We are further behind than we originally planned. In March 2025 we undertook a major house extension and this basically meant putting the OSSEV project on hold until it was completed in November 2025.

This educational project aims to design and build an Open-Source Sports Electric Vehicle (OSSEV®). It is a father (Rob Collingridge) and son (Ethan Collingridge) collaboration but, we working with many other people and organisations.

Anyone can get involved via the Open-Source Sports Electric Vehicle (OSSEV) Facebook group. We will be working with suppliers, sponsors, charities, volunteers and other organisations to develop the OSSEV®.

The goal is to have our test platform MX-5e running on electricity in the first half of 2026 and the first OSSEV® prototype running later in 2026.

We have four main goals with this project:

  1. To learn about designing and building electric vehicles. Whilst we have experience of restoring and building ICE cars, this is a whole new technology area for us.
  2. Convert a Eunos Roadster (Mazda MX-5 / Miata) to an EV so that we can use our MX-5e to test ideas and components for the OSSEV®.
  3. To collaboratively develop an open-source electric sports car so that anyone can make/buy the parts, kits of parts, a partially built or a fully complete vehicle from a range of suppliers. The Open-Source Sports Electric Vehicle (OSSEV) Facebook group is the forum to collaborate on the design.

An open-source sports EV makes a lot of sense. Not only will it be cheaper to develop and build but, it will also be cheap to maintain, repair, upgrade and insure as there will be plenty of spare parts available at very reasonable prices. Owners will also have a customised and personalised vehicle (colour, features, specification, etc).

We are planning to design an electric, convertible, rear-wheel drive sports car with two seats that is involving and great fun to drive, gorgeous to look at and also practical to own and use. Our benchmarks are the Lotus Elise S1 for handling and the Mazda MX-5 for practicality. As a low-volume car it will have to pass the UK IVA test to legally be allowed on the road. The main design goals of the OSSEV 1 are currently being finalised.