technicians with foundations in Formula-1 and Tier 1 Automotive and capabilities in software, electrical and mechanical design. Rockfort pursues a right-first-time approach with a focus on functional safety from the ground up.
Rockfort delivers services for electric propulsion applications, including Special Vehicles, Aerospace and Motorsport applications, offering a range of bespoke and standardised products including Lithium-Ion battery technology, High-Voltage power distribution systems, battery management systems and other special purpose controllers.
