Report Says Lotus Will Build a Battery-Powered Car (Goodbye Tesla?)

www.edmunds.com ^ | 01-02-2009 | Staff

[Red Badger]

HETHEL, England — British sports car maker Lotus will build a battery-powered performance car, according to a Thursday report in the Financial Times.

The technology used in the Lotus car will be similar to that in the Chevrolet Volt, with a fuel-powered range extender that works after the battery charge has depleted. The car is reportedly expected to achieve 300 to 400 miles on a single tank of gas.

The Financial Times quoted chief executive Michael Kimberley as saying: "Don't be surprised to see an electric Lotus shortly. We are working on the technologies that will go behind it."

Lotus already has some experience with electric cars. The company currently builds bodies for the Tesla Roadster, which is based on the Lotus Elise, and has also consulted with Chrysler on a Dodge electric vehicle.

The Lotus electric will likely compete with the Tesla Roadster and the Fisker Karma. Fisker Automotive has said its Karma plug-in hybrid will go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2009.

Inside Line says: Another boost for alternative technologies from performance cars. — Eric Tingwall, Correspondent

[Vaduz]

For the person selling $10,000 battery should help gas prices to go up and up and up.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The five doesn't seem to have all that much better mileage than the V-6.

[Dan Middleton]

Good for Lotus. Talk to me when they come out with a new Esprit.

[LtKerst]

Sales data says that ....NOBODY buys these things!!!!

the only way to make a Profit is
Legislate mandatory purchases.....

and that is not too far off.....

[reg45]

I guess the reason they went with an I5 is that is is shorter than an I6.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

I was hoping for all new V-5...

[bert]

Brit Elan!

There is a flash of a spark in those auto manufacturing ashes

[bert]

My sprinter van has a Mercedes 5 cylinder diesel, has a 600 mile range and gets 23 mpg unless I go only 60 and then it gets 25.

[truthguy]

I seriously doubt that the Chinese EREV, the so called BYD vehicle will do what they say it will.

That said the EREV is really the only viable concept. Range Anxiety is the real problem with the All Electric.

All the major manufacturers are pursuing this concept.

I still think the Chevy Volt will be the first practical vehicle. Toyota is right on their heels however. The reason it is taking what seems like a long time for the volt to come to marker is that it's important to set up all the dealerships with proper facilities to handle the Volt. They need to train mechanics to service what will be a very different type of vehicle. It's a whole different infrastructure. The Volt will probably be the first true production plug in hybrid (or EREV is you prefer).

[jaz.357]

Old stuff....

Barbie had this years ago!

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

Surely Colin Chapman is rolling over in his grave. Converting an Elise to hybrid power will surely subtract large amounts of lightness...

[Yo-Yo]

As the article hints, Lotus is working with Chrysler on the Dodge EV based on the Lotus Europa.

[chuckles]

The Tesla went broke for the huge price tag. Only movie stars and sports figures could afford one as a second toy car. Many people would have bought one but they went for $70k- $100k. Get it under $30k and you will have a winner. The Tesla was a neck popper as well as a neck turner. I just don’t think people will pay for the recharge hassle. When you can go 300+ miles, stop for 10 minutes and go for another 300+ miles, it’s hard to compete with a car that goes 250 miles and gets worse as it ages and has to charge for hours to go again.

[SwampFoxOfVa]

That is not a Europa. The front is different and from what I can see the back is different too. Take it from a former Europa owner, that’s not a Europa.

SF

[centurion316]

I once owned a Lotus. It drove like a scalded dog and was the best handling car on the planet. Unfortunately, it had a Lucas electrical system which often turned it into a stunning parking lot ornament. Electricity and Lotus don’t mix very well in my experience.

[MrBambaLaMamba]

Lotus is owned by Proton of Malaysia.

[Yo-Yo]

That is not a Europa. The front is different and from what I can see the back is different too. Take it from a former Europa owner, that’s not a Europa.

On the left, the Lotus Europa. On the right, (or below, depending on your screen size) the Dodge EV:

You were saying?

[SwampFoxOfVa]

They sure have changed since I had one. Mine was a ‘67 model with the Renault engine and gearbox. It was the best handling street car I ever had.
My apologies for not keeping up with the changes. I can’t afford one anymore, plus my wife would divorce me :-)

[Ro_Thunder]

It’s a 2006 GMC Canyon, I-5 engine. I was wierded out at first, but now, I love it. It’s a 19.6 gallon tank, and I get 300-330 a tank.

I bought it in August of 2007, with 97 miles on it, brand new (never ‘owned’ before). 4 door, 4x4, power everything, XM radio, and I have the 100,000 mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. I just love it.

[another old fogy]

But don’t you yourself recharge every night “for hours”?

EV charging is different from gas, that you refill in ten minutes, but OTOH - with gas - you do have to stand around and wait for ten stinky minutes while you refill the gas.

Electric cars really charge in less than a second.

That’s all the time it takes you to plug into the socket in the garage when you get home at night.

Then you spend 12 hours recharging yourself; watch tv, eat dinner, sleep, get up in the morning recharged and go to the garage, unplug the EV for another day of driving.