If you're coming a long to the meeting tomorrow then I'm hoping to have a bit of a discussion about my thoughts on epicyclic gear reduction boxes. Here's some images and a video that have been posted to the WhatsApp group...

Hopefully see some of you tomorrow.

John

Some brief notes on discussions:

• Caterham Cars 2024-02 Webinar with Bob, Simon and Richard (here)
  • General view was that the conversation was rather downbeat, while some thought it was ok to see/hear warts-an-all
  • CC are clearly more negative about EV Seven. And group agreed it looked difficult to come up with a business case for a EV Seven
  • Group discussed Project V and still concerns about whether CC can find the money.
  • There was scepticism that CC can get away with the £100m figure they cite for turning Project V into a production car. Apple pulling out of their EV development and Dyson deciding productionizing their concept would have "bankrupted the company"
• Electric Classic Cars video on how an EV conversion is registered (here)
  • Agreed this was a good video 
  • Emphasised why its important to do conversion in line with R100 testing AND why important to keep above DVLA's Heavily Modified Vehicle points rule threshold
• JM's videos
  • People didn't have many comments (probably being polite!)
• JM EV Project
  • JM went over the images from above of proposed gearbox by sharing screen of Fusion 360 models
  • JM mentioned how difficult it's proving to be to find component designers (gearbox, motors etc) who are prepared to work with "man in a shed" operations, even though JM is using a company with good financial history etc to run the project through.
  • JM was looking for people who could give practical experience of gearbox design
    • Steve Perks from Tracksport was mentioned as someone to contact
    • It was suggested that JM go back and think if space planning problem can be solved with simpler solutions. Some agreed, but others thought solution wasn't too bad given space constraints
  • JM showed how he controls CAD packages with SpaceMouse (here)
  • JM said next job is to 3D print the design with real bearings to prove it "works" and can be assembled (its quite possible to design something in CAD that can't actually be put together)