Lotus has canceled plans to go full EV due to low demand
- Lotus is canceling its plan to go full-electric by 2028
- The company is instead focusing on making hybrids
- The Chinese-owned British marque plans to develop ‘super hybrid’ cars
Published on Nov 26, 2024 at 6:04 PM (UTC+4)
by Nalin Rawat
Last updated on Nov 26, 2024 at 6:04 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
In 2021, Lotus announced that the Emira would be its last internal combustion engine car, but now the company has canceled plans to go full EV due to low demand.
The Chinese-owned British manufacturer says it has now axed that plan.
But instead, it plans to release hybrid cars for upcoming models.
This change comes as most luxury car buyers are reluctant to buy EVs, even in popular markets like China.
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Lotus cancels plan to go full electric
According to CEO Feng Qingfeng, Lotus plans to develop a ‘super hybrid’ technology.
This technology will combine fast charging and a turbocharged combustion engine, promising 680 miles of total range.
“At Lotus, we have always chosen the best power technology available, whether it’s pure gasoline, pure electric, hybrid, or range-extended [EV],” said Feng.
This move could be seen as slightly unfortunate, as the sports car maker had seemingly been making big strides in EV technology.
Just earlier this year, their new Emeya EV achieved record-breaking charging time, going from 10 percent to 80 percent in just 14 minutes.
That’s remarkable and leaves most EVs – and this hydrogen car – in the dust.
But now the company has performed a complete 180 from that original plan.
The company previously rejected the use of plug-in hybrids as they compromised driving experience when the battery was drained.
However, they plan to solve this problem with a 900V architecture that will ‘flash-charge’ the battery at a rate even quicker than battery-swapping.
Unfortunately, it’s not clear which Lotus cars will get the new hybrid tech.
We certainly hope that the refreshed versions of the Eletre SUV and Emeya sedan get access to this new architecture.
The new hybrid system will add quite a bit of weight to these models.
So don’t expect any lightweight sports cars from Lotus anytime soon.
Currently, Lotus is still selling the Evija , which has a power output of 2,000HP despite being an EV.
So grab it while you can.
Nalin started his career by working with various national newspapers in India. He has also worked as a writer/editor for many popular websites, while still pursuing his journalism and mass communication degree. Working as a digital nomad has allowed him to inform and educate through his work. When he is not writing, you can find him playing video games or travelling the mountains on his bike.
