- An electric off-road vehicle may be in production from Ariel
- Ariel Unveils E-Nomad Concept With 41-KWh Battery and 150-Mile Range
- If there is enough customer interest, the E-Nomad could go into production and come to the United States.
Low-volume British carmaker Ariel has electrified its minimalist off-roader Nomad.
Ariel recently revealed E-Nomad ConceptSwapping out the car’s small gasoline engine for an electric motor and battery pack while incorporating body panels made from sustainable materials, the Nomad itself is an off-road version of the Ariel Atom, both of which are simply tube chassis with wheels.
The concept is based on the recently redesigned Ariel Nomad 2, which featured a Ford-sourced 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine rated at 260 horsepower, 302 horsepower, and 305 horsepower. In the E-Nomad, that engine has been replaced by a rear-mounted electric motor that produces 281 horsepower and 361 pound-feet of torque. Ariel claims this will match the gas-powered version’s 0-60 mph best time of 3.4 seconds.
Ariel E-Nomad Concept
ONE 41 kwh battery pack including bag cells provides an estimate Range 150 milesmay be based on the more optimistic European WLTP test cycle. The pack also has a dedicated heater for pre-conditioning in cold weather. A CCS DC fast-charging connector allows for a 20-80% charge in around 25 minutes.
Though it still lacks doors, the E-Nomad has a more closed hood and body sides than the production Nomad, reducing aerodynamic drag by 30%. They’re made from flax fiber, which Ariel claims is 9% lighter than carbon fiber and cuts carbon dioxide emissions by 73%. The bodywork contributes to a curb weight of 1,975 pounds—quite svelte for an EV, but still about 400 pounds heavier than the gas-powered Nomad 2.
Ariel has experimented with electrification before, reveals Hipercar extended range gas turbine in 2022. Supplier Borg Warner, which supplies the E-Nomad with engines, has also introduced its own product. electric Nomad prototype in 2019. But the company has yet to make a final decision on whether to sell the E-Nomad to customers.
Ariel E-Nomad Concept
Testing of the E-Nomad will continue as Ariel monitors customer interest, the company said in a press release. If it does go into production, there’s a reasonable chance the E-Nomad willevery americabecause Ariel previously imported gasoline-powered cars Nomad and Atom.
The E-Nomad could be a wilder alternative to Rivian R3 and R3XIt’s also designed to be off-road, but the more conventional styling of the future is reminiscent of classic hatchbacks. A specific launch date has yet to be confirmed, but Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe has said that R3X will come first“as soon as possible” after the launch of the R2 SUV in 2026.
