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We've seen material showing that ERays have a DC-DC Converter, and some members here who seem to know a lot about that stuff believe that's to keep the lithium-ion battery charged using the 300-volt battery in the center tunnel, but there's still a question about whether or not ERays also have an alternator. How does the 12-volt charging system work?
It appears that the E-Ray does have an alternator, and previous GM slides for the E-Ray indicated a dc-dc converter which down-converts the 300V to 12V for the 12V system.
Other manufacturers using dc-dc converters have eliminated the alternator for weight and components savings; I'd be interested to know with the E-Ray's design targets on weight reduction, why the alternator was kept in place along with a dc-dc converter. Trying to maintain max capacity in the small HV battery under all cases? Or easier to implement a legacy system? Is the dc-dc converter in fact used, and if so has the 12V system been separated into an " alternator" side and a "dc-dc" side? Or are both the alternator and dc-dc converter controlled on the same bus so that they don't fight with one another?
It appears that the E-Ray does have an alternator, and previous GM slides for the E-Ray indicated a dc-dc converter which down-converts the 300V to 12V for the 12V system.
Other manufacturers using dc-dc converters have eliminated the alternator for weight and components savings; I'd be interested to know with the E-Ray's design targets on weight reduction, why the alternator was kept in place along with a dc-dc converter. Trying to maintain max capacity in the small HV battery under all cases? Or easier to implement a legacy system? Is the dc-dc converter in fact used, and if so has the 12V system been separated into an " alternator" side and a "dc-dc" side? Or are both the alternator and dc-dc converter controlled on the same bus so that they don't fight with one another?
Thanks for that photo and expanding on my question... REALLY hoping Steve can use this discussion in his interview and get a good answer from the Corvette engineering team!
When I wrote, "...some members here who seem to know a lot about that stuff..." I had you in mind.
Steve, thanks for the opportunity to provide input to the questions you are going to ask.
Question Background: I've purchased 13 new Corvettes in 35 years (and 4 used ones), yes Corvette loyal. I am on 4 different dealers Z06 lists with deposits for up to 3 years (May '21 thru Nov '21) and high up on 2 different list with deposits for eRay (Aug 2021 and Feb 2023). All but one of the dealers are in the top 20 list of Corvette sellers. I see many Stingrays backing up on dealer lots, example #1 MacMulkin with 145 and #2 Ciocca 144 Stingrays available showing on their web sites today. They are offering heavy discounts on new Stingrays which are probably a primary cause for Stingray trade in values to go down significantly.
My Question: After listening to Kai Spande NCM presentation on YouTube again, the plant has many rules around how many they can make of each model & options and what order they can be made in. Plus, rules on how many wide-bodies can go on a truck and where they have to be placed. From a layman point of view, it appears these rules favor production of Stingray coupes. With another wide-body model on the way, what is GM doing to remove the production barriers to enable producing more wide-body Corvettes and less Stingrays (i.e. matching wide-body demand to production)?
I see people putting in sound deadening in their C8s to cut road noise. Has GM ever considered an optional road noise reduction package? I bet it would be a big seller.
Answering for fun and doubt GM will comment. Probably no extra room for the same type battery. BUT why need a "bigger battery" it's the type that matters along with the software to achieve more mpg.
Toyota had a 2022 with "smaller" 1.3 kWh (versus E-Ray 1.9 kWh) battery that got 52 mpg in a non plug-in Hybrid. It had the software to do it as well, forced Stop/Start and ONLY turn on the ICE after the electric motor was used for the high energy driving segment, to bring the car up to cruising speed (Newton laws of motion etc.)
The E-Ray has an F1 type, fast charge, low weight battery for "Performance" not mpg. Sorry could not help reinforcing the E-Ray (like F1 race cars) uses a hybrid for performance.
Answering for fun and doubt GM will comment. Probably no extra room for the same type battery. BUT why need a "bigger battery" it's the type that matters along with the software to achieve more mpg.
Toyota had a 2022 with "smaller" 1.3 kWh (versus E-Ray 1.9 kWh) battery that got 52 mpg in a non plug-in Hybrid. It had the software to do it as well, forced Stop/Start and ONLY turn on the ICE after the electric motor was used for the high energy driving segment, to bring the car up to cruising speed (Newton laws of motion etc.)
The E-Ray has an F1 type, fast charge, low weight battery for "Performance" not mpg. Sorry could not help reinforcing the E-Ray (like F1 race cars) uses a hybrid for performance.
