Lotus is engaged on an electrical sports activities automotive for launch in 2027, however the automaker might push the launch again till EV know-how, and specifically batteries, advance sufficient to make sure the automotive can ship the light-weight ethos of gas-powered Lotus sports activities automobiles like the unique Elise.
In an interview with Autocar revealed on Tuesday, Lotus design boss Ben Payne mentioned the know-how at current “does probably not assist you to recreate that product in a convincing method.”
Though he did not say the automotive, which is code-named the Sort 135, can be delayed, he additionally mentioned within the interview that the enterprise case would additionally have to make sense.
EV demand is not rising as a lot as many automakers had anticipated. Lotus final 12 months predicted gross sales to develop to 26,000 items in 2024, although the automaker is properly off that mark with solely 2,194 automobiles delivered within the first quarter of the 12 months, and fewer than half of these deliveries have been EVs.
2021 Lotus Elise Sport 240 Remaining Version
Lotus was initially growing the Sort 135 along with an electrical successor to Alpine’s A110, although the 2 automakers went their separate methods final 12 months.
Lotus even confirmed the platform it deliberate for the Sort 135 as early as 2021, which the automaker known as the E-Sports activities platform. Lotus introduced on the platform’s reveal a base configuration with a 66.4-kwh battery, a 469-hp rear-mounted motor, and a brief wheelbase with seating for 2. A stronger configuration with a 99.6-kwh battery and a dual-motor powertrain good for a minimum of 871 hp was additionally introduced.
In his interview, Payne mentioned solid-state batteries could possibly be key to Lotus getting an electrical sports activities automotive to be comparable in dimension and weight to one in every of its gas-powered fashions, although he did not point out whether or not there are plans to make use of the know-how.
