Ariel E-Nomad Concept Revealed As Lightweight, Electric Off-Roader

Ariel Motor Company, a small auto manufacturer known for making sports cars for on- and off-road uses, has introduced a new concept car called the E-Nomad. It is an all-electric version of the Nomad, the brand’s off-roader. 

The E-Nomad is powered by a 41 kWh battery pack and has a claimed range of 240 km. The electric motor, mounted on the rear axle, produces 282 bhp and 490 Nm. This gives it the ability to sprint from 0-98 kmph (0-60 mph) in 3.4 seconds. Along with this power, acceleration is also helped by the fact that the E-Nomad only weighs 896 kg, and the battery weighs only 300 kg. 

The concept is based on the recently revealed Ariel Nomad 2, so it borrows a lot of its design cues from its internal combustion engine (ICE) twin. It gets triple-pod headlamps at the front as well as minimal bodywork constructed using flax fibres, which also makes the body panels recyclable. Furthermore, Ariel claims the E-Nomad’s drag coefficient is 30 per cent better than that of the Nomad 2, which the company achieved by using computational fluid dynamics software. Using flax fibres has helped Ariel reduce weight by nine per cent compared to a carbon fibre body, and also reduce production emissions by 72 per cent. 

Interestingly, the battery of the E-Nomad isn’t housed under its floor, but is mounted behind the passenger compartment. While Ariel hasn’t stated the DC fast charging capacity, it says the E-Nomad can be charged from 20-80 per cent in 25 minutes with a suitable DC charger. 

The E-Nomad concept also features on and off-road driving modes called Eco and Sport. While Sport mode allows the full performance to be unleashed, Eco mode reduces power output to increase range. The vehicle also gets regenerative braking, which allows for one-pedal driving. It has a TFT display with EV-specific information. As of now, Ariel has no plans to sell the E-Nomad, but will monitor customer feedback to make a decision about the future.