Sorry could not resist.
I know you couldn't. However, your answer is a little simplistic. A larger battery gives you a lot more options. It allows more regenerative braking. It allows longer high speed runs/tracking. It would allow more electric hp. It would allow faster stealth speeds for longer periods. Would allow electric AC. And yes it would allow for much better MPG - like every other modern hybrid sports car.
^^^^
My experience is it's using close to its max 160 hp regenerating when in Track. In the Jason Cammisa MC'd video where it bested the Ferrari, Lambo and C8 Z06 in the quarter he said the front wheels on the verge of losing traction at launch. GM engineers and marketing folks were no doubt there (it was a preproduction E-Ray) and IMO GM wrote that tight, well done short video. They had the data he quoted. That video showed 2.4 seconds to 60 on an unprepared track (his words.)
Also having done a number of o to 60 tests in 2.5 seconds (one with a ~190 lb passenger) is the front lifts quite a bit. I have summer tires and several times lost traction.
In Track Mode it uses (as Tade said it can) almost the max 160 hp charging the battery. In Charge +, as Tadge also noted it's like F1 cars use in a lap before max qualifying, called the harvest lap. Also my observation supports Tadge, Harlen Charles and Josh Holder's comments at the last BASH , if a Track Rat get a Z06! Not going to be the E-Ray's best. Perfect for me.
Be interesting to see their comments after this BASH.
I know you couldn't. However, your answer is a little simplistic. A larger battery gives you a lot more options. It allows more regenerative braking. It allows longer high speed runs/tracking. It would allow more electric hp. It would allow faster stealth speeds for longer periods. Would allow electric AC. And yes it would allow for much better MPG - like every other modern hybrid sports car.
I believe we’ve already read reports that the ERay battery gets easily drained at bigger tracks e.g. VIR. 2.5kWh might result in faster lap times.
And then there's added weight too. There's trade-offs in all directions as with everything. It will be interesting to see if the aftermarket industry tries to touch anything battery related...
If a revolution in battery density develops in the next few years--you'll just end up having more capacity and range out of the same weight. And that's a good thing. Retrofitting the ER with new battery tech might eventually get to the point where you are getting 25m stealth range and tracking it without ever being out of juice.
Eray does not have the brake cooling but Z06 with CCB does. Ron Fellows instructed Z06 students to cool down ÇCB brakes its very important. Would it be better to add Z06 cooling ducts to Eray if you track it a lot ie 15 track days is what this Eray owner anticipates and wants to make rotors last a long time.
Funny, Tadge in the Jay Leno E-Ray video commented about why CCB brakes. He said they avoid the need for "drag creating" cooling ducts that turn air 90 degrees and blast at the front brakes! That open wheel area is a cause of aero drag. Had large Stage 3 Winglets on my 2017 Grand Sport that help direct air past the front wheel opening (not my reason for adding!)
IMO the one reason they have not mentioned is they use the inexpensive method of controlling front Torque Vectoring - using brakes. Some other cars use this method versus the more expensive two electric motors and controllers. It works, the downside, added brake heat. For street driving a nonissue. Wwill never overheat the CCBs. For aggressive Tracking, buy a C8 Z06 with steel rotors!
SIDEBAR
Bugatti Type 57 Vanvooren Cabriolet Used Front as well as Rear fender skirts to smooth air flowing in the car sides!
...why on earth would he not say WHEN this content will be posted?
=P
Perhaps, he doesn't know when.
Possibly the time/date of the interview isn't fixed — trying to get all these very important Corvette people together — but I'm going to be patient. Last year's video was great, and Steve even used at least one of my questions.
After he videos it for this year, he probably needs to work on it before he posts... more than I do in my videos, no doubt!
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C7 of Year Winner (appearance mods) 2019
2017 C7 of Year Finalist
2015 C7 of the Year
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
Originally Posted by /Bear/
Perhaps, he doesn't know when.
Possibly the time/date of the interview isn't fixed — trying to get all these very important Corvette people together — but I'm going to be patient. Last year's video was great, and Steve even used at least one of my questions.
After he videos it for this year, he probably needs to work on it before he posts... more than I do in my videos, no doubt!
The interview session with Tadge, Harlan, and Josh was fantastic. I assisted with the video portion of the podcast recording. Steve has to do the basic editing of the podcast, then I'll be putting the audio with the video for his YouTube channel. Stay tuned...it won't be terribly long before it's posted.
04-18-2024, 07:45 AM
