Upcoming Ferrari electric supercars will have their battery mounted amidship
The battery is the heaviest part of the vehicle, so it has a big effect on driving feel
This decision should preserve the driving characteristics of the current models for the electric future
Patent drawings show that Ferrari is determined to retain the mid-engined driving characteristics of its supercars even when they won’t be powered by fossil fuels anymore.
The drawings show the silhouette of a supercar with large battery pack placed in the middle of the wheelbase.
This pack is not a plain rectangle however, since it is composed of a thin section at the front which sits under the seats and a bulkier section that is positioned about where the engine is in the brand’s current models.
This positioning of the battery, the heaviest component of an electric vehicle, will allow for a similar weight distribution to traditional mid-engined supercars, thus retaining most of the same handling characteristics that are loved by enthusiasts.
The battery pack also appears to be installed in the vehicle at a slight angle, which is supposed to provide downforce and cooling to the batteries, an important factor that determines a vehicle’s ability to provide its maximum power output for prolonged periods, such as on a track.
The electrification program at Ferrari is still very secretive and prior to these drawings, the only information that was known for certain was that the first electric models won’t arrive before 2025.
Now, we also know that Ferrari has accounted for different battery cell designs, including cylindrical and pouch types, when it conceived this battery pack.
Since the Battery is placed mostly behind the seats, a hybrid model powered by a gasoline engine in the front will be possible. If the company makes such a powertrain, its configuration could be quite similar to its only current electrified model, the SF90 Stradale, which features a 7.9 kWh battery in addition to its gasoline engine.