"Don't be surprised to see an electric Lotus shortly"
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada 
on 01. 5.09
Photo: Lotus Evora
Lotus Electric Car in the Cards
These words were recently spoken by Lotus CEO Michael Kimberley, making us think that being a supplier to Tesla Motors inspired the company to throw its hat in the ring. The concept EV is expected for the Geneva Motor Show in March. Read on for more.
Photo: Lotus Evora
From AutoblogGreen:
The first electric Lotus is expected to be a range extended EV with a smaller battery to provide some plug-in range and an internal combustion engine to stretch the driving distance out to 300-400 miles. That would put Lotus in direct competition with the Fisker Karma. It's not known what vehicle layout Lotus will use, but given its limited resources, the new Evora is likely to be the donor platform. That will likely mean a mid-mounted battery pack with an engine directly behind.
Another electric car to keep an eye on is the Dodge EV, which was unveiled a few months ago and is based on the Lotus Europa S.
Increased Diversity in the EV Ecosystem
What does Lotus bring to the EV table? Lots of engineering experience and some healthy competition, mostly.
Any new technology (well, electric cars are old, but they haven't had anywhere near the amount of attention that internal combustion engines cars have had) can benefit from more R&D, and from more players trying different approaches until the one that works best is found. It's still not clear what kind of combination of energy storage and powertrain will work best (battery electric car? range-extended electric car? a mix of batteries and hypercapacitors? which battery chemistry?).
Competition among EV makers will also help bring down prices and incentivize the carmakers to make products that people will actually want to buy, instead of just concept cars to show off at car shows but that are never brought to market.
Via Financial Times, AutoblogGreen
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Good! I'm sure Lotus engineers can teach a few things to other companies, and the more desirable EVs are, the more regular ppl will want them (though cheaper versions).
I wonder if they'll make it carbon fiber like the Tesla. Is the regular version made of CF?
I think you are seeing a lot of new EVs being built on Lotus platforms because Lotus is by far and away the lightest manufacturer. They achieve super car performance with a 200hp engine by keeping their cars under 2000lbs (Compare the Honda Fit at 2500lbs) and minimizing drag. Battery packs bring more weight so it has to be reduced elsewhere.
I hope that the Lotus corporation continues with their plans to make a electric car because we can’t get complacent because gas prices at the pump are at four year lows. I think we all need to continue to think of ways to get off oil.
Perhaps, they'll use something like PMI's drive system (http://www.pmlflightlink.com/) as opposed to a standard transmission. It would be completely in line with the lotus philosophy!
The Tesla was a Lotus. Any carbon fiber was parts added and not structural. Also remember, Lotus is getting ready to produce a tiny car. The electric may come out of left field.
I hope that the Lotus corporation continues with their plans to make a electric car because we can’t get complacent because gas prices at the pump are at four year lows. I think we all need to continue to think of ways to get off oil.
What is this, carhugger?
Wonder if Car and Driver is now including stories on trees?
A vaporware $200,000 sports car that will only sell a couple of thousand a year if it is ever made. That is going to make the oil sheiks shake.
Anyway, electric cars are most efficient for low speed stop and start travel. Not exactly what a sports car is designed for. I suspect when they are travelling on a curvy country road at 120, they are really not much better than a gas powered car.
"... being a supplier to Tesla Motors inspired the company to throw its hat in the ring."
Actually, the image of lemmings and cliffs comes to mind.
obrianw wrote:
"I hope that the Lotus corporation continues with their plans to make a electric car because we can’t get complacent because gas prices at the pump are at four year lows."
Do you seriously think the typical Lotus customer gives a second thought to gas prices? You've got to be joking.
It makes sense that Lotus should decide to do for itself what it has done for others; design an electric car. Everyone is building an EV, why should they be left behind? and they know more about EVs that a lot of others.
Haven't Lotus had it's hat in the ring from before the Tesla though?
They've shown prototype electric cars for years including an electric Elise, the APX concept (picked up by ZAP) and building cars for Proton and Dodge.