[PICS] Here’s the Perfect Place to Stash the C8 Corvette E-Ray Batteries

By
Keith Cornett
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[PICS] Here's the Perfect Place to Stash the C8 Corvette E-Ray Batteries


One of the exciting rumors for a future C8 variant is the E-Ray model (or Grand Sport) that will have some sort of hybrid-electric propulsion system for powering the front wheels, thereby providing additional launch and handling through an All-Wheel Drive system.

Because this is a hybrid system, the number of batteries required would be less than those needed to power a full EV. It’s been speculated that one of the “perfect places” to store those battery packs would be inside the center tunnel backbone that runs through the middle of the car.

Corvette Forum member “Wayner” shared this photo showing the inside of the center tunnel and as you can see, the storage space inside is pretty immense! In fact, Wayner suggests border agents might start checking C8 Corvettes to see if there is anything interesting there.

[PICS] Here's the Perfect Place to Stash the C8 Corvette E-Ray Batteries


Chevrolet’s engineers went with the center backbone design as it adds rigidity to the chassis and yet it still makes the car fairly easy to get in and out of for us old guys. The tunnel currently provides access for cooling lines that run from the front radiators to the engine compartment as you can see the lines mounted to the top of the tunnel.

On this graphic below, you can see an illustration of the Corvette’s structure with the center tunnel. Mounting batteries inside the tunnel would most likely keep the car’s center of gravity about the same. We might have to say goodby to that large frunk though as the motor and accessories to drive the front wheels will have to go somewhere.

[PICS] Here's the Perfect Place to Stash the C8 Corvette E-Ray Batteries


I don’t know about you but when I see the wide-open spaces inside the center tunnel, I figure that the Corvette Team has something pretty cool in the works. Will we see a hybrid-powered E-Ray Corvette debut in 2023? We will have to wait and see!


Source:
CorvetteForum.com

Related:
RUMOR: E-Ray Hybrid Model May Replace the Grand Sport in the C8 Corvette Lineup
RUMOR: Electric All-Wheel-Drive Hybrid Coming to the C8 Corvette As Early As 2023
Does the 2020 Corvette Owner’s Manual Show a Hybrid C8 is in the Works?

 



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3 COMMENTS

  2. I disagree. We have moved past the sub-C NiMH Prius era. Batteries now have significantly more energy density and are significantly lighter for their size. This is the primary advantage of the Lithium-Ion Polymer (aka Li-Po) battery, which I can assume will be used for this application. The proposed location actually makes perfect sense, as it is close to the center of mass and structurally protected to the maximum.
    The C8 will be the last non-hybrid Corvette. You heard it here first. And not necessarily a bad thing!

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