Morgan Plus E concept at Geneva

Morgan Motor Company, founded in 1903 by Harry Frederick Stanley Morgan, is today run by his grandson, Charles Morgan. From the post war four wheelers the company made to the current Aero 8, all have stayed true to the family design language. As a result, the last thing to expect under the split bonnet is an electric motor. But that’s exactly what Morgan has done in the Plus E concept car. 

The Morgan Plus E electric sportscar is rather special, not just because it’s an electric sportscar, but one with a manual gearbox. The Plus E gets a tailored version of Morgan’s lightweight aluminium chassis. Power comes from a Zytek electric motor that develops 99PS of power and 300Nm of torque. Mounted in the transmission tunnel of the Morgan Plus E is a Zytek unit that sends power to the rear wheels through a traditional manual gearbox. 

The Morgan Plus E concept was created to see how much fun-to-drive an electric vehicle can be. The car’s chassis stiffness and weight distribution have been worked on to provide enthusiastic drive dynamics. The manual transmission allows the motor to spend more time in its sweet spot. Besides, it is also more efficient than an automatic gearbox. The short gearing allows for quicker acceleration and an engaging drive. 

Two concept cars are being developed along the lines of a manual electric sports car -- one being the Plus E with a five-speed manual gearbox and lithium ion batteries and the other with alternative battery specifications possibly a sequential gearbox. The latter will be closer to potential production specification if there is sufficient demand for the car.

"We wanted to see how much fun you can have in an electric sportscar, so we have built one to help us find out. The Plus E combines Morgan’s traditional look with high-technology construction and a powertrain that delivers substantial torque instantly at any speed. With the manual gearbox to increase both touring range and driver involvement, it will be a fantastic car to drive," explained Morgan operations director Steve Morris.